Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.61

[1] But touching Alcibiades, the Athenians took it extreme ill through the instigation of his enemies, the same that had opposed him before he went. And seeing it was certain, as they thought, for the Mercuries, the other crime also concerning the mysteries, whereof he had been accused, seemed a great deal the more to have been committed by him upon the same reason and conspiracy against the people.

[2] For it fell out withal, whilst the city was in a tumult about this, that an army of the Lacedaemonians was come as far as the isthmus upon some design against the Boeotians. These therefore they thought were come thither not against the Boeotians, but by appointment of him, and that if they had not first apprehended the persons appeached, the city had been betrayed. And one night they watched all night long in their arms in the temple of Theseus within the city.

[3] And the friends of Alcibiades in Argos were at the same time suspected of a purpose to set upon the people there; whereupon the Athenians also delivered unto the Argive people those hostages which they held of theirs in the islands to be slain.

[4] And there were presumptions against Alcibiades on all sides. Insomuch, as purposing by law to put him to death, they sent, as I have said, the galley called Salaminia into Sicily both for him and the rest with him that had been accused;

[5] but gave command to those that went not to apprehend him, but to bid him follow them to make his purgation, because they had a care not to give occasion of stir either amongst their own or their enemy's soldiers, but especially because they desired that the Mantineans and the Argives, who they thought followed the war by his persuasion, might not depart from the army.

[6] So he and the rest accused with him in his own galley, in company of the Salaminia, left Sicily and set sail for Athens. But being at Thurii they followed no further, but left the galley and were no more to be found, fearing indeed to appear to the accusation.

[7] They of the Salaminia made search for Alcibiades and those that were with him for a while, but not finding him, followed on their course for Athens. Alcibiades, now an outlaw, passed shortly after in a small boat from Thurii into Peloponnesus; and the Athenians, proceeding to judgment upon his not appearing, condemned both him and them to death.

[1] To return to Alcibiades: public feeling was very hostile to him, being worked on by the same enemies who had attacked him before he went out; and now that the Athenians fancied that they had got at the truth of the matter of the Hermae, they believed more firmly than ever that the affair of the mysteries also, in which he was implicated, had been contrived by him in the same intention and was connected with the plot against the democracy.

[2] Meanwhile it so happened that, just at the time of this agitation, a small force of Lacedaemonians had advanced as far as the Isthmus, in pursuance of some scheme with the Boeotians. It was now thought that this had come by appointment, at his instigation, and not on account of the Boeotians, and that if the citizens had not acted on the information received, and forestalled them by arresting the prisoners, the city would have been betrayed. The citizens went so far as to sleep one night armed in the temple of Theseus within the walls.

[3] The friends also of Alcibiades at Argos were just at this time suspected of a design to attack the commons; and the Argive hostages deposited in the islands were given up by the Athenians to the Argive people to be put to death upon that account:

[4] in short, everywhere something was found to create suspicion against Alcibiades. It was therefore decided to bring him to trial and execute him, and the Salaminia was sent to Sicily for him and the others named in the information, with instructions to order him to come and answer the charges against him,

[5] but not to arrest him, because they wished to avoid causing any agitation in the army or among the enemy in Sicily , and above all to retain the services of the Mantineans and Argives, who, it was thought, had been induced to join by his influence.

[6] Alcibiades, with his own ship and his fellow-accused, accordingly sailed off with the Salaminia from Sicily , as though to return to Athens , and went with her as far as Thurii , and there they left the ship and disappeared, being afraid to go home for trial with such a prejudice existing against them.

[7] The crew of the Salaminia stayed some time looking for Alcibiades and his companions, and at length, as they were nowhere to be found, set sail and departed. Alcibiades, now an outlaw, crossed in a boat not long after from Thurii to Peloponnese ; and the Athenians passed sentence of death by default upon him and those in his company.

Gegen den Alkibiades nun war das Volk, auf Betreiben
seiner.Feinde, die auch schon vor der Abfahrt gegen ihn gewirkt
hatten, sehr übel gestimmt, und da sie in Betreff des Hermenfrevels die
Wahrheit zu wissen glaubten, so waren.sie. wegen der Mysterien,
deren,Verhöhnung jener angeschuldigt.war, um so mehr überzeugt,
daß.diese aus denselben geheimen Absichten und ebenfalls unter einer
Verschwörung gegen die Volksherrschast von jenen ausgeführt worden
sei. Zufällig war nämlich auch um dieselbe Zeit ein kleines Heer
der Lakedämonier während dieser Wirren in Athen bis zum Jsthmos ¹
vorgerückt, um im Einvernehmen mit den Böotiern irgend etwas zu
unternehmen. Man glaubte nun, dieselben seien auf Betreiben des
Alkibiades und nach einer Verabredung mit ihm, keineswegs aber
der Bootier wegen, gekommen, und wenn sie nicht in Folge jenes
Geständnisses noch grade rechtzeitig sich der Schuldigen versichert
hätten, so wäre die Stadt wohl verrathen worden. Eine Nacht
hatten sie auch im TheseuStempel in der Stadt unter Waffen
geschlafen. Um dieselbe Zeit kamen auch die Gatsfreunde des
AlkibiadeS zu Argos in den Verdacht, etwas gegen die Volksherrschaft
im Schilde zu führen, und die Athener lieferten die Geißeln von
Argos 65), die auf den Inseln lagen, damals dem Argivischen Volk
aus, um sie dafür hinzurichten. Von allen Seiten also mehrte sich
der Verdacht gegen den Alkibiades, demnah cwollten sie ihn vor
Gericht stellen und hinrichten, und schickten deßhalb das Schiff
Salaminia nach Sieilien, um ihn und die mit ihm Angeklagten nach
Athen zu bringen. Es war der Auftrag, ihm nur zu sagen, daß er
zu seiner Vertheidigung mitgehen solle; gefangen setzen dürften sie
ihn nicht. Man mußte nämlich aus die eigenen Truppen in Sieilien
Rücksicht nehmen und durste auch bei den Feinden kein Aussehen
erregen; vor allen Dingen aber wünschte man, die Mantineer und
Argiver, welche man durch jenen zur Theilnahme am Feldzug
bewogen glaubte, bei der Armee zu erhalten. So ging also Alkibiades
und die mit ihm Angeschuldigten auf seinem eigenen Schiffe von
Sieilien mit der Salaminia ab, als wolle er wirklich nach Athen.
In Thurii angekommen, gingen sie aber nicht weiter mit, sondern
verließen das Schiff und versteckten sich, weil sie sich fürchteten, so
schwer verklagt und verläumdet sich vor Gericht zu stellen. Die von
der Salaminia nun suchten zwar eine Zeitlang nach dem Alkibiades
und seinen Genossen, da diese aber wie verschwunden waren, so
gingen sie wieder unter Segel nach der Heimat. Alkibiades aber,
der nun schon so gut wie ein Verbannter war, fuhr nicht lange danach
auf einem Kauffahrer von Thurii nach dem Peloponnes hinüber,
und die Athener verurtheilten ihn und seine Genossen-'als
gesetzwidrig Abwesende zum Tode. ²

LXI. Quant à Alcibiade, les Athéniens, poussés par les mêmes ennemis qui l’avaient accusé dès avant son départ, étaient dans les dispositions les plus hostiles : lorsqu’ils se crurent éclairés sur l’affaire des Hermès, ils se persuadèrent bien mieux encore que celle des mystères, dans laquelle il était aussi impliqué, avait même principe et se rattachait à une conspiration tramée par lui contre le gouvernement populaire. Au milieu de ces circonstances et de tout ce trouble, il arriva qu’une armée làcédémonienne, assez peu nombreuse, s’avança jusqu’à l’isthme pour quelque entreprise concertée avec les Béotiens : on crut que c’était Alcibiade qui l’avait mandée; qu’il s’agissait non des affaires de la Béotie, mais d’un complot tramé avec lui, et que si on ne l’eût prévenu par l’arrestation des citoyens dénoncés, Athènes eût été livrée. On passa même une nuit en armes au temple de Thésée, dans l’intérieur de la ville. Vers le même temps, les hôtes d’Alcibiade, à Argos, furent soupçonnés de conspirer contre la démocratie; et, par suite de ces soupçons, les Athéniens livrèrent au peuple d’Argos les otages argiens déposés dans les îles, pour les faire mourir. De tous côtés les soupçons enveloppaient Alcibiade : les Athéniens, décidés à le mettre en jugement et à le faire mourir, envoyèrent en Sicile la galère la Salaminienne pour l’amener, lui et tous ceux qui étaient compris dans la dénonciation. L’ordre était, non de l’arrêter, mais de lui enjoindre de suivre les envoyés pour venir se justi- ¹ fier : en cela on cédait à la crainte de produire quelque mouvement en Sicile, soit dans l’armée athénienne, soit parmi les ennemis; on voulait surtout retenir les Mantinéens et les Argiens, qu’on croyait engagés dans l’expédition par son influence personnelle. Alcibiade monta son propre vaisseau, avec ses coaccusés, et partit de Sicile à la suite de la Salaminienne, comme pour se rendre à Athènes. Mais, arrivés à Thurium, ils cessèrent de la suivre, quittèrent leur bâtiment et disparurent : ils craignaient d’aller, sous le coup d’une accusation, affronter un jugement. La Salaminienne chercha quelque temps Alcibiade et ses compagnons; mais, ne les découvrant nulle part, elle reprit la mer et s’en alla. Alcibiade, dès lors exilé, passa peu après, sur un petit bâtiment, de Thurium dans le Péloponnèse. Les Athéniens le condamnèrent à mort par contumace, lui et ses compagnons.

Pour ce qui est d’Alcibiade, les Athéniens, prêtant l’oreille aux ennemis qui l’avaient noirci avant son départ, étaient fort animés contre lui. Sitôt qu’ils se crurent suffisamment éclairés sur l’affaire des Hermès, ils se persuadèrent qu'à plus forte raison celle des mystères, dans laquelle il était impliqué, émanait également d’une conspiration contre la démocratie. Par une singulière coïncidence, dans le même temps où régnait cette agitation, un corps de troupes lacédémoniennes s’avança jusqu’à l’Isthme, par suite de quelque intelligence aTec les Béotiens. On se persuada qu’Alcibiade n’était pas étranger à ce mouvement ; qu’il s’agissait, non de la Béotie, mais d’un complot dont il était l’âme, et que, si on ne l’eût prévenu par L’arrestation des prétendus coupables, la ville eût été prise par trahison. Il y eut même une nuit que les citoyens passèrent en armes dans le temple de Thésée à Athènes. A la même époque, les hôtes qu’Alcibiade avait à Argos furent soupçonnés de conspirer contre la démocratie ; ce qui fut cause que les Athéniens livrèrent au peuple d’Argos, pour être massacrés, les otages argiens déposés dans les îles. Ainsi tout concourait à rendre Alcibiade suspect. Les Athéniens, résolus à le traduire en justice et à le mettre à mort, dépêchèrent en Sicile la galère salaminienne pour l’amener, lui et tous ceux qui étaient compris dans la dénonciation. L’ordre portait qu’il eût à revenir pour se défendre ; mais on ne devait pas l’arrêter. On eût craint de mettre en émoi l’armée ou les ennemis, et de provoquer le départ des Mantinéens et des Argiens, dont la coopération était due à son influence. Alcibiade et lesr autres prévenus s’embarquèrent sur son vaisseau et partirent de Sicile pour Athènes de conserve avec la Salaminienne; mais, arrivés à Thurii, ils cessèrent de la suivre, quittèrent leur bâtiment et disparurent. Ils appréhendaient de comparaître sous le poids d’une pareille prévention. Les marins de la Salaminienne les cherchèrent pendant un certain temps; puis ils perdirent leurs traces. Alcibiade, dès lôrs exilé, monta bientôt après sur un bâtiment marchand et passa de Thurii dans le Péloponèse. Les Athéniens le condamnèrent à mort pa? contumace, lui et ses compagnons.

[1] With regard to Alcibiades, the Athenians took the matter seriously, being urged on by his enemies, the men who had attacked him before he sailed. And thinking now that they had the truth about the Hermae, they were far more convinced that the profanation of the mysteries also, in which he was implicated, had been committed by him with the same intent, that is of conspiring against the people.

[2] For it so happened that a small Lacedaemonian force, at the moment when they were in commotion about these matters, had come as far as the Isthmus in pursuance of some arrangement with the Boeotians. The opinion prevailed,, therefore, that it had come on agreement at his instigation, and not in the interest of the Boeotians; and that, if they had not themselves been beforehand in arresting the men on the strength of the information given, the city would have been betrayed. And once for a whole night they lay under arms in the precinct of Theseus within the walls.

[3] Furthermore, the friends of Alcibiades at Argos were at the same time suspected of a design to attack the people; and on this account the Argive hostages who had been deposited in the islands ¹ were at that time delivered by the Athenians to the Argive people to be put to death.

[4] Thus from all sides suspicion had gathered about Alcibiades. And so, wishing to bring him to trial and put him to death, they had sent the Salaminia to Sicily for him and for the others who had been informed upon.

[5] And the orders were to give him formal summons to follow, that he might make his defence, but not to arrest him; for they were solicitous about both their own soldiers in Sicily and the enemy, not wishing to stir up excitement among them, and they were especially desirous that the Mantineans and Argives should remain with them, thinking that it was through him that they had been persuaded to join in the expedition.

[6] So he, in his own ship, and those who were accused with him, sailed off in company with the Salaminia from Sicily, as if for Athens.

[7] When, however, they reached the territory of the Thurians, they followed no further, but left their ship and disappeared, being afraid to sail home for trial in the face of the existing prejudice. The crew of the Salaminia sought for Alcibiades and his companions for some time; but when these were nowhere to be found, they sailed home. Alcibiades, however, being now an outlaw, not long afterwards crossed over by boat from Thurii to the Peloponnesus; and the Athenians through a judgment by default ² sentenced him and his companions to death.

[1] With regard to Alcibiades, the Athenians took a severe view of the case, being instigated by his enemies, the same men as had also attacked him before his going on the expedition. And when they fancied they were in possession of the truth respecting the Mercuries, they thought much more than ever that the affair of the mysteries also, in which he was implicated, had been done by him with the same design, and in connexion with the plot against the democracy.

[2] For a small force of Lacedaemonians happened too, just at the time when they were in commotion on these subjects, to have advanced as far as the Isthmus, in pursuance of some scheme with the Boeotians. They thought therefore that it had come by agreement, through his agency, and not on account of the Boeotians; and that if they had not, in consequence of the information they had received, been beforehand in the arrest of the party, the city would have been betrayed to them.

[3] One night indeed they even slept in arms in the temple of Theseus within the walls. The friends, too, of Alcibiades at Argos were at the same time suspected of a design to attack the popular government; and those persons of the Argives who had been deposited in the islands the Athenians on that occasion gave up to the Argive commons to put to death on that account.

[4] Thus on all sides there arose suspicion against Alcibiades; and consequently wishing to bring him to trial, and put him to death, in this way they sent the ship Salaminia to Sicily, both for him and for the rest who had been informed against.

[5] Their orders were, to charge him to accompany the vessel home to plead his defence, but not to arrest him; for they were at the same time careful to avoid raising a commotion amongst both their own soldiers in Sicily and their enemies, and especially wished the Mantineans and Argives to remain there, whom they considered to have been prevailed on by Alcibiades to join them in the expedition.

[6] He then, with his own ship and those who had been accused with him, sailed away in the company of the Salaminia from Sicily, as though to return to Athens. But when they had reached Thurii, they followed it no further, but left the vessel and concealed themselves, being afraid of going home to trial with such a prejudice existing against them.

[7] The crew of the Salaminia for some time made search for Alcibiades and his companions, but when they were no where to be found, they departed on their voyage back. Alcibiades therefore, being now an outlaw, crossed not long after on board a boat from Thurii to the Peloponnese: and the Athenians, ¹ when they were not forthcoming, passed sentence of death upon him and those with him.

[1] De Alcibiade vero instigantibus inimicis iisdem, qui etiam prius eum quam discederet, aggressi erant, Athenienses delationem iratis animis accipiebant; et quando quidem de violatis Mercurii simulacris rem compertam se habere existimabant, tunc vero mullo magis etiam mysteria, de quibus accusabatur, ab illo polluta esse videbantur eodem consilio et cum conjuratione adversus statum popularem.

[2] Nam et quidam non magnus Lacedaemoniorum exer citus in hoc ipso forte tempore, quo Athenienses propter istas res perturbabantur, ad Isthmum usque progressus est» cum Boeotis clandestinum aliquod consilium agitans. Videbatur igitur illo sollicitante, non autem Boeotorum causa ex composito venisse, et nisi ipsi per indicium homines il- los mature comprehendissent, futurum fuisse, ut civitas proderetur. Unde etiam unam quandam noctem apud Thesei templum, quod est in urbe, sub armis pernoctarunt.

[3] Atque etiam Alcibiadis hospites, qui Argis erant, pet idem tempus in suspicionem venerunt, quod populo insidiarentur, et Argivorum obsides, qui collocati erant in insulis, Athenienses tunc Argivo populo his de causis interficiendos tradiderunt.

[4] Denique suspiciones Alcibiadem undique circumstabant. Quamobrem quod eum adductum ad judicium morte mulctare vellent, ita demum mittunt Salaminiam navem in Siciliam et illius causa et aliorum, de quibus indicia delata erant.

[5] Mandatum autem erat, ut ei praeciperent, ut se purgaturus sequeretur, non tamen ipsum comprehenderent, caventes, ne ea res apud milites suos in Sicilia aut apud hostes turbas daret, pnecipue vero cupientes Manlineos et Argivos permanere, quod existimarent, eos illius opera inductos esse ad hanc militiae societatem.

[6] Atque ille quidem habens suam navem, itemqua ii, qui una insimulati erant, ex Sicilia cum navi Salaminia, tanquam Athenas ituri, dicesserunt; et quum Thurios advenissent, non amplius sunt secuti, sed ex navi egressi non comparebant, metuentes in criminatione sibi facta ad judicium proficisci.

[7] Qui vero navi Salaminia vehebantur, aliquamdiu quidem quaerebant Alcibiadem ejusque socios, sed quum nusquam comparerent, navigationis cursum conficere perrexerunt. Alcibiades vero, quum jam exsul esset, non multo post ex agro Thurio in Peloponnesum navigio vectus transmisit; Athenienses vero illum et eos, qui cum illo erant, deserto judicio, capite condemnarunt.

Ma tornando ad Alcibiade , siccome i medesimi suoi nemici, che prima della spedizionel’avevanoattaccata cou lui, insistevano, gli Ateniesi la presero fieramente conir’esso. E poiché giudicavano di aver certezza del fatto dei Mercuri, molto più pareva che la profanazione de’misteri onde veniva imputato fosse stata fatta da lui per lo stesso line, e per cospirazione d’abolire il governo popolare. Imperciocché mentre essi erano in perturbazione per quei processi un piccolo esercito di Lacedemoni si avanzò per avventura fino all’istmo per trattare di non so chè coi Beoziij onde stimavano che fosse venuto non per causa dei Beozii, ma a sommossa d’Alcibiade, il quale gli avesse dato la posta ; e che se non avessero sollecitato T imprigionameuto della gente sospetta , secondo gl' indizi, la città sarebbe stata tradita. E però passarono anche una notte sull'armi tiel luogo sacro a Teseo in città, e nel medesimo tempo avevano preso ombra che gli ospiti d’Alcibiade in Argo volessero pigliar le armi contro lo stato popolare ; ed allora consegnarono al popolo argivo tutti gli statichi depositali nelle isole perchè gli uccidessero. Insomma da ogni parte i sospetti andavano a ferire in Alcibiade. Per lo che volendo gli Ateniesi col citarlo in giudizio dargli la sentenza capitale , spediscono finalmente in Sicilia la nave Salaminia per lui e per gli altri denunziati, alla quale ordinarono di intimargli che tornasse a difendersi ; ma che però non fosse arrestato. Intendevano essi con questo ad impedire i tumulti in Sicilia sì tra’propri soldati che tra’nemici, e soprattutto volevano che non si partissero dall’esercito i Mantiueesi e gli Ardivi, che si credevano essersi uniti alla spedizione a riguardo d'Alcibiade. Il quale salito sulla sua nave e accompagnato dagli altri accusati partì di Sicilia insieme con la Salaminia ; e poiché giunsero a Turio , non altrimenti le tennero dietro, ma scesi a terra non comparvero più, siccome quei che temevano tra quelle accuse di tornare al giudizio in Atene. Quei della Salaminia cercarono per un poco di Alcibiade e degli altri che erano seco, ma non trovatili in alcun luogo, imbarcaronsi e partirono. Ed Alcibiade oramai esule, non molto dopo dalla costa di Turio tragittò sopra una barca nel Peloponneso , e gli Ateniesi dannarono a morte, come contumaci, lui e gli altri che eran con lui.