CHAPTER LXIV.

FROM THE ARRIVAL OF CYRUS THE YOUNGER IN ASIA MINOR DOWN TO THE BATTLE OF ARGINUSÆ.

Cyrus the younger—effects of his coming down to Asia Minor.—Pharnabazus detains the Athenian envoys.—Lysander—Lacedæmonian admiral in Asia.—Proceedings of the preceding admiral, Kratesippidas.—Lysander visits Cyrus at Sardis.—His dexterous policy—he acquires the peculiar esteem of Cyrus.—Abundant pay of the Peloponnesian armament, furnished by Cyrus.—Factions organized by Lysander among the Asiatic cities.—Proceedings of Alkibiadês in Thrace and Asia.—His arrival at Athens.—Feelings and details connected with his arrival.—Unanimous welcome with which he is received.—Effect produced upon Alkibiadês.—Sentiment of the Athenians towards him.—Disposition to refrain from dwelling on his previous wrongs, and to give him a new trial.—Mistaken confidence and intoxication of Alkibiadês.—He protects the celebration of the Eleusinian mysteries by land, against the garrison of Dekeleia.—Fruitless attempt of Agis to surprise Athens.—Alkibiadês sails with an armament to Asia—ill-success at Andros—entire failure in respect to hopes from Persia.—Lysander at Ephesus—his cautious policy, refusing to fight—disappointment of Alkibiadês.—Alkibiadês goes to Phokæa, leaving his fleet under the command of Antiochus—oppression by Alkibiadês at Kymê.—Complaints of the Kymæans at Athens—defeat of Antiochus at Notium during the absence of Alkibiadês.—Dissatisfaction and complaint in the armament against Alkibiadês.—Murmur and accusation against him transmitted to Athens.—Alteration of sentiment at Athens—displeasure of the Athenians against him.—Reasonable grounds of such alteration and displeasure.—Different behavior towards Nikias and towards Alkibiadês.—Alkibiadês is dismissed from his command—ten generals named to succeed him—he retires to the Chersonese.—Konon and his colleagues—capture and liberation of the Rhodian Dorieus by the Athenians.—Kallikratidas supersedes Lysander—his noble character.—Murmurs and ill-will against Kallikratidas—energy and rectitude whereby he represses them.—His spirited behavior in regard to the Persians.—His appeal to the Milesians—Pan-Hellenic feelings.—He fits out a commanding fleet—his success at Lesbos—he liberates the captives and the Athenian garrison at Methymna.—Noble character of this proceeding—exalted Pan-Hellenic patriotism of Kallikratidas.—He blocks up Konon and the Athenian fleet at Mitylênê.—Triumphant position of Kallikratidas.—Hopeless condition of Konon—his stratagem to send news to Athens and entreat relief.—Kallikratidas defeats the squadron of Diomedon.—Prodigious effort of the Athenians to relieve Konon—large Athenian fleet equipped and sent to Arginusæ—Kallikratidas withdraws most of his fleet from Mitylênê, leaving Eteonikus to continue the blockade.—The two fleets marshalled for battle.—Comparative nautical skill, reversed since the beginning of the war.—Battle of Arginusæ—defeat of the Lacedæmonians—death of Kallikratidas.—It would have been better for Greece, and even for Athens, if Kallikratidas had been victor at Arginusæ.—Safe escape of Eteonikus and his fleet from Mitylênê to Chios.—Joy of Athens for the victory—indignation arising from the fact that the Athenian seamen on the disabled ships had not been picked up after the battle.—State of the facts about the disabled ships, and the men left in them.—Despatch of the generals to Athens, affirming that a storm had prevented them from saving the drowning men.—Justifiable wrath and wounded sympathy of the Athenians—extreme excitement among the relatives of the drowned men.—The generals are superseded, and directed to come home.—Examination of the generals before the senate and the people at Athens.—Debate in the public assembly—Theramenês accuses the generals as guilty of omitting to save the drowning men.—Effect of the accusation by Theramenês upon the assembly.—Defence of the generals—they affirm that they had commissioned Theramenês himself to undertake the duty.—Reason why the generals had not mentioned this commission in their despatch.—Different account given by Diodorus.—Probable version of the way in which the facts really occurred.—Justification of the generals—how far valid?—The alleged storm. Escape of Eteonikus.—Feelings of the Athenian public—how the case stood before them—decision adjourned to a future assembly.—Occurrence of the festival of Apaturia—the great family solemnity of the Ionic race.—Burst of feeling at the Apaturia—misrepresented by Xenophon.—Proposition of Kallixenus in the senate against the generals—adopted and submitted to the public assembly.—Injustice of the resolution—by depriving the generals of the customary securities for judicial trial. Psephism of Kannônus.—Opposition taken by Euryptolemus on the ground of constitutional form.—Graphê Paranomôn.—Excitement of the assembly—constitutional impediment overruled.—The prytanes refuse to put the question—their opposition overruled, all except that of Sokratês.—Altered temper of the assembly when the discussion had begun—amendment moved and developed by Euryptolemus.—Speech of Euryptolemus.—His amendment is rejected—the proposition of Kallixenus is carried.—The six generals are condemned and executed.—Injustice of the proceeding—violation of the democratical maxims and sentiments.—Earnest repentance of the people soon afterwards—disgrace and end of Kallixenus.—Causes of the popular excitement.—Generals—not innocent men. 135-210