zens were continually falling; yet no man could tell whose hand struck the blow, or whose turn might come next.

§ 11. The return of Pisander was the signal for consummating the revolution. He proposed in the assembly, and carried a resolution, that a committee of ten should be appointed to pre pare a new constitution, which was to be submitted to the approbation of the people. But when the day appointed for that purpose arrived, the assembly was not convened in the Pnyx, but in the temple of Poseidon at Colonus, a village upwards of a mile from Athens. Here the conspirators could plant their own partisans, and were less liable to be overawed by superior numbers. The Graphé Paranomon, or action against those who proposed any unconstitutional measure, having first been repealed, Pisander obtained the assent of the meeting to the following revolutionary changes:-1. The abolition of all the existing magistracies; 2. The cessation of all payments for the discharge of civil functions; 3. The appointment of a committee of five persons, who were to name ninety-five more; each of the hundred thus constituted to choose three persons; the body of Four Hundred thus formed to be an irresponsible government, holding its sittings in the senate house. The four hundred were to convene the select body of five thousand citizens whenever they thought proper. Nobody knew who these five thousand were, but they answered two purposes, namely, to give an air of greater popularity to the government, as well as to overawe the people by an exaggerated notion of its strength.

§ 12. The government thus constituted proceeded to establish itself by force. A body of hoplites having been posted in the neighbourhood of the Senate House, the Four Hundred entered it, each with a dagger concealed under his garment, and followed by their body-guard of 120 youths, the instruments of the secret assassinations already mentioned. The ancient senate was dismissed, but the pay due to the members was offered, and basely accepted. Thus perished the Athenian democracy, after an existence of nearly a century since its establishment by Clisthenes. The revolution was begun from despair of the foreign relations of Athens, and from the hope of assistance from Persia; but it was carried out through the machinations of Antiphon and his accomplices after that delusion had ceased.

Having divided themselves into Prytanies or sections, and installed themselves with sacrifice and prayer, the Four Hundred proceeded to put to death or imprison the most formidable of their political enemies. Their next step was to make overtures for peace to Agis. The Spartan king, however, believed that the revolution was not safely established, and preferred an

attempt to capture the city during the dissensions by which he supposed it to be torn. But on marching up to the walls he found them carefully guarded, and his troops were repulsed by a sally of the besieged. A second application of the Four Hundred met with a better reception, and they were encouraged to send to Sparta.

§ 13. The failure of the revolution at Samos was highly unfavourable to the success of the revolution at Athens; but the Four Hundred despatched envoys to that island, with instructions to make the matter as palatable as possible. These, however, had been forestalled by Chæreas. Under the impression that the democracy still existed at Athens, Chæreas had been sent to the city from Samos in the Paralus with the news of the counter-revolution in the island. But when the Paralus arrived, the Four Hundred had already been installed; whereupon some of her democratic crew were imprisoned, and the rest transferred to an ordinary trireme. Chæreas himself found means to escape, and returned to Samos, where he aggravated the proceedings at Athens by additions of his own, and filled the army with uncontrollable wrath. At the instance of Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus, a meeting was called in which the soldiers pledged themselves to maintain the democracy, to continue the war against Peloponnesus, and to put down the usurpers at Athens. The whole army, even those who had taken part in the oligarchical movements, were sworn to uphold these principles; and to every male Samian of military age a similar oath was administered. Thus the Athenian democracy continued to exist at Samos alone. The soldiers, laying aside for awhile their military character, constituted themselves into an assembly of the people, deposed. several of their officers, and appointed others whom they could better trust. The meeting resounded with patriotic speeches. Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus were appointed to the chief command; the former of whom proposed the return of Alcibiades, who, it was believed, was now able and willing to aid the democratic cause with the gold and forces of Persia. After considerable opposition the proposal was agreed to; Alcibiades was brought to Samos and introduced to the assembly, where by his magnificent promises, and extravagant boasts respecting his influence with Tissaphernes, he once more succeeded in deceiving the Athenians. The accomplished traitor was elected one of the generals, and, in pursuance of his artful policy, began to pass backwards and forwards between Samos and Magnesia, with the view of inspiring both the satrap and the Athenians with a reciprocal idea of his influence with either, and of instilling distrust of Tissaphernes into the minds of the Peloponnesians.

§ 14. Such was the state of affairs at Samos when the envoys from the Four Hundred arrived. They were invited by the generals to make their communication to the assembled troops; but so great was the antipathy manifested towards them, that they could hardly obtain a hearing. Their presence revived a proposition which had been started before,—to sail at once to Athens, and put down the oligarchy by force. By the advice of Alcibiades, seconded by Thrasybulus, this proposal was, however, again discarded. The envoys were sent back to Athens with the answer that the army approved of the 5000, but that the Four hundred must resign and reinstate the ancient Senate of Five Hundred.

§ 15. At the first news of the re-establishment of democracy at Samos, distrust and discord had broken out among the Four Hundred. Antiphon and Phrynicus, at the head of the extreme section of the oligarchical party, were for admitting a Lacedæmonian garrison; and with a view to further that object, actually caused a fort to be erected at Eëtionea, a tongue of land commanding the entrance to the harbour of the Piræus. But others, discontented with their share of power, began to affect more popular sentiments. Conspicuous among these were Theramenes and Aristocrates, the former of whom began to insist on the necessity for calling the shadowy body of 5000 into a real existence. As the answer from Samos very much strengthened this party, their opponents found that no time was to be lost; and Antiphon, Phrynicus, and ten others, proceeded in all haste to Sparta, with offers to put the Lacedæmonians in possession of the Piræus. The latter, however, with their usual slowness, or perhaps from a suspicion of treachery, let slip the golden opportunity. All they could be induced to promise was, that a fleet of 42 triremes should hover near the Piræus, and watch a favourable occasion for seizing it. The failure of this mission was another blow to the party of Phrynicus; and shortly afterwards that leader himself was assassinated in open daylight whilst leaving the Senate House. Some hoplites, of the same tribe as Aristocrates, now seized the fort at Eëtionea. Theramenes gave his sanction to the demolition of the fort, which was forthwith accomplished; whilst the inability of the Four Hundred to prevent it, betrayed the extent of their power, or rather of their weakness.

§ 16. The Four Hundred now appear to have taken some steps to call the 5000 into existence. But it was too late. The leaders of the counter-revolution entering armed into the theatre of Dionysus at the Piræus, formed a democratic assembly under the old forms, which adjourned to the Anaceum, or temple of

the Dioscuri, immediately under the Acropolis. Here the Four Hundred sent deputies to negotiate with them, and another assembly was appointed to be held in the theatre of Dionysus; but just as they were meeting the news arrived that the Lacedæmonian fleet was approaching the Piræus. The Athenians were immediately on the alert, and the Lacedæmonian admiral, perceiving no signs of assistance from within, doubled Cape Sunium and proceeded to Oropus. It was now plain that their object was to excite a revolt in Eubœa. In all haste the Athenians launched an inadequate fleet of 36 triremes, manned by inexperienced crews. At Eretria in Euboea it was encountered by the Lacedæmonian fleet, and completely defeated with the loss of 22 ships. Eubœa, supported by the Lacedæmonians and Boeotians, then revolted from Athens.

news.

§ 17. Great was the dismay of the Athenians on receiving this The loss of Euboea seemed a death blow. The Lacedæmonians might now easily blockade the ports of Athens and starve her into surrender; whilst the partisans of the Four Hundred would doubtless co-operate with the enemy. But from this fate they were again saved by the characteristic slowness of the Lacedæmonians, who confined themselves to securing the conquest of Eubœa. Thus left unmolested, the Athenians convened an assembly in the Pnyx. Votes were passed for deposing the Four Hundred, and placing the government in the hands of the 5000, of whom every citizen who could furnish a panoply might be a member. In short, the old constitution was restored, except that the franchise was restricted to 5000 citizens, and payment for the discharge of civil functions abolished. In subsequent assemblies, the Archons, the Senate, and other institutions were revived; and a vote was passed to recall Alcibiades and some of his friends. The number of the 5000 was never exactly observed, and was soon enlarged into universal citizenship. Thus the Four Hundred were overthrown after a reign of four months. Theramenes stood forward and impeached the leaders of the extreme oligarchical party, on the ground of their embassy to Sparta. Most of them succeeded in making their escape from Athens; but Antiphon and Archiptolemus were apprehended, condemned and executed, in spite of the admiration excited by the speech of the former in his defence. The rest were arraigned in their absence and condemned, their houses razed, and their property confiscated.

CHAPTER XXXII.

FROM THE FALL OF THE FOUR HUNDRED AT ATHENS TO THE BATTLE OF EGOSPOTAMI.

§1. State of the belligerents. § 2. Defeat of the Peloponnesians at Cynossema. 3. Capture of Cyzicus by the Athenians, and second defeat of the Peloponnesians at Abydus. §4. Arrest of Alcibiades by Tissaphernes, and his subsequent escape. Signal defeat of the Peloponnesians at Cyzicus. §5. The Athenians masters of the Bosporus. The Lacedæmonians propose a peace, which is rejected. § 6. Pharnabazus assists the Lacedæmonians. § 7. Capture of Chalcedon and Byzantium by the Athenians. 8. Return of Alcibiades to Athens. § 9. He escorts the sacred procession to Eleusis. § 10. Cyrus comes down to the coast of Asia. Lysander appointed commander of the Peloponnesian fleet. §11. Interview between Cyrus and Lysander. § 12. Alcibiades at Samos. Defeat of Antiochus at Notium. § 13. Alcibiades is dismissed. § 14. Lysander superseded by Callicratidas. Energetic measures of the latter. §15. Defeat of Conon at Mytilene, and investment of that town by Callicratidas. § 16. Excitement at Athens, and equipment of a large