he, but Achilles himself,' l such a man as Lycurgus
trained " ; but judging by what he actually felt and
did, one might have cried with the poet, " 'Tis the
selfsame woman still 2 ! "
For while Agis the king was away on his campaigns,
Alcibiades corrupted Timaea his wife, so that she was
with child by him and made no denial of it. When
she had given birth to a male child, it was called
Leotychides in public, but in private the name which
the boy's mother whispered to her friends and
attendants was Alcibiades. Such was the passion
that possessed the woman. But he, in his mocking
way, said he had not done this thing for a wanton
insult, nor at the behest of mere pleasure, but in
order that descendants of his might be kings of the
Lacedaemonians. Such being the state of things,
there were many to tell the tale to Agis, and he be-
lieved it, more especially owing to the lapse of time.
which Plutarch uses entire in Morals, p. 51 c. Of. Nauck,
Trag. Grate. Fry. z p. 907.
2 Electra, of Helen, in Euripides, Orestes, 129.
65
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
TO) xpovw /zaXicrra, OTL (TetcT/toO yevop,evov <po/3r)-
#ei9 e^eBpape TOV 0a\dfjiou rrapa TT}? yvvai/cos,
LTa BeKa /JLI^VWV ov/cert, Gvvi}\0ev avrfj, /xed' 01)9
yevofJievov TOV AecoTV%iBr)v dire^^aev e avrov yu,r)
yeyovevai. KOI Bia rovro rr)? /SacrtXeta? e^eirecrev
varepov
XXIV. Mera Se TV ev %i/e\ia rwv ^
eTrpecrftevaav et? ^TrdpTiji* apa Xtot
Aecrftioi KOI K.v%i/cr)vol Trepl air o a r acre &>? .
d^ov Be KuY/e?7i'Ot9,
ef\,ovTO Xtot? Trpb Trdvrwv fBor]9elv. K7r\evaas 204
Se KOL auro? aTrea'TrjO'ev oXL^ov Selv aTraaav
'Iwviav, KOI 7ro\Xa OTVVGDV rot? TWV Aa/ce^ai-
[jioviwv a-TparijyoLS 6/3A-a7TT6 TOU9
o 8' *Ary9 e%0pos /jLev vTTJjp^ev avTw SLCL
>yvva2/ca Aca/cco? TreirovOcos, ij^Oero Be /cal rfj Boj;r)'
TO, yap TrXetcrra ryiveaOcu /cal Trpo^wpelv B
o uvaT(t)TaTOi KOL ()i.OTijiraroi TOV
efBapvvovro Bia Qovov. la")(ycrav ovv
KCU SieTrpd^aino TOU? oixoQev ap^ovra^ eim-
ajelXai TT^OO? '\wviav OTTO)? aTTOKreivwo'iv avTov.
3 'O S* ^CTU^T} Trpoyvovs /cal <fro(3ri6els rwv fjLev
7rpdeo)v iraaMV efcotvcavei, rot? AaKeBai/AovLois, TO
5' et? %eipas levai TravTairaaiv ecpewye, Ticracfcepvr)
Be, TW /3acr^Xea)9 aaTpdrrrj, 801)9 eavrov virep
ev6v<$ rjv Trap* avTW 7T/owT09 KOI
TO fiev yap Tro\VTpoTrov Kal rrepiTTov
1 Cf. Lysander, xxii. 4-6.
2 With these words the two years which had elapsed since
the flight of Alcibiades (xxii. 1) are passed over, so far as the
66
ALCIBIADES, xxm. 8-xxiv. 4
There had been an earthquake, and he had run in
terror out of his chamber and the arms of his wife,
and then for ten months had had no further inter-
course with her. And since Leoty chides had been
born at the end of this period, Agis declared that lie
was no child of his. For this reason Leotychides
was afterwards refused the royal succession. 1
XXIV. After the Athenian disaster in Sicily, 2 the
Chians, Lesbians, and Cyzicenes sent embassies at
the same time to Sparta, to discuss a revolt from
Athens. But though the Boeotians supported the
appeal of the Lesbians, and Pharnabazus that of the
Cyzicenes, the Spartans, under the persuasion of
Alcibiades, elected to help the Chians first of all.
Alcibiades actually set sail in person and brought
almost all Ionia to revolt, and, in constant association
with the Lacedaemonian generals, wrought injury to
the Athenians. But Agis was hostile to him because
of the wrong he had suffered as a husband, and he
was also vexed at the repute in which Alcibiades
stood; for most of the successes won were due to him,
as report had it. The most influential and ambitious
of the other Spartans also were already envious and
tired of him, and soon grew strong enough to induce
the magistrates at home to send out orders to Ionia
that he be put to death.
His stealthy discovery of this put him on his guard,
and while in all their undertakings he took part with
the Lacedaemonians, he sedulously avoided coming
into their hands. Then, resorting to Tissaphernes,
the King's satrap, for safety, he was soon first and
foremost in that grandee's favour. For his versatility
Sicilian expedition is concerned. They are covered by the
narrative of the Nicias (xv.-xxx.).
67
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
avrou r?}? BeivonjTos OUK cov aTrXoO?, d\\d
caKotjOrjs Kol d)i\O7r6i>r)p<'S, fOav/jLa^ev o $dpf3apo<$'
TGU? Se K.aff rjfjiepav eV TOO crv(7^o\d^eiv Kal avv-
$iaird(r@at, %dptcriv ovStv rjv aTejKrov ^o? OL8e
0ycri9 avaXwros, a\\a Kal SeSiocn Kal fyOcvovcrLV
6'yLtw? TO (TvyyeveaOai Kal Trpoai&eiv CKeii'Ov rj&o-
5 vi')V TLva Kal fyi\o$>poa-vvr)v Trapei^e. raXX* ovv
wv Kal /jLicr\\7)v ev rot? fjLciX.icna Tiepcrwv o
&r Ko\a-
aurov
wv ydp e/ce/cT^ro 7rapa&CLcrcoi> TOP Ka\-
\IGTOV Kal v8dra)v Kal \eifJi(ji)V(jL)V vjLeivwv evKtv,
c^ovra Kal
Kal Treirrws, 'A\.Ki/3id$rv Ka\elv
0ero' Kal Trai'Te? ovrco Ka\ovvres Kal Trpocra-
yopevovres $ieTe\ovv.
XXV. 'ATTOY/'OU? ovv o 'A\Ki/3id8iy<; rd
a>? ciirKj-ra, KOI (pofiov/jievos rov
, EKUKOV KO.I &l/3aX\ 7T/90? TOV T L(Ta(f)epl"rjV,
OVK e(ov /Boijdeiv avrois 7rpo6i>iJi(jL><$ ovBe KaraXveiv
0\i(3eiv Kal aTTOKvat'eiv arpejj,a Kal TTOLCLV djjL(>o-
Tepovs ftacn\ei ^eipoijOeis Kal KaraTrovovs VTT'
2 d\\i)\(ov. 6 8' eTreiOero pa&iu>s Kal /}Ao? r)v
6avuda>v, war d7ro/3\errecrOai TOV
eKarepwOev VTTO rcov 'RXXyjvcov, roi;?
jLeTaueXeaOai rot? yvwaOeicn irepl
avrov KaKws Trda-^ovra^, d^eadai Be
Kal tyoftelcrOai /j.rj Travrdivacfi TT}?
VTTO AaKeBai/jLovioi? yevrjrat.
68
ALCIBIADES, xxiv. 4~xxv. 2
and surpassing cleverness were the admiration of the
Barbarian, who was no straightforward man himself,
but malicious and fond of evil company. And indeed
no disposition could resist and no nature escape
Alcibiades, so full of grace was his daily life and
conversation. Even those who feared and hated
him felt a rare and winning charm in his society
and presence. And thus it was that Tissaphernes,
though otherwise the most ardent of the Persians in
his hatred of the Hellenes, so completely surrendered
to the flatteries of Alcibiades as to outdo him in
reciprocal flatteries. Indeed, the most beautiful park
he had, both for its refreshing waters and grateful
lawns, with resorts and retreats decked out in
regal and extravagant fashion, he named Alcibiades ;
everyone always called it by that name.
XXV. Alcibiades now abandoned the cause of the
Spartans, since he distrusted them and feared Agis,
and began to malign and slander them to Tissa-
phernes. He advised him not to aid them very
generously, and yet not to put down the Athenians
completely, but rather by niggardly assistance to
straiten and gradually wear out both, and so make
them easy victims for the King when they had weak-
ened and exhausted each other. Tissaphernes was
easily persuaded, and all men saw that he loved and
admired his new adviser, so that Alcibiades was
looked up to by the Hellenes on both sides, and the
Athenians repented themselves of the sentence they
had passed upon him, now that they were suffering
for it. Alcibiades himself also was presently burdened
with the fear that if his native city were altogether
destroyed, he might come into the power of the
Lacedaemonians, who hated him.
69
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
Be rrj ^day rare rfdvra rd TT pay par a rot?
o"%eBov V7rf)p%' KaiceWev oppwuevoL rrj
vavriKrj Bwduei, ra uev dveKrwvro ra>v d(f>e-
, ra B' ecf)v\arrov ayuw? ye TTO)? ert rot?
Kara 6d\arrav 6Vre? a^io/^a^ot, Tt-
Be (frofiovfAevoi /cal ra? \eyofjievas oaov
ovrrw rrapelvai 4>oi^crcra9 rpirfpeis rrevrrjtcovra
/cal e/carov ovcras, &v afyiKo^zvwv ovSe/ALa crw-
4 rrjpias eX,7rt9 vTreke'nrero rrj rro\ei. ravra 8*
'AXKi/3id$T]$ eVe/ATre Kpvfya TT/JO? TOU? eV
Svvarovs rwv ' P^Orjvaiwv, e'XTTtSa?
rov ^icra^epv^v <j)i\ov, ov rot?
ovBe rciarevwv exeivois, a\\a rot?
, el rokfJL^creiav dvSpes dyaOol yevo^evoi
l Trava-avres v/3piovra rov br/fjiov avrol $i
eavrwv (rut^eiv ra IT pay par a Kal rr)v rro\iv.
5 Ol /JLev ovv a\\OL &(f)6$pa Trpo(rel*)(pv ra)
*A.\Ki(3id$r)' rwv 8e crrparriywv els, Qpvvi'xos
o AetyoaStft)T;9, vrrorr rev eras, orrep r)V, rov ' "A\/a-
ov&ev 11 jJLa\\ov o\Lyap-%ias r) Sr)/j,oicpa-
Seo/Jievov, fyrovvra Be rrdvrws Kare\6elv,
K 8t,a{3o\rjs rov Srfuov rrpoGeparreveiv Kal VTTO-
SvecrBai TOL*? Si^aroi^?, dvOia-raro. Kparovpevos
Be rf) yvwjjir} Kal fyavepws JjBrf rov *A\Ki/3idBov
yeyovcos e%@pos, eijyyei\6 Kpv<pa TT/JO? \\ari>o%ov 205
rov ra)v rro\eiuwv vavap%ov, eyKe\v6uevo<;
(f)v\drrecr0ai Kal (rv\\a/jL/3dviv &>? ercafjL^orepi-
6 %ovra rov AX/eifttdSyv. e\6\ij@i> S' dpa TrpoBo-
70
ALCIBIADES, xxv. 3-6
At this time l almost all the forces of Athens were
at Samos. From this island as their naval base of
operations they were trying to win back some of their
Ionian allies who had revolted, and were watching
others who were disaffected. After a fashion they
still managed to cope with their enemies on the
sea, but they were afraid of Tissaphernes and of the
fleet of one hundred and fifty Phoenician triremes
which was said to be all but at hand ; if this once
came up, no hope of safety was left for their city.
Alcibiades was aware of this, and sent secret mes-
sages to the influential Athenians at Samos, in which
he held out the hope that he might bring Tissaphernes
over to be their friend. He did not seek, he said,
the favour of the multitude, nor trust them, but
rather that of the aristocrats, in case they would
venture to show themselves men, put a stop to the
insolence of the people, take the direction of affairs
into their own hands, and save their cause and city.
Now the rest of the aristocrats were much inclined
to Alcibiades. But one of the generals, Phrynichus,
of the deme Deirades, suspected (what was really
the case) that Alcibiades had no more use for an
oligarchy than for a democracy, but merely sought in
one way or another a recall from exile, and therefore
inveighed against the people merely to court betimes
the favour of the aristocrats, and ingratiate himself
with them. He therefore opposed him. When his
opinion had been overborne and he was now become
an open enemy of Alcibiades, he sent a secret mes-
sage to Astyochus, the enemy's naval commander,
bidding him beware of Alcibiades and arrest him, for
that he was playing a double game. But without his
1 During the winter of 412-411 B.C.
7'
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
TT?? TrpoSoTrj &ia\ey6fAi>o$. TOV yap Ti(Ta$>epvr)v
K7reTr\y]y/jivo<; 6 'Acrruo^o?, Kal TOV 'A\Ki/3id&r)v
opwv Trap 1 avTw /J.eyav ovTa, KaTe/uiijvva-e TO,
TOV <&pvi LX QV 7T/30? avTov^. o 6'
eh ^Ldfjiov 7re/JLifre TOU<? rov
ayavaKTOvvrwv Be irdvrwv KCL\
eirl TOV <&pvvt-%ov, ov% op&v
erepav &ta(f)vyr)v etc TWV rrapovrwv eTrexeiprjcrev
KCLKU) TO KCLKOV, avOts ydp
vrpo? TOV 'A<TTvo%ov, ey/ca\(ov pev vTrep
, 7rayye\\6/ji6vos be ra? i^aO? KOI
TO (TTpaTOTreSov TMV 'AOrjvaLWV V7ro%eipiov CLVTW
7rapej;iv.
Ov /JirjV e/3\a\^e 76 TO 1)9 'AQrjvaiovs r) TOV
<t>pvvi%ov Trpo&ocrLa Sia Tr)V 'AcrTv6%ov 7ra\i/j,-
Trpobocriav. /ecu yap TavTa /caTelire TOV
8 Trpo? TOU? Trepl TOV 'A\Ki/3tdo'i]v. 6 be
TrpoaicrOoiJievos KOI Trpoa-Se^of^ei'O^ SevTepav
yopuav Trapa TOV 'A\Ki/3id&ov, (frffdcras
TrpoeiTre TO!? 'AOyvaLois OTL fjLe\\ovdLV e
01 TToXe/jiioi, /cal rraprjvea-e TT/OO? rat9 vavcrlv
9 elvai Kal TreptTei^tcrai TO aTpaTorreBov. eVel
8e TrpaTTovTwv TavTa TMV ' AOrjvaiwv rjKe ypd/j,-
paTa Trd\iv Trapa TOV 'AX.tciftido'ov, (f)v\aTTecr@ai
KG\eVOVTO$ TOV ^pVVL^OV O)? TTpofclSoVTa TOt?
TroXe/i/oi? TOI^ vaixTTaOfJiov, ^TriaTrjaav oio/j-cvoi
TOV 'AXfciftidSriv el&oTa o~a(^ct>9 TTJV TWV TTO\/J.LWV
Trapaa-Kevrjv Kal Sidvoiav dTroxpfjaOai Tryoo? TJJV
10 TOU typwi^ov &ia/3o\r]v OVK a\f)0&$.
72
ALCIBIADES, xxv. 6-10
knowing it, it was a case of traitor dealing with traitor.
For Astyochus was much in awe of Tissaphernes,
and seeing that Alcibiades had great power with the
satrap, he disclosed the message of Phrynichus to
them both. Alcibiades at once sent men to Samos
to denounce Phrynichus. All the Athenians there
were incensed and banded themselves together
against Phrynichus, who, seeing no other escape
from his predicament, attempted to cure one evil by
another and a greater. He sent again to Astyochus,
chiding him indeed for his disclosure of the former
message, but announcing that he stood ready to de-
liver into his hands the fleet and army of the
Athenians.
However, this treachery of Phrynichus did not
harm the Athenians at all, because of the fresh
treachery of Astyochus. This second message of
Phrynichus also he delivered to Alcibiades. But
Phrynichus knew all the while that he would do so,
and expected a second denunciation from Alcibiades.
So he got the start of him by telling the Athenians
himself that the enemy were going to attack them,
and advising them to have their ships manned and
their camp fortified. The Athenians were busy doing
this when again a letter came from Alcibiades bidding
them beware of Phrynichus, since he had offered to
betray their fleet to the enemy. This letter they
disbelieved at the time, supposing that Alcibiades,
who must know perfectly the equipment and
purposes of the enemy, had used his knowledge in
order to calumniate Phrynichus falsely. Afterwards, l
1 In the summer of 411 B.C., Phrynichus having been
deposed from his command at Samos, and showing himself
an ardent supporter of the revolutionary Four Hundred at
Athens.
73
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
lievTOi rbv Qpvviyov e^o? TCOI; 7re/K7ro\&>i/'Ep / u&>z>09
ev dyopa rraTa^avTOS ey)(6iptSi,tp KOI $tct(f)di-
, ol 'AOrjvaioi Sircr)? yevop,evr]^ TOV
Trpoboaiav /careen] fyiuavTO
TOV ' "Epjjiwva fcal TOVS yu,er' avrov
XXVI. 'Ey 8e TT) ^dfjioy Tore KpaTijcravT<> ol
aarv KivrjcrovTa TIJV TTO\iTeiav /cal TrapaOap-
pvvovvra TOU? Sf i^arou? TWV Trpay/jidTWV dvri\aiJL-
i real KCLTa\veiv TOV BfjfJLOV, ft)? ejri
TOV y A\Ki/3i,dSov liLcrcMpepvrjV aurot?
/cal (TV/jifMa^ov Trape^ovros. avTrj yap
rjv Trpo^acris KOL TOVTO irpocf^^a rot?
2 TIJV o\i<yapxiav. eVel 8' la-^vaav real
TO, Trpdy/jiaTa ol TrevTCLKio")(ji\ioi:
T6Tpa/CO(TLOL &6 OVTCS, \d%l(TTa Tto
KOI fJLa\aKO)Tepov ^TTTOVTO TOV
TCL JULV CLTCiaTOVVTZS Ti
r]V ^evoTraOovGL rot? TroXtrat?, ra
jJLa\\ov evScocreiv aurot? AaKeSaijiiovi
3 del ?rpo? oXiyap^iav eViT^8et&)? eyovras.
JJLGV OVV KCLTa TTjV TTO\l,V Sfj/jiOS CLKWV VTTO
r)y' /cal ydp dTrea-^dyrja'av OVK
evavTiovfjievwv tyavepws rot?
ol 8' ev ^a/io) TavTa TrvvOavo/jievoi /cal djava/c-
Tr\elv ev9vs eVl TOV Tleipaid,
/cal jLTa7r6/uL-rdjii>oL TOV
<yov
TOU? Tvpdvvov?.
</"v f tt
(J o ov% OLOV av
74
eKe\evov ziaQai /cal
ALCIBIADES, xxv. IO-XXVL 4
however, when Hermon, 1 one of the frontier guard;
had smitten Phrynichus with a dagger and slain him
in the open market-place, the Athenians tried the
case of the dead man, found him guilty of treachery,
and awarded crowns to Hermon and his accomplices.
XXVI. But at Samos the friends of Alcibiades
soon got the upper hand, and sent Peisander to
Athens to change the form of government. He was
to encourage the leading men to overthrow the de-
mocracy and take control of affairs, with the plea
that on these terms alone would Alcibiades make
Tissaphernes their friend and ally. This was the
pretence and this the pretext of those who estab-
lished the oligarchy at Athens. But as soon as the
so-called Five Thousand (they were really only four
hundred) got the power and took control of affairs,
they at once neglected Alcibiades entirely, and
waged the war with less vigour, partly because they
distrusted the citizens, who still looked askance at
the new form of government, and partly because
they thought that the Lacedaemonians, who always
looked with favour on an oligarchy, would be more
lenient towards them. The popular party in the city
was constrained by fear to keep quiet, because many
of those who openly opposed the Four Hundred had
been slain. But when the army in Samos learned
what had been done at home, they were enraged,
and were eager to sail forthwith to the Piraeus, and
sending for Alcibiades, they appointed him general,
and bade him lead them in putting down the tyrants.
An ordinary man, thus suddenly raised to great
1 The name is wrong, and has crept into the story by an
error which can be traced. Hermon was "commander of the
frontier guard stationed at Munychia " (Thuc. yiii, 92, 5).
75
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
7ro\\a)V /jieyas yeyoviios erraOe KOI rjya
irdvra Sew evOvs oto/ze^o? ^api^ecrdai KOI
dvTLkeyeiv roi? e/c 7r\dvr]TO<; KOI (frvyd&os avrov
vewv TOGOVTWV teal crrparoTreBov KCL\
rjyejAova KOL
OTrep rjv ap^ovn fjieyacp Trpocrrjfcov,
Tore yovv TO, 7rpdyfj,ara rfj TroXet 7repi(f)ava)<>
5 ecra>cre^. el yap apavres aTreirXevcrav oi
airacrav, real TOV 'RXXijcrTrovTOv 1 d/j,a%i, Kal 206
ra? i^crou?, 'A.Qr]vaiois 5e vrpo? 'AQsyvaiows
fJLCL")(<j6ai TOV 7TO\/jiOV 6i9 TTJV 7TO\il> )Ji(3a\6vTa<;'
ov /JLOVOS /jLaXtcrra yu.r) yeve&dai, $tetc(i)\vcrev o
'AXjetyStaSiy?, ov [JLOVOV Treidwv KOL SiSdafcwv TO
TrXr^o?, d\\a Kal tcaO* eva TOU? p,ev dvriftoXwv,
6 TWV 5' 7TL\a/jL/3av6/jievos. avv^nrpaiie S' avrco
/cal pacrv/3ov\o5 6 ^reipievs aytta Trapcov Kal
)?' rjv ydp, &)9 \eyerai,
'E/ceti>o re 8^ KO\OV TOV *A\Ki/3idBov
Seurepov, OTL uTrocr^oyu-e/'O? ra? Qoivicrcras vavs,
a? TTpoae^e^ovro AaKeSai/noviot /3acn\(a<; Tre/j,-
) /JLerao-T^aeiv TT/^O? auroi)? 17 8ia7rpde-
e Trpo? ixeivovs KOfjLicr6r)vai, Sid
Kal Ta?
OVK tfyayev 6 Tiaa<ppi>7j<?, aXA,'
TOU? AaKeSai/jioviovs, rrjv 8' alriav
TOV dTTOTpetyai Trap dfjL^OTepoi^ o 'A\Ki/3id$rj<i
1 at T^ EA \T\airovTov Bekker
7 6
ALCIBIADES, xxvi. 4-7
power by the favour of the multitude, would have
been full of complaisance, thinking that he must at
once gratify them in all things and oppose them in
nothing, since they had made him, instead of a
wandering exile, leader and general of such a fleet
and of so large an armed force. But Alcibiades, as
became a great leader, felt that he must oppose them
in their career of blind fury, and prevented them from
making a fatal mistake. Therefore in this instance,
at least, he was the manifest salvation of the city.
For had they sailed off home, their enemies might at
once have occupied all Ionia, the Hellespont without
a battle, and the islands, while Athenians were
fighting Athenians and making their own city the
seat of war. Such a war Alcibiades, more than any
other one man, prevented, not only persuading and
instructing the multitude together, but also, taking
them man by man, supplicating some and constraining
others. He had a helper, too, in Thrasybulus of
Steiris, 1 who went along with him and did the
shouting ; for he had, it is said, the biggest voice of
all the Athenians.
A second honourable proceeding of Alcibiades
was his promising to bring over to their side the
Phoenician ships which the King had sent out and
the Lacedaemonians were expecting, or at least to
see that those expectations were not realized, and
his sailing off swiftly on this errand. The ships
were actually seen off Aspendus, but Tissaphernes
did not bring them up, and thereby played the
Lacedaemonians false. Alcibiades, however, was
1 This illustrious commander, the son of Lycus, is to be
distinguished from Thrasybulus, the son of Thraso (chapter
xxxvi. 1).
77
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
, Kal /jid\\ov en irapd rot?
a)? BiBdo-Kcov TOV fidpfiapov avTOvs {><' avrcov
Trepiopav aTroXXu/xeVou? TOU? f/ EXX?/^a?. ov jap
rjv aBr)\ov on rot? eVe/>o9 Bvisa/jLis rocrav-rr]
rovs ere/jou? dfiypeiTO KOjJuSf) TO
XXVII. 'E/c roirrou /careXvOrjcrav /jiev ol rerpa-
KOOTiOL, TWV 'AX/Cf/Sttt^OL' (f)i\COV TTpoOvfJiWS <TV\-
rot? ra BqfjLOV fypovovui' /3oiXo-
Be TWV ev adTet, teal Ke\,ev6vTwv Kcmevai
TOV ' ' K\KL(3id$r)v auro? wero SetV yu.^ Kevals X P a ' L
dirpaKTOis, OL/CT(O teal j^dpLTi TWV 7ro\\wv,
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ALCIBIADES, xxvi. y-xxvn. 3
credited with this diversion of the ships by both
parties, and especially by the Lacedaemonians. The
charge was that he instructed the Barbarian to
suffer the Hellenes to destroy one another. For it
was perfectly clear that the side to which such a
naval force attached itself would rob the other
altogether of the control of the sea.
XXVII. After this the Four Hundred were over-
thrown, 1 the friends of Alcibiades now zealously
assisting the party of the people. Then the city
willingly ordered Alcibiades to come back home.
But he thought he must not return with empty
hands and without achievement, through the pity
and favour of the multitude, but rather in a blaze of
glory. So, to begin with, he set sail with a small
fleet from Samos and cruised off' Cnidus and Cos.
There he heard that Mindarus the Spartan admiral
had sailed off to the Hellespont with his entire
fleet, followed by the Athenians, and so he hastened
to the assistance of their generals. By chance he
came up, with his eighteen triremes, at just that
critical point when both parties, having joined
battle with all their ships off Abydos, and sharing
almost equally in victory and defeat until evening,
were locked in a great struggle. The appearance
of Alcibiades inspired both sides with a false opinion
of his coming : the enemy were emboldened and the
Athenians were confounded. But he quickly hoisted
Athenian colours on his flagship and darted straight
upon the victorious and pursuing Peloponnesians.
Routing them, he drove them to land, and following
hard after them, rammed and shattered their ships.
1 They usurped the power in June, of 411 B.C. ; they fell
in September of the same year.
79
PLUTARCH'S LIVES
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80
ALCIBIADES, xxvu. 3 -xxviii. 2
Their crews swam ashore, and here Pharnabazus
came to their aid with his infantry and fought along
the beach in defence of their ships. But finally the
Athenians captured thirty of them, rescued their
own, and erected a trophy of victory.
Taking advantage of a success so brilliant as this,
and ambitious to display himself at once before
Tissaphernes, Alcibiades supplied himself with gifts
of hospitality and friendship and proceeded, at the
head of an imperial retinue, to visit the satrap.
His reception, however, was not what he expected.
Tissaphernes had for a long time been accused by
the Lacedaemonians to the King, and being in fear
of the King's condemnation, it seemed to him that
Alcibiades had come in the nick of time. So he
arrested him and shut him up in Sardis, hoping that
such an outrage upon him as this would dispel the