Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.92

[1] Therefore they went diligently on with the fortification, wherein were wickets and entries and backways for the enemy, and desired to have it finished in time.

[2] And though these things were spoken but amongst a few before and in secret, yet when Phrynichus, after his return from his Lacedaemonian ambassage, was by a certain watchman wounded treacherously in the market place when it was full, as he went from the councilhouse, and not far from it fell instantly dead, and the murtherer gone, and that one of his complices, an Argive, taken by The Four Hundred and put to the torture, would confess no man of those named to him nor anything else saving this, that many men used to assemble at the house of the captain of the watch and at other houses; then at length, because this accident bred no alteration, Theramenes and Aristocrates, and as many other either of The Four Hundred or out of that number as were of the same faction proceeded more boldly to assault the government. For now also the fleet, being come about from Laconia and lying upon the coast of Epidaurus, had made incursions upon Aegina.

[3] And Theramenes thereupon alleged that it was improbable that those galleys holding their course for Euboea would have put in at Aegina and then have gone back again to lie at Epidaurus, unless they had been sent for by such men as he had ever accused of the same; and that therefore there was no reason any longer to sit still.

[4] And in the end, after many seditious and suspicious speeches, they fell upon the state in good earnest. For the soldiers that were in Peiraeus employed in fortifying Eetioneia (amongst whom was also Aristocrates, captain of a band of men, and his band with him) seized on Alexicles, principal commander of the soldiers under The Four Hundred, an eminent man of the other side, and carrying him into a house, kept him in hold.

[5] As soon as the news hereof was brought unto The Four Hundred, who chanced at the same time to be sitting in the council-house, they were ready all of them presently to have taken arms, threatening Theramenes and his faction.

[6] He to purge himself was ready to go with them and to help to rescue Alexicles, and taking with him one of the commanders who was also of his faction, went down into Peiraeus. To help him went also Aristarchus and certain horsemen of the younger sort. Great and terrible was the tumult. For in the city they thought Peiraeus was already taken and him that was laid in hold slain; and in Peiraeus they expected every hour the power of the city to come upon them.

[7] At last the ancient men, stopping them that ran up and down the city to arm themselves, and Thucydides of Pharsalus, the city's host, being then there, going boldly and close up to every one he met and crying out unto them not to destroy their country when the enemy lay so near waiting for an advantage, with much ado quieted them and held their hands from spilling their own blood.

[8] Theramenes, coming into Peiraeus (for he also had command over the soldiers), made a shew by his exclaiming of being angry with them; but Aristarchus and those that were of the contrary side were extremely angry in good earnest.

[9] Nevertheless the soldiers went on with their business and repented not a jot of what they had done. Then they asked Theramenes if he thought this fortification were made to any good end and whether it were not better to have it demolished.

[10] And he answered that if they thought good to demolish it, he also thought the same. At which word they presently got up, both the soldiers and also many others of Peiraeus, and fell a digging down of the wall. Now the provocation that they used to the multitude was in these words, that whosoever desired that the sovereignty should be in The Five Thousand instead of The Four Hundred ought also to set himself to the work in hand.

[11] For notwithstanding all this, they thought fit as yet to veil the democracy with the name of The Five Thousand and not to say plainly whosoever will have the sovereignty in the people, lest The Five Thousand should have been extant indeed, and so a man by speaking to some or other of them might do hurt to the business through ignorance. And for this cause it was that The Four Hundred would neither let The Five Thousand be extant nor yet let it be known that they were not. For to make so many participant of the affairs of state they thought was a direct democracy, but to have it doubtful would make them afraid of one another.

[1] For this reason they pushed forward the construction of their work with posterns and entrances and means of introducing the enemy, being eager to have it finished in time.

[2] Meanwhile the murmurs against them were at first confined to a few persons and went on in secret, until Phrynichus, after his return from the embassy to Lacedaemon , was laid wait for and stabbed in full market by one of the Peripoli, falling down dead before he had gone far from the council chamber. The assassin escaped; but his accomplice, an Argive , was taken and put to the torture by the Four Hundred, without their being able to extract from him the name of his employer, or anything further than that he knew of many men who used to assemble at the house of the commander of the Peripoli and at other houses. Here the matter was allowed to drop. This so emboldened Theramenes and Aristocrates and the rest of their partisans in the Four Hundred and out of doors, that they now resolved to act.

[3] For by this time the ships had sailed round from Las, and anchoring at Epidaurus had overrun Aegina ; and Theramenes asserted that, being bound for Euboea , they would never have sailed in to Lacedae and come back to anchor at Epidaurus , unless they had been invited to come to aid in the designs of which he had always accused the government. Further inaction had therefore now become impossible.

[4] In the end, after a great many seditious harangues and suspicions, they set to work in real earnest. The heavy infantry in Piraeus building the wall in Eetionia, among whom was Aristocrates, a colonel, with his own tribe, laid hands upon Alexicles, a general under the oligarchy and the devoted adherent of the cabal, and took him into a house and confined him there.

[5] In this they were assisted by one Hermon, commander of the Peripoli in Munychia, and others, and above all had with them the great bulk of the heavy infantry.

[6] As soon as the news reached the Four Hundred, who happened to be sitting in the council chamber, all except the disaffected wished at once to go to the posts where the arms were, and menaced Theramenes and his party. Theramenes defended himself, and said that he was ready immediately to go and help to rescue Alexicles; and taking with him one of the generals belonging to his party, went down to Piraeus , followed by Aristarchus and some young men of the cavalry.

[7] All was now panic and confusion. Those in the city imagined that Piraeus was already taken and the prisoner put to death, while those in Piraeus expected every moment to be attacked by the party in the city.

[8] The older men, however, stopped the persons running up and down the town and making for the stands of arms; and Thucydides the Pharsalian, Proxenus of the city, came forward and threw himself in the way of the rival factions, and appealed to them not to ruin the state, while the enemy was still at hand waiting for his opportunity, and so at length succeeded in quieting them and in keeping their hands off each other.

[9] Meanwhile Theramenes came down to Piraeus , being himself one of the generals, and raged and stormed against the heavy infantry, while Aristarchus and the adversaries of the people were angry in right earnest.

[10] Most of the heavy infantry, however, went on with the business without faltering, and asked Theramenes if he thought the wall had been constructed for any good purpose, and whether it would not be better that it should be pulled down. To this he answered that if they thought it best to pull it down, he for his part agreed with them. Upon this the heavy infantry and a number of the people in Piraeus immediately got up on the fortification and began to demolish it.

[11] Now their cry to the multitude was that all should join in the work who wished the Five Thousand to govern instead of the Four Hundred. For instead of saying in so many words ‘all who wished the commons to govern’ they still disguised themselves under the name of the Five Thousand; being afraid that these might really exist, and that they might be speaking to one of their number and get into trouble through ignorance. Indeed this was why the Four Hundred neither wished the Five Thousand to exist, nor to have it known that they did not exist; being of opinion that to give themselves so many partners in empire would be downright democracy, while the mystery in question would make the people afraid of one another.

Deshalb ließen sie auch an den Festungswerken, an denen
sich Mauerpforten und Einlaßtüren für die Feinde befanden,
fleißig weiter arbeiten, damit sie beizeiten fertig würden. Bis
dahin war hiervon mehr nur im stillen und in engeren Kreisen
die Rede gewesen. Da aber wurde Phrynichos nach der Rück­
kehr von der Gesandtschaft nach Lakedämon, als er vom Rat­
hause kam, nicht weit davon auf vollem Markte von einem
Manne der Stadtwache hinterrücks erstochen und starb auf der
Stelle. Der Täter entkam; sein Gehilfe aber, ein Argeier,
wurde ergriffen und auf Befehl der Vierhundert gefoltert,
nannte jedoch niemand, der ihn angestiftet, sondern blieb da­
bei, nichts weiter zu wissen, als daß viele Leute im Hause
des Hauptmanns der Stadtwache und auch anderswo Zu­
sammenkünfte hätten. Als nichts dabei herauskam, gingen
Theramenes, Aristokrates und die übrigen, welche unter den
Vierhundert oder sonst mit ihnen eines Sinnes waren, um so
dreister zu Werke. Inzwischen waren nämlich die Schiffe schon
von Las herumgekommen, bei Epidauros vor Anker gegangen
und vorübergehend auch bei Agina erschienen, und nun erklärte
Theramenes, die Schiffe wären auf der Fahrt nach Euboia
sicher nicht in die Bucht von Ägina eingelaufen und dann
wieder bei Epidauros vor Anker gegangen, wenn man sie nicht
zu dem von ihm schon immer angedeuteten Zwecke herbei­
gerufen hätte; dem aber dürfe man nicht länger ruhig zusehen.
Endlich, nachdem die allgemeine Unzufriedenheit und der Ver­
dacht sich vielfach noch weiter in Worten Luft gemacht hatte,
kam es dann auch zu Tätlichkeiten. Die Hopliten, welche im
Peiraieus an den Festungswerken auf Eetioneia arbeiteten, bei
denen sich auch Aristokrates mit seiner Abteilung befand, er­
griffen Alexikles, einen oligarchisch gesinnten Feldherrn, der
für die Partei durch dick und dünn ging, und brachten ihn in
ein Haus, wo sie ihn gefangenhielten. Außer ihnen beteiligten
sich daran auch noch andere, so namentlich ein gewisser Hermon,
der Hauptmann der Stadtwache in Munychia, aber das Wich­
tigste war doch, daß die Hopliten alle damit einverstanden
waren. Als dies den grade auf dem Rathause versammelten
Vierhundert gemeldet wurde, wollten sie, soweit sie nicht selbst
zu den Mißvergnügten gehörten, sogleich zu den Waffen greifen
und stießen gegen Theramenes und seine Gesinnungsgenossen
Drohungen aus. Er aber suchte sich zu rechtfertigen und er­
klärte sich bereit, sofort selbst mitzugehen, um den Mann auf
freien Fuß zu setzen, machte sich auch gleich mit einem der
Feldherren seiner Farbe auf den Weg nach dem Peiraieus.
Auch Aristarchos und eine Anzahl junger Herren des Ritter­
standes machten sich dahin auf. Überall herrschte eine ent­
setzliche Aufregung. In der Stadt hieß es, der Peiraieus sei
bereits genommen und der Gefangene getötet, im Peiraieus
aber glaubte man, jeden Augenblick auf einen Angriff aus der
Stadt gefaßt seift zu müssen. Die älteren Leute suchten die
in der Stadt Herumirrenden und zu den Waffen Eilenden zu
beschwichtigen, Thukydides aus Pharsalos, der grade anwesende
Staatsgastfreund der Athener, trat ihnen einzeln mutig ent­
gegen und beschwor sie, in diesem Augenblick, wo der Feind
vor der Tür sei, das Vaterland nicht unglücklich zu machen,
so daß es endlich gelang, sie zu beruhigen und einen Straßen­
kampf abzuwenden. Als Theramenes, der selbst auch Feldherr
war, im Peiraieus ankam, schalt er die Hopliten tüchtig aus,
er freilich nur zum Schein, während Aristarchos und die
Männer der Gegenpartei im Ernst ihren Ingrimm an ihnen
ausließen. Die Hopliten aber machten sich daraus nichts,
sondern hatten meist nicht übel Lust, über die Gegner herzu­
fallen, und fragten Theramenes, ob er es für besser hielte,
die Festungswerke auszubauen oder sie niederzureißen. Er aber
erwiderte ihnen, wenn sie dafür wären, sie niederzureißen, so
habe er seinerseits nichts dagegen. Als Schlagwort der Menge
gegenüber aber diente dabei, daß jeder, der den Fünftausend
anstatt der Vierhundert zur Herrschaft verhelfen wollte, mit
Hand anlegen müsse. Man suchte nämlich immer noch den
Schein zu wahren und führte nur die Fünftausend im Munde,
statt sich offen für die Demokratie zu erklären, aus Furcht, es
könnte dieser oder jener von ihnen zugegen sein und ein un­
vorsichtiges Wort in dessen Gegenwart gefährlich werden. Nach ¹
der Absicht der Vierhundert aber sollte aus den Fünftausend
überhaupt nichts werden und man doch nicht merken, daß sie
nicht vorhanden seien; denn die Beteiligung einer so zahlreichen
Versammlung an der Regierung würde in ihren Augen denn
doch nichts anderes als Demokratie gewesen sein, ihre förm­
liche Abschaffung aber Befürchtungen in der Bürgerschaft er­
regt haben.

XCII. Aussi s’empressaient-ils d’achever ces fortifications; ils ménageaient de petites portes, des entrées, des passages pour les ennemis, et voulaient que tout fût terminé avant le moment décisif.

D’abord les murmures circulèrent secrètement et entre peu de personnes. Mais, sur ces entrefaites, Phrynichos, au retour de son ambassade à Lacédémone, fut frappé de guet-apens et tué sur le coup par un des péripoles, en pleine place publique, au moment de la plus grande affluence et presque au sortir du sénat. Le meurtrier s’échappa; un Argien, son complice, arrêté et mis à la question par les quatre cents, ne dénonça aucun instigateur et dit seulement qu’il était à sa connaissance que de nombreuses réunions avaient lieu chez le commandant des péripoles et dans d’autres maisons. Comme il ne lut donné aucune suite à cette affaire, Théramèhes, Aristocrates et tous ceux qui pensaient de même, soit parmi les quatre cents, soit en dehors, mirent la main à l’oeuvre avec plus de résolution. Déjà, en effet, la flotte partie de Las était parvenue, en côtoyant, jusqu’à Épidaure, et avait fait de là une pointe sur Égine. Théramènes faisait remarquer qu’il n’était pas vraisemblable, si sa destination était l’Eubée, qu’elle fût entrée dans le golfe d’Égine, ni qu’elle fût revenue stationner à Épidaure si elle n’eût été mandée précisément dans le but que lui-même ne cessait de dénoncer; qu’il n’était donc plus possible d’hésiter à agir. Enfin, après bien des discours propres à semer le soupçon et la sédition, on en vint aux effels. Les hoplites qui élevaient au Pirée les fortifications d’Éétionée, et au milieu desquels Aristocrates se trouvait, comme taxiarque, à la tête de sa tribu, saisirent Alexiclès, l’un des généraux du parti oligarchique, tout dévoué à ses collègues, le conduisirent chez lui et l’y tinrent aux arrêts. Ils étaient secondés entre autres par Hermon, commandant des péripoles en garnison à Munychie; mais ce qu’il y avait de plus grave, c’était que la masse des hoplites partageait les mêmes dispositions.

Les quatre cents se trouvaient alors en séance au sénat : à la première nouvelle du mouvement, ils se disposèrent à courir aux armes, — excepté pourtant ceux qui n’étaient pas dans les mêmes sentiments, — et se répandirent en menaces contre Théramènes. Celui-ci, pour se justifier, déclara qu’il était prêt à aller sur-lechamp avec eux délivrer Alexiclès; il prit avec lui un des généraux, qui partageait ses vues, et courut au Pirée. Aristarchos s’y porta également avec des jeunes gens de Tordre des chevaliers. Le tumulte et l’épouvante étaient partout : à la ville, on se figurait déjà que le Pirée était pris et le prisonnier égorgé; au Pirée, on s’attendait d’un moment à l’autre à une irruption du côté de la ville. Dans la ville, on se précipitait de toutes parts et on courait aux armes; ce ne fut qu’à grand’peine que les vieillards et Thucydides de Pharsale, proxène d’Athènes, qui se trouvait là, parvinrent à les contenir; Thucydides se jetait au-devant de chacun, leur criait de ne pas perdre la patrie qund l’ennemi était aux portes et épiait le moment; enfin ils se calmèrent et n’en vinrent pas aux mains.

Théramènes arriva au Pirée : comme il était luimême général, il s’emporta fort contre les hoplites, mais seulement en paroles. Aristarchos, au contraire, et les ennemis de la faction populaire étaient réellement indignés. Cependant la plupart des hoplites, loin de témoigner aucun repentir, n’en continuaient pas moins d’aller à l’ouvrage ¹ : ils demandèrent à Théramènes s’il lui semblait que les fortifications fussent élevées à bonne intention, et s’il ne valait pas mieux qu’elles fussent détruites. Il répondit que, s’ils croyaient devoir les démolir, c'était aussi son avis. Dès lors les hoplites et une grande partie de la population du Pirée s’empressèrent de monter sur le mur et de le renverser. Dans l’appel à la multitude, la phrase convenue était que, quiconque voulait le gouvernement des cinq mille au lieu des quatre cents, devait mettre la main à l’oeuvre. On s’abritait encore sous le nom des cinq mille pour ne pas dire ouvertement « quiconque veut le gouvernement du peuple; » car on craignait que ces cinq mille ne fussent réellement constitués, et, faute de se connaître mutuellement, on ne voulait pas se compromettre en s’avançant trop. C’était pour cela, du reste, que les quatre cents n’avaient voulu ni donner une existence réelle aux cinq mille, ni laisser percer qu’ils n’existaient pas : ils sentaient d’une part qu’admettre une telle multitude au partage du pouvoir, c’était revenir au gouvernement populaire, et, de l’autre, que le doute sur leur existence entretenait les défiances réciproques ² .

Ce furent d’abord de sourdes rumeurs répandues entre peu de personnes ; mais sur ces entrefaites Phrynichos, au retour de son ambassade à Lacédémone, fut frappé en trahison par un des péripoles ¹ et tué roide en pleine agora, au sortir même du conseil. Le meurtrier s’échappa. Un Argien, son complice, arrêté et mis à la question par les Quatre-Cents, ne nomma aucun instigateur de ce crime , et déclara ne savoir autre chose, sinon qu’il y avait de fréquents conciliabules chez le commandant des péripoles et ën d’autres maisons. Comme cette affaire n’eut pas de suites, Théraménès, Aristocratès et leurs adhérents pensèrent que le moment d'agir était venu. Déjà la flotte pélo-ponésienne„ partie de Las, avait tourné la côte jusqu’à Épi-daure, d’où elle avait fait une excursion contre Ëgine. Théraménès soutint que, si elle était effectivement à destination de l’Eubée, il n’était pas naturel qu’elle entrât dans le golfe dfË-gine pour retourner mouiller à Epidaure, à moins qu’elle ne fût appelée dans le but qu’il ne cessait de lui prêter, ajoutant qu’il n’était plus possible de se croiser les bras.

Enfin, après maint propos séditieux et sur quelques nouveaux soupçons, l’on en vint aux effets. Les hoplites du Pirée qui travaillaient aux fortifications d’Éétionéa et parmi lesquels se trouvait, en qualité de taxiarque, Aristocratès avec sa tribu, se saisirent d’Alexiclès, l’un des généraux les plus dévoués à i’o-ligarchie, le conduisirent dans une maison et l’y enfermèrent. Ils furent activement secondés par Hermon, chef des péripoles de garde à Munychie ; et, ce qui était plus grave, la masse des hoplites les soutenaient.

Lies Quatre-Cents se trouvaient alors en séance au conseil. A cette nouvelle leur premier mouvement fut de courir aux armes, excepté toutefois ceux à qui ne plaisait pas l’état actuel ; en même temps ils éclataient en menaces contre Théraménès et ses adhérents. Celui-ci se défendit en disant qu’il était prêt à aller de ce pas avec eux délivrer le prisonnier. Il s’adjoignit un des généraux de la même opinion que lui et se rendit au Pirée. Aristarchos s’y porta de son côté avec quelques jeunes gens d’entre les cavaliers. Le tumulte était à son comble. Dans la ville on croyait le Pirée occupé et le prisonnier déjà mort ; au Pirée on s’attednait de moment en moment à se voir attaqué par les citadins. De toutes parts on prenait les armes. Ce ne fut pas sans peine que les vieillards parvinrent à contenir la foule. Ils furent aidés par le Pharsalien Thucydide, proxène d’Athènes, qui, se jetant entravers des plus échauffés, criait de ne pas perdre la république menacée de près par l’ennemi. A la fin cependant ils se calmèrent et s’abstinrent de s’entr’égorger.

Arrivé au Pirée, Théraménès, en qualité de général, se fâcha contre les hoplites, mais pour la forme seulement. Aristarchos au contraire et les ennemis de la multitude étaient furieux tout de bon. La plupart des hoplites n’en persévérèrent pas moins dans leur entreprise, sans témoigner le moindre repentir. Ils demandèrent à Théraménès s’il croyait les fortifications élevées à bonne fin et s’il ne vaudrait pas mieux les détruire. Il répondit que, si tel était leur avis, c’était aussi le sien. A l’instant les hoplites et beaucoup de gens du Pirée escaladèrent la muraille pour la démolir. Le mot d’ordre parmi la foule était : « A l’œuvre ceux qui préfèrent le gouvernement des Cinq-Mille à celui des Quatre-Gents. i On employait encore le nomdes Cinq-Mille, pour se mettre à couvert et ne pas dire ouvertement le peuple. On craignait que les Cinq-Mille n’existassent en réalité, et qu’on ne se compromît en s’adressant à des inconnus. C’est pour cette raison que les Quatre-Cents Savaient voulu ni désigner effectivement les Cinq-Mille, ni faire savoir qu’ils n’étaient pas désignés. D’une part, un personnel si nombreux leur semblait être une véritable démocratie ; de l’autre, ils pensaient que l'incertitude sur leur existence entretiendrait la crainte parmi les citoyens.

[1] It was with this object in view that they were now diligently building this fort, which was furnished with posterns and entrances and ways for letting the enemy in, and they wished to have it finished in time.

[2] Now hitherto the talk had been confined to small groups and indulged in with some attempt at secrecy; but finally Phrynichus, after his return from his mission to Lacedaemon, was stabbed in full market as the result of a plot by a man of the frontier-patrol, and before he had gone far from the senate-chamber suddenly died. The assassin escaped, while his accomplice, an Argive fellow, was seized and put to the torture by the Four Hundred, but did not reveal the name of anyone who instigated the deed nor anything else, except that he knew many who were wont to come together in the house of the commander of the frontier-patrol and at other houses. So now at length, when no signal action had been taken in consequence of this, Theramenes and Aristocrates and all the rest of the Four Hundred and those outside that body who were of the same way of thinking, went to work more boldly.

[3] For at this same time the Peloponnesian ships had already sailed round from Las, and after taking station at Epidaurus had overrun Aegina; and Theramenes said it was not likely, if their destination were Euboea, that they would have run up the gulf as far as Aegina and then put in to Epidaurus to anchor, unless they had come on invitation for the purposes which he himself had always been denouncing; it was therefore impossible, he concluded, to keep quiet any longer.

[4] Finally, when there had been many other seditious speeches and insinuations, they at last took hold of the situation in earnest. The hoplites in the Peiraeus who were engaged in building the fort at Eetioneia—one of their number being Aristocrates, a taxiarch who commanded the contingent of his own tribe—arrested Alexicles, who was a general of the oligarchical faction and very favourably inclined toward the members of the political clubs, took him into a house and confined him there. Among those who took part with them in this exploit was Hermon, one of the frontier-patrol and commander of the detachment stationed at Munichia;

[5] and, most important of all, the mass of the hoplites were in sympathy with all this.

[6] But when the act was announced to the Four Hundred, who happened to be in session in the senate-chamber, immediately all except those who disapproved of this state of things ¹ were ready to rush to arms and began to threaten Theramenes and his followers. But he, justifying himself, said that he was ready to go immediately and assist in the rescue of Alexicles. So he took one of the generals who was in accord with him and proceeded to the Peiraeus; and Aristarchus and some young men of the Knights also went to the rescue. There ensued a tumult that was widespread and alarming;

[7] for the people in the city thought that the Peiraeus had been taken and that the man under arrest had been put to death, while the people in the Peiraeus thought that the men of the city were all but upon them.

[8] But owing to the efforts of the older men to stop those in the city who were running hither and thither and flying to their arms and also of Thucydides, the Athenian proxenus at Pharsalus, who was then in Athens and zealously threw himself in everybody's way and loudly called upon them not to ruin the state when the enemy was near at hand awaiting his turn, the people were with difficulty quieted and refrained from attacking one another.

[9] As for Theramenes, he went to the Peiraeus (he was himself one of the generals) and, so far as shouting was concerned, showed anger at the hoplites; but Aristarchus and those who were opposed to the populace were really displeased.

[10] Most of the hoplites, however, grappled with the task in hand and showed no change of purpose, and they asked Theramenes whether he thought that the fort was being built with any good end in view, and whether it were not better demolished. He answered that if it seemed good to them to demolish it, so it seemed to him also. Thereupon the hoplites and many of the people of Peiraeus at once mounted the fortification and began to tear it down.

[11] And the exhortation addressed to the crowd was, “Whoever wants the Five Thousand to rule in place of the Four Hundred, let him set to work.” For in spite of everything they were still concealing their purpose under the name of the “Five Thousand,” so as not to say outright, “Whoever wants the people to rule”; for they were afraid that the Five Thousand did in reality exist and that one man in speaking to another might without knowing it get into trouble. ² And in fact this was the reason why the Four Hundred did not wish either that the Five Thousand should actually exist or that it should become known that they did not exist— because they thought, on the one hand, that to make so many men partners in the government was outright democracy, and, on the other hand, that the uncertainty would inspire fear in each against his neighbour.

[1] For this reason they were also diligently raising this fortification, with both posterns and entrances, and facilities for introducing the enemy, and were desirous to have it completed in time.

[2] Now what was said of them was previously advanced in small parties only, and with greater secrecy; but when Phrynichus, on his return from the embassy to Lacedaemon, had been designedly stabbed in the full market by a man who served in the ¹ peripoli, and after proceeding but a short distance from the council-chamber expired immediately, and the assassin escaped; while his accomplice, who was an Argive, though seized and tortured by the Four Hundred, mentioned no one's name as having instigated him to it, nor any thing else, but that he knew many men assembled in different houses, both that of the commander of the peripoli and others; then indeed, when no disturbance arose from this, Theramenes and Aristocrates and all the rest of the Four Hundred, as well as of those out of doors who held the same views, proceeded with greater confidence to the execution of their measures. For at this same time the ships had now sailed round from Las, and after coming to anchor at Epidaurus, had overrun Aegina;

[3] and Theramenes remarked, that it was not probable that, while on their passage to Euboea, they should have run into the bay, and be lying again at Epidaurus, unless they had been invited, and come for the purposes with which he had all along been charging them; and therefore it was not possible any longer to remain quiet.

[4] At length, after many more seditious speeches and suspicions had been uttered, they now proceeded to business in real earnest. For the heavy-armed who were in the Piraeus, building the wall in Eetionia, amongst whom also was Aristocrates a taxiarch, with his company, arrested Alexicles, who was a general on the side of the oligarchy, and very favourably inclined to the associates, and taking him into a house confined him there. There were others who assisted them in this, and particularly one Hermon, commander of the peripoli stationed in Munychia;

[5] and, what was of most importance, the mass of the heavy-armed were in favour of these measures.

[6] When this news reached the Four Hundred, (who happened to be sitting together in their council-chamber,) immediately, with the exception of such as did not approve of the present government, they were prepared forthwith ² to arm themselves, and threatened Theramenes and those with him. He, however, said in his defence that he was ready to go at once and assist in rescuing Alexicles; and taking with him one of the generals who held the same views with himself, he proceeded to the Piraeus; while Aristarchus and some young men of the cavalry went to the rescue. The tumult, then, was great and alarming:

[7] for those in the city thought that the Piraeus was already taken, and the general under arrest put to death; while those in the Piraeus believed that the men in the city were all but attacking them. But when the elder men stopped those in the city who were running about, and rushing to the stands of arms;

[8] while Thucydides the Pharsalian, the Proxenus of the state, was also present, and earnestly opposed the several parties, calling upon them not to destroy their country while the enemy were still waiting to attack them; they were with difficulty quieted and forbore from attacking one another. Now when Theramenes came into the Piraeus, (for he too was one of the generals,) as far as shouting went, he was angry with the soldiers;

[9] but Aristarchus and those who were opposed to the popular party were in a violent rage. Most of the soldiers however joined in the work, without changing their purpose, and asked Theramenes, whether he thought that the wall was being built for any good, or would be better demolished.

[10] He said, that if they thought right to demolish it, he also agreed with them. Upon that both the soldiers and many of the men in the Piraeus immediately mounted, and began to pull down the fortification. And the cry for the encouragement of the multitude was this;

[11] For they continued, notwithstanding, to conceal their real views under the name of the Five Thousand, so that whoever wished the commons to hold the government did not expressly mention that word; fearing that the Five Thousand might really have been elected, and that so by saying something to one [who belonged to that body,] he might, through his ignorance of the fact, commit himself. And, indeed, for this reason the Four Hundred neither wished the Five Thousand to be elected, nor to have it known that they were not; thinking, on the one hand, that to instal so many partners with them would amount to a downright democracy; and, on the other hand, that uncertainty on the subject would strike them with fear of one another.

[1] Quamobrem etiam hanc munitionem, quae et portulas et introitus et hostium receptacula habebat, studiose Aedificabant, et eo absolvendo adversarios praevertere cupiebant.

[2] Itaque antea quidem inter paucos et clam potius sermones Uli serebantur; sed postquam Phrynichus reversos ex legatione, quam ad Lacedaemonios obierat, a quodam circitorum ex insidiis in foro frequenti nec procul a curia vulneratos est et digressus continuo decessit,et percussor quidem evasit, ejus autem adjutor, homo Argivus, comprehensus tortusque a quadringentis, nullius, a quo facinus hoc perpetrare jussos esset, nomen confessus est, nec omnino aliud quidqoam, nisi quod sciret multos homines et in circitorum praefecti domum et alio in aedes convenire, tum vero, quamquam nihil novi ex hac re consecutum erat, et Theramene» jam confidentius et Aristocrates, et quotquot vel ex ipsis quadringentis vel extra hos ejusdem sententiae erant, pergebant ad negotia publica capessenda.

[3] Simul enim etiam a Lae naves jam circumvecte, quum ad Epidaurum appulissent, iEginam excursionibus infestaverant; et negabat Theramenes verisimile esse, eas, si in Eubceam navigarent, in iEginae sinum fuisse deflexuras,et rursus Epidauri stationem habituras, sinon accite venirentearum rerum causa, quae quidem illi semper criminandi materiam praebebant; non igitur jam fieri posse ut quiescerent.

[4] Tandem vero, quum multi praeterea seditiosi sermones et suspiciones accessissent, jam et iactis rerum statum aggredi copperunt; nam gravis armaturae milites, qui Eetioniae munitionem in Piraeeo aedificabant, inter quos erat etiam Aristocrates centurio una cum sua tribu, comprehendunt Alexiclem, qui imperator erat ex paucorum collegio et factionis suae sociis maxime addictus, et in domum adductum eum captum tenuerunt.

[5] Adjuverunt eos autem simul quum alii, tum Hermo quidam, circitorum apud Munychiam excobantium praefectus ; sed quod maximum erat, gravis armaturae manos haec volebat.

[6] Quum autem hoc quadringentis renuntiatum esset (considebant autem forte in curia), confestim omnes, praeter eos, quibus ea non volentibus erant, parati erant ire ad arma, et Therameni iisque qui cum eo erant, minitabantur. Ille vero, se purgans, dicebat, se paratum esse jam ire cum iis ad Alexiclem custodia liberandum. Et assumpto uno ex imperatoribus, qui cum eo sentiebat, pergebat in Piraeeum; auxilio autem veniebat et Aristarchus, et ex equitibus juniores.

[7] Erat autem ingens tumultus ac terribilis; nam et qui in urbe erant, jam putabant Piraeeum occupatum, et comprehensum illum morte mulctatum esse, et qui in Piraeeo erant, eos, qui in urbe erant, contra se jamjamque adesse.

[8] .Egre autem quum et seniores impedirent eos, qui per urbem discurrebant, et ad arma ferebantur, et Thucydides Pharsalius, urbis hospes publicus, adesset, et studiose quibusque obsisteret et inclamaret, ne hostibus prope adhuc insidiantibus patriam perderent, quieverunt , et a manibus mutuo sibi afferendis adstinuerunt.

[9] Ac Theramenes quidem quum in Piraeum pervenisset (erat antem et ipse imperator), voce tenus gravis armaturae militibus irascebatur; Aristarchus vero, et qui multitudini adversarii erant, indignabantur.

[10] Sed gravis armaturas milites porro pergebant plerique ad opus, nec mutabant sententiam, et Theramenem interrogabant, numquid ei videretur haec munitio publici boni causa exstrui, et num satius esset eam demoliti. Ille vero, si et illis eam demoliri placeret, sibi quoque placere respondit. Atque liinc e vestigio ascendentes et milies, et multi hominum eorum, qui erant ex Piraeeo, munitionem dejiciebant.

[11] Erat autem adhortatio ad vulgus haec, oportere eum, quicumque quinque millia civium quadringentorum loco reipublicae praeesse vellet, ad opus accedere. Nam adhuc tamen occultabant se quinque millium nomine, ne aperte dicerent, quicuroqua vellet populum reipublicae praeesse, quia metuebant, ne forte re vera essent quinque millia, neve quis apud aliquem dicens aliquid per inscitiam offenderet. Et quadringenti propterea neque volebant, illos quinquies mille cives esse, neque constare, eos non esse, quod existimabant, tot rerum participes constituere plane jam imperium populare esse; contra rei obscuritatem melum mutuum civibus allaturam.

Il perchè si affrettavano a costruir quel muro con postierle ed ingressi per introdurvi i nemici , volendo terminarlo innanzi d essere impediti dalla fazione contraria. Tali discorsi pertanto da principio si comunicavano a pochi , e piuttosto di soppiatto ; ma poiché Frinico tornando dalla sua ambasceria di Sparta fu a posta fatta ferito in pena piazza da uno della ronda, e venuto non molto lungi dalla curia morì ; e poiché, fuggito essendo l’uccisore, un tal di Argo suo complice arrestato e torturato da quattrocento non volle palesare il nome di nessuno che avesse ordinato quel delitto, e solo disse che si faceano molte radunanze presso il capo delle ronde e altrove per le case; nllor daddovero, siccome quell’accidente non avea partorito veruna novità, Terainene ed Aristocrate, e quanti tra’quattrocento e fuori dequattrocento eran del medesimo parere , si misero tosto con più ardire all’ impresa. Impercioo che in quel tempo appunto le navi nemiche dalla spiaggia laconica volteggiando si erano fermate ad Epidauro, ed aveano fatto delle scorrerie sopra Egina ; e Teramene diceva non esser consentaneo, se esse andavano verso l’Eubea, che avesser piegato il corso al golfo d’Egina, e quindi presa stazione ad Epidauro ; qualora non fossero state invitate a quel fine ch’ei sempre annunziava : e però non doversi più stare inoperosi. Alla fine moltiplicati i discorsi sediziosi e cresciuti i sospetti Teramene ed i suoi partigiani misero mano all’impresa. Conciossiachè i soldati gravi che nel Pireo fabbricavano il muro di Etionea (e tra questi era anche Aristocrate centurione colla sua centuria) arrestano Alessicle capitano degli oligarchici e sommamente inclinato alla parte contraria a Teramene ; e condottolo a casa lo tennero prigione. E tra gli altri cooperatori che avevano vi era Ermone uno de’comandanti delle ronde di Munichia ; e , quel che più rileva, il corpo de’soldati gravi stava per loro. Appena fu recato avviso di ciò ai quattrocento adunati a consesso nella sala del senato , tutti, salvo quelli ai quali non piaceva il presente governo, erano pronti a correre all’armi, e minacciavano Teramene edi suoi aderenti. Egli per discolparsi disse d’esser pronto a recarsi a liberare Alessicle ; e preso seco un capitano che era della medesima congiura di lui, si avviava verso il Pireo, sostenuto da Aristarco e da’giovani cavalieri. Frattanto grande e spaventevole era il tumulto ; poiché quei di città pensavano che il Pireo fosse già occupato, e messo a morte l’imprigionato Alessicle ; e quei del Pireo temevano di trovarsi or ora addosso quelli di città. Già per Atene correasi furiosamente allarmi, ed i più vecchi si paravano innanzi a’loro eoncittadini per impedirli, e Tucidice farsalico, ospite della città ed ivi preseti te, entrando animosamente di mezzo ritenea ciascuno, e gridava che non volessero rovinar b par tria co’nemici d’appresso ed alle vedette ; cosicché a gran pena si quetaronaé tion si venne all’arini. Teramene che era uno degenerali arrivato al Pireo mostrassi a parole adirato co’soldati gravi; ma Aristarco e gli altri della parte contraria erano sdegnati veramente. Con tutto ciò la magi» gior parte di quelle milizie, non che si pentissero del fatto tiravano innanzi, e domandavano a Teramene se credeva egli vantaggiosa la fabbrica del muro, e se meglio fosse demolirlo. E Teramene rispondeva che se piacesse loro demolirlo e’ piaceva anche a lui. Laonde tostamente i soldati gravi e molti di quei del Pireo salirono sul muro e lo spianavano, esortandosi tutti l’un l’altro con queste parole et deve prestar mano all’opera chi vuole il comando de’cinquemila , anziché quello de ’quattrocento »; avvegnaché tutti coloro che bramavano ristabilito il governo popolare si andassero ancora celando sotto il nome de’cinquemila onde non nominare apertamente il popolo; perchè temevano che i cinquemila veramente esistessero, e che dicendo qualche cosa ad alcuno di essi senza conoscerlo , non avessero a trovarsi perduti. Ed i quattrocento non volevano nè che i cinquemila esistessero, nè che fosse manifesto che non esistevano, per questo appunto perchè giudicavano che il metter tanti a parte del governo sarebbe una vera democrazia, e che d’altronde con l’incertezza si seminerebbe la paura tra’cittadini.