Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.68

[1] He that delivered this opinion was Pisander, who was also otherwise openly the forewardest to put down the democracy. But he that contrived the whole business, how to bring it to this pass, and had long thought upon it, was Antiphon, a man for virtue not inferior to any Athenian of his time, and the ablest of any man both to devise well and also to express well what he had devised; and though he came not into the assemblies of the people nor willingly to any other debatings, because the multitude had him in jealousy for the opinion they had of the power of his eloquence, yet when any man that had occasion of suit, either in the courts of justice or in the assembly of the people, came to him for his counsel, this one man was able to help him most.

[2] The same man, when afterwards the government of The Four Hundred went down and was vexed of the people, was heard plead for himself, when his life was in question for that business, the best of any man to this day.

[3] Phrynichus also shewed himself an earnest man for the oligarchy, and that more earnestly than any other, because he feared Alcibiades and knew him to be acquainted with all his practices at Samos with Astyochus, and thought in all probability that he would never return to live under the government of the few. And this man, in any matter of weight, appeared the most sufficient to be relied on.

[4] Also Theramenes, the son of Agnon, an able man both for elocution and understanding, was another of the principal of those that overthrew the democracy. So that it is no marvel if the business took effect, being by many and wise men conducted, though it were a hard one. For it went sore with the Athenian people, almost a hundred years after the expulsion of the tyrants, to be now deprived of their liberty, having not only not been subject to any, but also for the half of this time been inured to dominion over others.

[1] The man who moved this resolution was Pisander, who was throughout the chief ostensible agent in putting down the democracy. But he who concerted the whole affair, and prepared the way for the catastrophe, and who had given the greatest thought to the matter, was Antiphon, one of the best men of his day in Athens ; who, with a head to contrive measures and a tongue to recommend them, did not willingly come forward in the assembly or upon any public scene, being ill-looked upon by the multitude owing to his reputation for talent; and who yet was the one man best able to aid in the courts, or before the assembly, the suitors who required his opinion.

[2] Indeed, when he was afterwards himself tried for his life on the charge of having been concerned in setting up this very government, when the Four Hundred were overthrown and hardly dealt with by the commons, he made what would seem to be the best defence of any known up to my time.

[3] Phrynichus also went beyond all others in his zeal for the oligarchy. Afraid of Alcibiades, and assured that he was no stranger to his intrigues with Astyochus at Samos , he held that no oligarchy was ever likely to restore him, and once embarked in the enterprise, proved, where danger was to be faced, by far the staunchest of them all.

[4] Theramenes, son of Hagnon, was also one of the foremost of the subverters of the democracy—a man as able in council as in debate. Conducted by so many and by such sagacious heads, the enterprise, great as it was, not unnaturally went forward; although it was no light matter to deprive the Athenian people of its freedom, almost a hundred years after the deposition of the tyrants, when it had been not only not subject to any during the whole of that period, but accustomed during more than half of it to rule over subjects of its own.

Diesen /Antrag brachte.PeisandroS selbst^ein, und auch
im Uebrigen zeigte.er sich ganz offen als d^en.eifrigßen Mitw
Sturz der Demokratie..?-- Wer aher dies. gflnze.zSache .so eingefädelt
und geleitet hatte, .«daß.sie soweit gedieh,,und. schon-seit.langer Zeit
daraus hingearbeitet Hatte , das war Antiphon, ein, Mann, der unter
den. Athenern,, seiner Zeit, an Tüchtigkeit Keinem nachstand, von-,der
stärksten Einsicht und ausgezeichneter Beredtsamkeit.^Vor dem Volke
zwar.pflegte er nicht au/zutreten, noch auch ließ er.sich sonst freiwillig
in Nechtshändel'tin, eber daSzBolk betrachtete ihn wegen des NufeS
ft.iner,' RedeLMglt-.Mit- .Mißtraue^;. wer. aber;eine Rechtssache vor
Gericht oder.vor -.der.VoDversamujlun^Kattedem könnte er besser
als. irge.nd. Einer rath/n und nutzen. Auch hat^cr.für sich selbst, als
später die Vierhundert durch eine Gegenrevolution gestürzt, und von
der Volkspartei verfolgt, worden,, und er selber.beschuldigt wurde, ,zu
deren Einsetzung mitgewirkt zu-haben,^in eben diesem. Prozeß^unter
Allen bis auf-meine Zeit die.beste Verheidigungsrede, gegen
eine^Anklage auf Hinrichtung gehalten^f). Aber auch Phrynichos zeigte sich
auf eine, vor. Allen hervorragende^eise^ sehr eifrig wirksam-für.die
Oligarchie, aus Furcht-vor^Alkibiades nämlich ; und.weil er wußte,
daß diesem bekannt sei, was er.von Samos aus mit
Astyöchos^verhandelt,hatte,-und weil er glaubte, daß derselbe aller
Wahrscheinlichkeit nach,unter einer oligarchischen Regierungsform nicht zurückkehren
könne;.und nachdem^er einmal.dasür eingestanden war, zeigte.er,sich
auch sonst-in diesem gefahrvollen Unternehmen äls.der Zuverlässigste.
Auch.TherameneS, Sohn des Hagnou, swar,einer,der Ersten,/^welche
am Sturz f der-Demokratie arbeiteten, ^» Mann, der^weder an
Beredtsamkejt, noch an Einsicht, unbedeutend.war. »So.lst eS also
erklärlich,, daß dieß Unternehmen trotz seiner Größe glücklichen.Erfolg
hatte, da es von vielen und einsichtsvollen Männern in's Werk gesetzt
wurde. Denn eS war eine, schwere Sache , dem^Volke der Athener
seine Freiheit zu-,nehmen, da es.dieselbe seit. Vertreibung der Tyrann
nen schon nah? an. hundert.-Jahre besaß und nicht nur. Nichts von ^{1 2}
Gehorchen wußte, sondern sogar'über'die'Hälfte jener Zeit selbst über
Andere zu herrschen gewohnt war. ^ > >i

Peisandros war es, der den Antrag stellte und auch sonst
unermüdlich offen darauf ausging, die Demokratie zu stürzen.
Wer aber die ganze Sache eingefädelt und schon seit langer
Zeit bei sich erwogen hatte, wie man damit zum Ziel kommen
könne, war Antiphon, ein Mann, der unter seinen Zeitgenossen
in Athen an persönlicher Tüchtigkeit keinem nachstand, ein
ebenso scharfer Denker wie gewandter Redner. In der Volks­
versammlung freilich und vor Gericht trat er nur ungern auf,
und die Leute hielten ihn für einen Schlaukopf, dem nicht zu
trauen. Denen aber, die vor Gericht oder in der Volks­
versammlung eine Sache auszufechten hatten und ihn unter
vier Augen um Rat fragten, konnte er wie kein anderer in der
Regel nützliche Winke geben. Auch später, als das Blatt sich
gewandt und das Volk die Herrschaft der Vierhundert gestürzt
hatte und er als einer, der sie mit aufgerichtet, wegen Hoch­
verrats angeklagt wurde, war unter allen den noch zu meiner
Zeit in dieser Sache gehaltenen Verteidigungsreden seine ent­
schieden die beste. Besonders eifrig legte sich auch Phrynichos
für die Oligarchie ins Zeug aus Furcht vor Alkibiades, weit
er wußte, daß ihm bekannt geworden war, was er in Samos
mit Astyochos verhandelt hatte, und er es für unwahrscheinlich
hielt, daß eine oligarchische Regierung ihn zurückrufen würde;
auch zeigte sich, daß man sich auf ihn, nachdem er einmal bei­
getreten war, in der Gefahr am sichersten verlassen konnte.
Einer der ersten, welche die Demokratie zu stürzen suchten,
war auch Theramenes, Hagnons Sohn, auch er ein Mann,
dem es weder an Verstand noch an Rednergabe fehlte. Und
eben weil so viel gescheite Männer sich daran beteiligten, wird
es begreiflich, daß das Unternehmen, so schwierig es war,
dennoch gelingen konnte. Denn es war keine Kleinigkeit, das
athenische Volk nahezu grade hundert Jahre nach der Ver­
treibung der Tyrannen dahinzubringen, seiner Freiheit zu ent­
sagen, während es seitdem nicht nur selbst frei, sondern mehr
als die Hälfte dieser Zeit über andere zu herrshcen gewohnt
gewesen war.

LXVIII. Ce fut Pisandre qui ouvrit cet avis et qui, dans l’exécution, fut ostensiblement l’agent le plus actif de l’abolition de la démocratie. Mais celui qui combina toute l'affaire en vue de ce résultat et qui ^{1 2} l'avait préparée de longue main, était Antiphon, un des hommes les plus vertueux qui fussent alors à Athènes, penseur profond et non moins habile orateur. Il n’intervenait pas volontiers dans les discussions devant l’assemblée du peuple, ni dans aucune autre lutte oratoire : sa réputation d’éloquence le rendait suspect à la multitude; mais quand on avait quelque affaire à traiter, soit devant le peuple, soit auprès des tribunaux, c’était à lui seul qu’il fallait s’adresser; car il étaitrare que ses conseils ne donnassent pas le succès. Dans sa propre cause, lorsque plus tard les quatre cents, renversés du pouvoir, furent poursuivis par le peuple, et que lui-même fut incriminé pour la part qu’il avait prise à ces événements, nul homme, à aucune époque, ne me parait s’être mieux défendu contre une accusation capitale ³ . Phrynichos, de son côté, se distinguait entre tous par son ardeur en faveur de l’oligarchie. Il redoutait Alcibiade, qu’il savait instruit de ses intrigues de Samos auprès d’Astyochos, et il se persuadait, ce qui était vraisemblable, que jamais Alcibiade n’obtiendrait son rappel d’un gouvernement oligarchique. Une fois engagé, il montra dans le péril une fermeté sans égale. Aux premiers rangs, parmi ceux qui renversèrent la démocratie, était aussi un homme qui ne manquait ni d’intelligence ni de talent oratoire, Théramènes, fils d’Agnon. Aussi n’est-il pas étonnant qu’une entreprise ainsi conduite par un grand nombre d’hommes distingués ait réussi, malgré ⁴ sa difficulté. Ce n’était pas chose aisée, en effet, cent ans après l’abolition de la tyrannie à Athènes, que d’arracher la liberté à un peuple non-seulement étranger à toute sujétion, mais encore accoutumé, pendant plus de la moitié de cette période, à commander aux autres.

[1] It was Peisander who proposed this resolution and in other respects assisted most zealously, to all appearances, in overthrowing the democracy. The man, however, who devised the method by which the whole matter was brought to this issue and who had for the longest time devoted himself to the problem was Antiphon, a man inferior to none of the Athenians of his own day in force of character and one who had proved himself most able both to formulate a plan and to set forth his conclusions in speech; and although he did not come before the assembly or willingly take part in any public contest, but was under suspicion with the people on account of his reputation for cleverness, yet he was the one man most able to help any who were involved in contests, either in court or before the assembly, in case they sought his advice.

[2] And in his own case, when at a later time the acts of the Four Hundred had been reversed and were being severely dealt with by the popular assembly, and he was under charge of having assisted in setting up that government, he manifestly made the ablest plea for his life of all men up to my time in defending these very acts. ¹

[3] Phrynichus also showed himself beyond all others most zealous for the oligarchy, through fear of Alcibiades and the certainty that Alcibiades was aware of all the intrigues ² he had carried on at Samos with Astyochus; for he thought that in all probability Alcibiades would never be recalled by an oligarchical government; and when face to face with dangers, after he had once set to work, he proved himself a man who could quite be depended upon.

[4] Theramenes also, the son of Hagnon, was foremost among those who attempted to overthrow the democracy, being a man of no small capacity either in speech or in judgment. Consequently, conducted as it was by many able men, the plot not unnaturally succeeded, even though it was an arduous task; for it was difficult, after the lapse of almost one hundred years ³ since the tyrants had been overthrown, to deprive of their liberty the Athenian people, who had been, not only not subject to anyone else, but for more than half of that period had themselves been accustomed to rule over others.

[1] Now it was Pisander who moved this resolution, and in other respects was openly the most forward in assisting to put down the democracy. But the person who devised the whole business, and the means by which it was brought to this issue, and who for the longest time had given the subject great attention, was Antiphon, a man second to none of the Athenians of his day in point of virtue, and who had proved himself most able to devise measures, and to express his views; who also, though he did not come forward in the assembly of the people, nor by choice in any other scene of public debate, but was viewed with suspicion by the people through his reputation for cleverness, yet was most able for any one man to help those who were engaged in contest, whether in a court of justice, or before a popular assembly, whoever of them might consult him on any point.

[2] And he himself, too, when the party of the Four Hundred had subsequently fallen, and was severely treated by the commons, appears to me to have made the best defence of all men up to my time, when tried for his life on the subject of this very government, on a charge of having assisted in setting it up.

[3] Phrynichus, too, showed himself, beyond all others, most zealous for the oligarchy, through fear of Alcibiades, and the certainty that he was acquainted with the intrigues he had carried on at Samos with Astyochus; for he thought that, in all probability, he would never be restored by an oligarchical government. And he showed himself, when once he had undertaken their business, by far the most capable of facing dangers.

[4] Theramenes the son of Hagnon was also a leader amongst those who joined in abolishing the democracy, a man of no small power, either of language or intellect. So that, conducted as it was by so many clever men, it was not unnatural that the business should succeed, though an arduous one. For it was a difficult matter to deprive the Athenian people of its liberty, about a hundred years after the deposition of the tyrants, and when it had not only been subject to none, but accustomed also, for more than half of that period, to rule over others.

[1] Qui autem hanc quidem sententiam dixit, erat Pisander, qui etiam ceteris in rebus propalam maximo studio cum sociis popularem statum evertit; qui vero totum negotium composuerat, et jampridem praemeditatus erat rationem, qua res in eum statum devenit, fuit Antiphon, vir Atheniensium sui temporis nulli secundus, et in rebus excogitandis, et in iis, quae sensisset, exprimendis prae-slantissimus, qui in populi quidem concionem non prodibat neque alibi sua sponte ad certamen ullum, sed qui propter eloquentia; vim multitudini suspectus esset, eos tamen, qui vel in judicio vel apud populum certabant, quisquis eum aliqua de re consuluisset, hic unus vir plurimum juvare poterat.

[2] Atque et hic ipse, postquam quadiingenti viri rebus, commutatis a populo vexabantur, quum in judicium vocatus esset harum ipsarum rerum causa, quod earum constituendarum socius fuisset, optime omnium, ad meam usque memoriam, capitis cauSam dixisse videtur.

[3] Praebuit se autem Phrynichus etiam omnium longe studiosissimum in paucorum dominatu constituendo, Alcibiadem inetuens et inteliigeus eum scire, quaecunque Sami cum Astyocho traclasset, existimans, eum numquam, quantum probabile esset, a paucorum dominatu reductum iri; atque in periculis sustinendis, postquam semel ea suscepit, longe fortissimus est visus.

[4] At Theramenes Hagnonis filius* vir nec infacundus, nec impruden·, inter illos, qui popularem statum everterunt, primus fuit. Quamobrem res a mullis et prudentibus viris tractata, quamvis esset magna,tamen haud immerito successit. Arduum enim erat, populum Atheniensem centesimo fere ab exactis tyrannis anno libertate privare, qui non solum nullius imperio parebat, sed etiam plus quam hujus temporis dimidio ipse aliis imperare consueverat.

Questo parere fu proposto da Pisandro, che anche nel resto mostrossi alla scoperta il più premuroso ad abbattere lo stato popolare. Ma quegli che avea congegnato tal macchina, e meditato da lungo tempo per condurla a quel termine, fu un tale Antifonte, cittadino ateniese, per merito a nissuno secondo tra suoi contemporanei, valentissimo a immaginar disegni e a dichiarare i suoi commetti. Giammai egli compariva dinanzi al popolo, né spontaneo interveniva a qual si fosse dibattimento; che anzi di lui adombravasi la moltitudine per l’opinione in che lo aveva di dicitore eloquentissimo. Nondimeno da sé solo poteva giovare moltissimo a chiunque, dovendo sostenere liti uci tribunali o dinanzi al popolo, fosse in qualche cosa ricorso al consiglio di lui. Ed egli medesimo, caduti in appresso i quattrocento e perseguitati dal popolo, quando fu citato in giudizio come reo di cospirazione , apparisce aver difesa la causa di morte a lui comune con essi, meglio di quanti vissero fino a’ miei tempi. E lo stesso Frinico per timore di Alcibiade, cui sapeva essere informato delle sue pratiche con Astioco a Samo , si fè conoscere deditissimo sovra ogni altro all’oligarchia, sotto la quale giudicava con tutta probabilità impossibile il ritorno di lui ; e mostrossi guarentissimo sostenitore de’pericoli chVsi fosse addossati. Anche Teramene di Agnone, cittadino non mancante di eloquenza e di discernimento, non rimase indietro a veruuo dei sovvertitori dello stato popolare. Talché non è meraviglia se quest’affare, come che grande, trattato da tanti e prudenti personaggi, sortisse l’effetto. E certo non era lieve impresa il torre la libertà al popolo ateniese quasi cent’anni dopo l’estinzion dei tiranni, popolo non che soggetto ad alcuno, ma usato a comandare agli altri per più che la metà di cjuel tempo.