Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.70

[1] And the rest of the citizens mutinied not, but rested quiet. The Four Hundred, being now entered into the councilhouse, created Prytanes amongst themselves by lot, and made their prayers and sacrifices to the gods, all that were before usual at the entrance upon the government.

[2] And afterwards receding far from that course which in the administration of the state was used by the people, saving that for Alcibiades' sake they recalled not the outlaws, in other things they governed the commonwealth imperiously, and not only slew some, though not many, such as they thought fit to be made away, and imprisoned some, and confined others to places abroad, but also sent heralds to Agis, king of the Lacedaemonians, who was then at Deceleia, signifying that they would come to composition with him, and that now he might better treat with them than he might before with the unconstant people.

[1] Upon the Council withdrawing in this way without venturing any objection, and the rest of the citizens making no movement, the Four Hundred entered the council chamber, and for the present contented themselves with drawing lots for their Prytanes, and making their prayers and sacrifices to the gods upon entering office, but afterwards departed widely from the democratic system of government, and except that on account of Alcibiades they did not recall the exiles, ruled the city by force;

[2] putting to death some men, though not many, whom they though it convenient to remove, and imprisoning and banishing others. They also sent to Agis, the Lacedaemonian king, at Decelea, to say that they desired to make peace, and that he might reasonably be more disposed to treat now that he had them to deal with instead of the inconstant commons.

Da nun so der Rath ohne Einspruch zu erheben sich da;
vondrückte und auch die andern Bürger sich'nicht rührten, sondern
gaNz ruhig verhielten, so loosten die Vierhundert, nachdem sie'daS
Nathhaus in Besitz genommen, aus ihrer Mitte die Prytanen auS ^{1 2}
und traten, nach Verrichtung der üblichen Gebete und Opfer an die ³
Götter, ihr Amt an. Später aber änderten sie Vieles in den unter
der Demokratie geübten Verwaltungs- und Regierungsmaßregeln,
nur die Verbannten riefen sie, des Alkibiades wegen, nicht zurück.
Sonst aber verwalteten sie den Staat in gewalthaberischem Sinne.
Einige, von denen es zweckmäßig schien, daß sie aus dem Wege
geräumt würden, ließen sie hinrichten, Andere warfen sie in'S
Gefängniß und Etliche wußten sie zu entfernen. Zu Agis, dem König der
Lakedämonier, der in Dekeleia stand, schickten sie den Herold und
ließen ihm sagen, daß sie sich vergleichen wollten, und es sei billig zu
erwarten, daß er mit ihnen eher einen Vertrag schließe, als mit der
jetzt gestürzten unzuverlässigen Volksregierung.

Als der Rat auf diese Weise ohne Widerspruch das Feld
geräumt hatte, auch die übrige Bürgerschaft sich nicht rührte,
sondern alles über sich ergehen ließ, losten die Vierhundert
nunmehr, wo sie vom Rathause Besitz genommen, unter sich
die Prytanen aus und verrichteten, um auch den Pflichten
gegen die Götter zu genügen, beim Antritt ihres Amtes die
üblichen Opfer und Gebete. Später hoben sie die unter der
demokratischen Regierung getroffenen Anordnungen guten Teiles
wieder auf, nur daß sie die Verbannten, Alkibiades' wegen,
nicht zurückriefen, wie sie auch im übrigen ein rücksichtsloses
und gewaltsames Regiment in der Stadt führten. Eine wenn
auch nicht große Anzahl Männer, deren Beseitigung ihnen
rätlich schien, ließen sie hinrichten, andere ins Gefängnis werfen,
andere des Landes verweisen. Zu Agis, dem Könige der Lake­
dämonier, in Dekeleia schickten sie und ließen ihm sagen, sie
seien bereit Frieden zu schließen und dürften voraussetzen, daß
auch er sich darauf lieber mit ihnen einlassen würde als mit
der bisherigen unzuverlässigen demokratischen Regierung.

LXX. Le sénat ainsi expulsé sans contestation, les autres citoyens restèrent tranquilles et ne firent aucune démonstration. Les quatre cents, une fois entrés au sénat, tirèrent au sort entre eux des prytanes, et accomplirent toutes les cérémonies religieuses, prières et sacrifices, en usage lors de l’entrée en charge. Ils ne laissèrent pas cependant ¹ de modifier profondément, par la suite, le gouvernement populaire. S’ils ne rappelèrent pas les exilés ² , par crainte d’Alcibiade, leur pouvoir n’en fut pas moins révolutionnaire; ils firent périr quelques personnes dont il leur paraissait utile de se défaire sous main, et en condamnèrent d’autres aux fers ou à l’exil. Ils firent, d’un autre côté, déclarer par un héraut à Agis, roi des Lacédémoniens, qui occupait Décélie, qu’ils désiraient une réconciliation, et qu’il s’entendrait sans doute beaucoup mieux avec eux qu’avec une populace sur laquelle on ne peut compter.

[1] When in this manner the senate had quietly withdrawn without making any opposition, and the citizens at large raised no disturbance but kept quiet, the Four Hundred entered the senate-chamber and for the present chose by lot prytanes ¹ from their own number, and with respect to the gods observed all the usual rites of prayers and sacrifices as they assumed office. Afterwards, however, they departed widely from the democratic manner of administration —except that they did not recall the exiles, because of Alcibiades—and in general governed the city in a high-handed way.

[2] A certain number of men, though not many, they put to death, for they thought it convenient to have them out of their way, while others they imprisoned, and also removed others from the city. Moreover, they made overtures to Agis, king of the Lacedaemonians, who was at Deceleia, saying that they wished to make peace and that it was only reasonable that he should be more ready to come to terms with them, having no longer to deal with the faithless democracy.

[1] When in this way the council had withdrawn without speaking a word against it, and the rest of the citizens made no disturbance, but kept quiet, the Four Hundred then entered the council-chamber, and elected their prytanes by lot; and for what concerned the gods, offered prayers and sacrifices on installing themselves in their government. Afterwards, however, they departed widely from the popular administration, (except that they did not recall the exiles, because of Alcibiades,) and in other respects ruled the city by force. Some men, who appeared desirable to be taken out of their way, they put to death, though not many;

[2] others they put in prison, and others they banished. They also entered into communication with Agis, the Lacedaemonian king, who was at Decelea; telling him that they were desirous of making peace, and that it was but reasonable that, as he would treat with them, and no longer with the faithless multitude, he should more readily come to terms.

[1] Quum igitur hoc modo senatus nihil refragatus ex curia se subduxisset, et ceteri cives nihil innovarent, sed quiescerent, illi quadringenti, in curiam ingressi, tunc quidem prytanes e suo copore sortito constituerunt, et qua*-cumque ad deos pertinent, votis atque sacri ficiis magistratum ineuntes usi sunt, postea vero valde immutata reipubtioe administrandae ratione, qua populus ante utebatur, praeterquam quod exsules non reducebant propter Alcibiadem, ceteris in rebus civitatem imperiose regebant

[2] Aliquot etiam viros haud multos interfecerunt, quos utile videbatur de medio tollere, alios etiam in vincula conjecerunt, et nonnullos relegaverunt, et cum Agide quoque, Lacedaemoniorum rege, qui erat apud Deceleam, per caduceatorem agebant, dicentes se pacem facere velle, et consentaneum esse eum sibi, et non jam infido populo, facilius assentiri.

In tal guisa sciolto il senato senza opporre veruno ostacolo, e il rimanente della cittadinanza stando quieta e non levando romore, vennero i quattrocento nella sala del senato, tirarono a sorte dal loro numero i Pritani, e fecero in onor degli Dei quanto di voti e sacrifizi usano quelli che entrano in carica. Poi cambiato non poco il governo popolare , senza però riammettere in patria i banditi per dispetto d’Alcibiade, in tutto il resto reggevano violentemente la città. Uccisero non molti cui crederono ben fatto levar di mezzo, altri misero a’ ferri , altri esiliarono. Spedirono inoltre un’ambasceria ad Agide re dei Lacedemoni il quale era in Decelia, dicendo volersi riconciliare seco lui, ed esser da credere che e’vorrebbe pattuire con loro innanzi che con un popolo senza fede.