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army in these few words: "All is lost, Mindarus is slain, "the soldiers want victuals, we know not what to do."

Shortly after this, Alcibiades overthrew the Lacedæmonians in fight by land at Chalcedon, took Selymbria, besieged and won Byzantium, now called Constantinople, which even in those days was a goodly, rich, and very strong city. Hereupon he returned home with very great welcome, and was made high admiral of all the navy.

But this his honour continued not long; for it was taken from him, and he driven to banish himself again, only because his lieutenant, contrary to the express command of Alcibiades, fighting with the enemies in his absence, had lost a great part of the fleet.

The second banishment of Alcibiades was to the Athenians more harmful than the first; and the loss which thereupon they received, was (though more heavy to them, yet) less to be pitied of others, than that which ensued upon his former exile. For whereas at the first, he had sought revenge upon his own city; now, as inured to adversity, he rather pitied their fury, who in time of such danger had cast out him that should have repaired their weak estate, than sought by procuring or beholding the calamity of his people, to comfort himself after injury received. Before they, who were instituted in the place of Alcibiades, arrived at the fleet, he presented battle to Lysander the Lacedæmonian admiral, who was not so confident upon his former victory as to undertake Alcibiades himself, bringing ships more in number (notwithstanding the former loss of fifteen) than his enemies had, and better ordered than they had been under his lieutenant. But when the decree of the people was published in the navy, then did Alcibiades withdraw himself to a town upon Hellespont, called Bizanthe, where he had built a castle.

SECT. XI.

The battle at Arginusa, and condemnation of the victorious Athenian captains by the people.

AFTER this time the Athenians, receiving many losses

and discomfitures, were driven to fly into the haven of Mitylene, where they were straitly besieged both by land and sea. For the raising of this siege necessity enforced them to man all their vessels, and to put the uttermost of their forces into the hazard of one battle. This battle was fought at Arginusæ, where Callicratidas, admiral of the Lacedæmonians, losing the honour of the day, preserved his own reputation by dying valiantly in the fight. It might well have been expected, that the ten captains, who jointly had command in chief over the Athenian fleet, should for that good day's service, and so happy a victory, have received great honour of their citizens. But contrariwise they were forthwith called home, and accused, as if wilfully they had suffered many of the citizens, whose ships were broken and sunk, to be cast away, when by appointing some vessels to take them up, they might have saved them from being drowned. Hereto the captains readily made a very just answer; that they pursuing the victory, had left part of the fleet under sufficient men to save those that were wrecked; which if it were not well accomplished, it was because a tempest, arising about the end of the fight, had hindered the performance of that and other their intendments. This excuse availed not; for a lewd fellow was brought forth, who said, that he himself escaping in a meal-tub had been entreated, by those who were in peril of drowning, to desire of the people revenge of their deaths upon the captains. It was very strange, that upon such an accusation, maintained with so slender evidence, men that had well deserved of their country should be overthrown. But their enemies had so incensed the rascal multitude, that no man durst absolve them, save only Socrates the wise and virtuous philosopher, whose voice in this judgment was not regarded. Six of them were put to death, of whom one had hardly escaped drowning, and was with much ado relieved by other vessels in the storm; but the captains which were absent escaped; for when the fury of the people was overpast, this judgment was reversed, and the accusers called into question for having deceived and

perverted the citizens. Thus the Athenians went about to free themselves from the infamy of injustice; but the divine justice was not asleep, nor would be so deluded.

SECT. XII.

The battle at Egos-Potamos, wherein the whole state of Athens was ruined; with the end of the Peloponnesian war.

THE Peloponnesian fleet under Lysander the year next following, having scoured the Egean seas, entered Hellespont, where, landing soldiers, it besieged and took the town of Lampsacus. Hereupon all the navy of Athens, being an hundred and fourscore sail, made thither in haste; but finding Lampsacus taken before their coming, they put in at Sestus, where having refreshed themselves, they sailed to the river called Egos-Potamos, which is (as we might name it) Goat's brook, or the river of the Goat, being on the continent opposite to Lampsacus; and there they cast anchors, not one whole league off from Lysander, who rode at Lampsacus in the harbour. The next day after their arrival they presented fight unto the Peloponnesians, who refused it, whereupon the Athenians returned again to Ægos-Potamos; and thus they continued five days, braving every day the enemy, and returning to their own harbour when it drew towards evening.

The castle of Alcibiades was not far from the navy, and his power in those places was such as might have greatly availed his countrymen, if they could have made use of it. For he had waged mercenaries, and making war in his own name upon some people of the Thracians, had gathered much wealth, and obtained much reputation among them. He, perceiving the disorderly course of the Athenian commanders, repaired unto them, and shewed what great inconvenience might grow, if they did not soon foresee and prevent it. For they lay in a road subject to every weather, neither near enough to any town where they might furnish themselves with necessaries, nor so far off as had been more expedient. Sestus was the next market-town; thither both soldiers and mariners resorted, flocking away from the navy

every day, as soon as they were returned from braving the enemy. Therefore Alcibiades willed them either to lie at Sestus, which was not far off, or at the least to consider better how near the enemy was, whose fear proceeded rather from obedience to his general than from any cowardice. This admonition was so far despised, that some of the commanders willed him to meddle with his own matters, and to remember that his authority was out of date. Had it not been for these opprobrious words, he could (as he told his familiars) have compelled the Lacedæmonians, either to fight upon unequal terms, or utterly to quit their fleet. And like enough it was that he might so have done, by transporting the light-armed Thracians his confederates, and others his followers, over the straits, who assaulting the Peloponnesians by land would either have compelled them to put to sea, or else to leave their ships to the mercy of the Athenians. But finding their acceptance of his good counsel no better than hath been rehearsed, he left them to their fortune, which how evil it would be he did prognos

ticate.

Lysander all this while defending himself by the advantage of his haven, was not careless in looking into the demeanour of the Athenians. When they departed, his manner was to send forth some of his swiftest vessels after them, who observing their doings, related unto him what they had seen. Therefore understanding in what careless fashion they roamed up and down the country, he kept all his men aboard after their departure; and the fifth day gave especial charge to his scouts, that when they perceived the Athenians disembarking, as their custom was, and walking towards Sestus, they should forthwith return, and hang up a brasen shield in the prow as a token for him to weigh anchor.

The scouts performed their charge, and Lysander being in a readiness, made all speed that strength of oars could give to Egos-Potamos, where he found very few of his enemies aboard their ships, not many near them, and all in great confusion upon the news of his approach.

Insomuch that the greatest industry which the Athenians then shewed was in the escape of eight or nine ships, which, knowing how much that loss imported, gave over Athens as desperate, and made a long flight unto the isle of Cyprus,, all the rest were taken, and such of the soldiers as came in to the rescue cut in pieces. Thus was the war which had lasted seven and twenty years, with variable success, concluded in one hour, and the glory of Athens in such wise eclipsed, that she never afterward shone again in her perfect light.

Immediately upon this victory, Lysander, having taken in such towns as readily did yield upon the first fame of his exploit, set sail for Athens, and joining his forces with those of Agis and Pausanias, kings of Sparta, summoned the city, which finding too stubborn to yield, and too strong to be won on the sudden, he put forth again to sea; and rather by terror than violence compelling all the islands, and such towns of the Ionians as had formerly held of the Athenians, to submit themselves to Sparta, he did thereby cut off all provision of victuals and other necessaries from the city, and enforced the people by mere famine to yield to these conditions: That the long walls, leading from the town to the port, should be thrown down; that all cities subject to their estate should be set at liberty; that the Athenians should be masters only of their own territories, and the fields adjoining to their town, and that they should keep no more than twelve ships; that they should hold as friends or enemies the same whom the Lacedæmonians did, and follow the Lacedæmonians as leaders in the wars.

These articles being agreed upon, the walls were thrown down with great rejoicing of those who had borne displeasure to Athens; and not without some consultation of destroying the city, and laying waste the land about it. Which advice, although it was not entertained, yet were thirty governors, or rather cruel tyrants, appointed over the people, who recompensed their former insolency and injustice over their captains, by oppressing them with all base and intolerable slavery.

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