And to this purpose they concluded, that every one of them should name one man upon whose goods he should seize, putting the owner to death. But when Theramenes uttered his detestation of so wicked intent, then did Critias, who of all the thirty was most tyrannical, accuse him to the council as a treacherous man, and (whereas one main privilege of the three thousand was, that none of them should suffer death at the appointment of the thirty, but have the accustomed trial) he took upon him to strike out of that number the name of Theramenes, and so reduced him under the trial and sentence of that order. It was well alleged by Theramenes, that his name was not more easy to be blotted out of the catalogue than any other man's, upon which consideration he advised them all to conceive no otherwise of his case than as of their own, who were liable to the same form of proceeding; but (every man choosing rather to preserve his own life by silence, than presently to draw upon himself the danger which as yet concerned him little, and perhaps would never come near him) the tyrants, interpreting silence as consent, condemned him forthwith, and compelled him to drink poison.

SECT. III.

The conspiracy against the thirty tyrants, and their deposition. AFTER the death of Theramenes, the thirty began to use such outrage as excelled their former villainies. For having three thousand (as they thought) firm unto them, they robbed all others without fear or shame, despoiling them of lands and goods, and causing them to fly into banishment for safeguard of their lives. This flight of the citizens procured their liberty, and the general good of the city for the banished citizens, who were fled to Thebes, entered into consultation, and resolved to hazard their lives in setting free the city of Athens. The very thought of such a practice had been treason at home, which had no other danger abroad than might be found in the execution. Seventy men, or thereabout, were the first undertakers, who, with their captain Thrasybulus, took Phyla, a place

of strength in the territory of Athens. No sooner did the thirty hear of their exploit, than seek means to prevent further danger, assembling the three thousand and their Lacedæmonian guard, with which force they attempted Phyla, but were with some loss of their men repelled. Finding the place too strong to be taken by assault, they intended to besiege it; which purpose came to nought by means of snow that fell, and other stormy weather, against which they had not made provision. Retiring therefore to the city, which above all they were to make good, they left the most of their guard, and two companies of horse, to weary out them which lay in Phyla, with a flying siege. But it was not long ere the followers of Thrasybulus were increased from seventy to seven hundred, which adventured to give charge upon those guards, of whom they cut off above an hundred and twenty. These small but prosperous beginnings added more to the number of those in Phyla, who now with a thousand men got entrance into Piræus, the suburb of Athens, lying on the port. Before their coming, the thirty had resolved to fortify the town of Eleusine to their own use, whereinto they might make an easy retreat, and save themselves from any sudden peril. It may well seem strange, that whereas their barbarous manner of government had brought them into such danger, they were so far from seeking to obtain men's good will, that, contrariwise, to assure themselves of Eleusine, they got all of the place who could bear arms into their hands by a train, and wickedly (though under form of justice) murdered them all. But, sceleribus tutum per scelera est iter, the mischiefs which they had already done were such as left them no hope of going backward, nor any other apparent likelihood of safety, than by extending their cruelty unto all, seeing few or none were left whom they could trust. When Thrasybulus and his fellows, who as yet were termed conspirators, had taken the Piræus, then were the three thousand armed again by the tyrants, and brought to assault it; but in this enterprise Thrasybulus had the better, and repelled his enemies, of whom although there were

slain to the number of seventy only, yet the victory seemed the greater, because Critias, and one other of the thirty, perished in that fight. The death of Critias, and the stout defence of Piræus, together with some exhortations used by Thrasybulus to the citizens, wrought such effect that the thirty were deposed. Nevertheless there were so many of the three thousand, who, having communicated with the thirty in their misdeeds, feared to be called to a sharp account, that no peace nor quiet form of government could be established. For ambassadors were sent to Sparta, who, craving aid against Thrasybulus and his followers, had favourable audience, and a power sent to their assistance, both by land and sea, under the conduct of Lysander and his brother, whom Pausanias the Spartan king did follow, raising an army of the cities confederate with the Lacedæmonians. And here appeared first the jealousy, wherein some people held the state of Sparta. The Boeotians and Corinthians, who in the late wars had been the most bitter enemies to Athens, refused to follow Pausanias in this expedition, alleging that it stood not with their oaths to make war against that people, who had not hitherto broken any one article of the league; but fearing, indeed, lest the Lacedæmonians should annex the territory of Athens to their own domains. It is not to be doubted that Pausanias took this answer in good part: for it was not his purpose to destroy those against whom he went, but only to cross the proceedings of Lysander, whom he envied. Therefore, having in some small skirmishes against them of Thrasybulus' party made a show of war, he finally wrought such means that all things were compounded quietly; the thirty men, and such others as were like to give cause of tumult, being sent to Sparta. The remainder of that tyrannical faction, having withdrawn themselves to Eleusine, were shortly after found to attempt some innovation, whereupon the whole city rising against them, took their captains, as they were coming to parley, and slew them; which done, to avoid further inconvenience, a law was made that all injuries past should be forgotten, and no man called into question for

wrongs committed. By which order, wisely made and care. fully observed, the city returned to her former quietness.

CHAP. X.

Of the expedition of Cyrus the younger.

SECT. I.

The grounds of Cyrus's attempt against his brother. THE matters of Greece now standing upon such terms that no one estate durst oppose itself against that of Lacedæmon, young Cyrus, brother to Artaxerxes king of Persia, having in his father's lifetime very carefully prosecuted the war against Athens, did send his messengers to Sparta, requesting that their love might appear no less to him, than that which he had shewed towards them in their dangerous war against the Athenians. To this request, being general, the Lacedæmonians gave a suitable answer, commanding their admiral to perform unto Cyrus all service that he should require of him. If Cyrus had plainly discovered himself, and the Lacedæmonians bent their whole power to his assistance, very like it is that either the kingdom of Persia should have been the recompense of his deserts, or that he perishing in battle, as after he did, the subversion of that empire had forthwith ensued. But it pleased God rather to shew unto the Greeks the ways which under the Macedonian ensigns the victorious footsteps of their posterity should measure; and opening unto them the riches, and withal the weakness of the Persian, to kindle in them both desire and hope of that conquest, which he reserved to another generation, than to give into their hands that mighty kingdom, whose hour was not yet come. The love which Parysatis, the queen-mother of Persia, bare unto Cyrus her younger son, being seconded by the earnest favour of the people and ready desires of many principal men, had moved this young prince in his father's old age to aspire after the succession. But being sent for

by his father, (as hath before been shewed,) whose meaning was to curb this ambitious youth, he found his elder brother Artaxerxes established so surely by the old king's favour, that it were not safe to attempt any means of displanting him, by whose disfavour himself might easily lose the place of a viceroy, which he held in Asia the Less, and hardly be able to maintain his own life. The nearest neighbour to Cyrus of all the king's deputies in the Lower Asia was Tissaphernes, a man compounded of cowardice, treachery, craft, and all vices which accustomably branch out of these. This man accompanied Cyrus to his father, using by the way all fair shows of friendship, as to a prince for whom it might well be thought that queen Parysatis had obtained the inheritance of that mighty empire. And it was very true that Parysatis had used the best of her endeavour to that purpose, alleging that (which in former ages had been much available to Xerxes, in the like disceptation with his elder brother) Artaxerxes was born whilst his father was a private man, but Cyrus, when he was a crowned king. All which not sufficing, when the most that could be obtained for Cyrus was the pardon of some presumptuous demeanour, and confirmation of his place in Lydia, and the parts adjoining; then did this Tissaphernes discover his nature, and accuse his friend Cyrus to the new king Artaxerxes of a dangerous treason intended against his person. Upon this accusation, whether true or false, very easily believed, Cyrus was arrested, and by the most vehement entreaty of his mother very hardly delivered, and sent back into his own province.

SECT. II.

The preparations of Cyrus, and his first entry into the war. THE form of government which the Persian lieutenants used in their several provinces was in many points almost regal. For they made war and peace, as they thought it meet, not only for the king's behoof, but for their own reputation, usually indeed with the king's enemies, yet sometimes one with another; which was the more easily tolerated,