Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 8.54

[1] The people, hearing of the oligarchy, took it very heinously at first; but when Pisander had proved evidently that there was no other way of safety, in the end, partly for fear and partly because they hoped again to change the government, they yielded thereunto.

[2] So they ordered that Pisander and ten others should go and treat both with Tissaphernes and Alcibiades as to them should seem best.

[3] Withal, upon the accusation of Pisander against Phrynichus, they discharged both Phrynichus and Scironides, his fellow-commissioner, of their command, and made Diomedon and Leon generals of the fleet in their places. Now the cause why Pisander accused Phrynichus and said he had betrayed Iasus and Amorges was only this: he thought him a man unfit for the business now in hand with Alcibiades.

[4] Pisander, after he had gone about to all those combinations (which were in the city before for obtaining of places of judicature and of command), exhorting them to stand together and advise about deposing the democracy, and when he had dispatched the rest of his business so as there should be no more cause for him to stay there, took sea with those other ten to go to Tissaphernes.

[1] The people were at first highly irritated at the mention of an oligarchy, but upon understanding clearly from Pisander that this was the only resource left, they took counsel of their fears, and promised themselves some day to change the government again, and gave way.

[2] They accordingly voted that Pisander should sail with ten others and make the best arrangement that they could with Tissaphernes and Alcibiades.

[3] At the same time the people, upon a false accusation of Pisander, dismissed Phrynichus from his post together with his colleague Scironides, sending Diomedon and Leon to replace them in the command of the fleet. The accusation was that Phrynichus had betrayed Iasus and Amorges; and Pisander brought it because he thought him a man unfit for the business now in hand with Alcibiades.

[4] Pisander also went the round of all the clubs already existing in the city for help in lawsuits and elections, and urged them to draw together and to unite their efforts for the overthrow of the democracy; and after taking all other measures required by the circumstances, so that no time might be lost, set off with his ten companions on his voyage to Tissaphernes.

DaS Volk nun hörte Anfangs diese Anträge aus
oligarchifche Verfassung sehr unwillig an; aber von Peisandros auf
einleuchtende Weisebelehrt/daß, kein anderer Weg zur Rettung vorhanden
sei, fügte es sich'schließlich, theils aus Furcht, theils in der Hoffnung,
daß doch wieder einmal ein Umschwung eintreten werde. Sie
beschlossen demnach: Peisandros und zehn Andere mit ihm
sollten.abreisen und mit Tissaphernesund Alkibiades die Unterhandlungen
anknüpfen, wie sie eS eben für'S Beste hielten. Da aber Peisandros auch
den Phryntchos in ein schlechtes Licht gestellt hatte, so enthob das
Volk zugleich auch diesen und seinen Mitfeldberrn'Skironides des
Kommando's und schickte an' ihrer 'Statt, den Diomedon und Leon
als Führer zu der Flotte. Den Phrynichos hatte nämlich Peisandros
verläumdet, Jasos und den Amorges verrathen zu haben 4°); denn er ^{1 2 3}
war überzeugt, daß derselbe sich bei den Unterhandlungen mit
Alkibiades gewiß nicht gefügig zeigen werde. Auch besuchte Peisandros
sämmtliche geheimeKlubs^')/ welche früher in der Stadt zu dem Zwecke
bestanden, um aus. Rechtssachen und die Aemterwahlem Einfluß zu
üben,' und forderte sie auf/ ihre Kräfte zu vereinen-und gemeinsam
den Sturz der Volksregierung herbeizuführen: ' Auch trittUebrigen
traf er zu diesen Zwecken alle Vorkehrungen, so daß sofort .zur That
geschritten werden konnte, und trat dann mit den zehn Männern-die
Seereise zum Tissaphernes an. ? ?! '> <

LIV. Le peuple ne put d’abord l’entendre sans impatience parler d’oligarchie; mais lorsque Pisandre lui eut démontré clairement qu’il n’y avait pas d’autre moyen de salut, il céda, par crainte et aussi dans l’espoir de revenir un jour à l’ancien état de choses. On décréta que Pisandre partirait avec dix collègues, pour s’entendre, avec Tissaphernes et Alcibiade, aux conditions qu’ils jugeraient les plus convenables. Pisandre ayant en même temps accusé Phrynicos, le peuple le destitua, ainsi que son collègue Scironidès, et les remplaça dans le commandement de la flotte par Diomédon et Léon. Pisandre avait calomnié Phrynicos et l’accusait d’avoir livré lasos et Amorgès, parce qu’il ne croyait pas ce général favorable à la négociation entamée avec Alcibiade.

Pisandre se mit en rapport avec tous les cercles politiques précédemment établis à Athènes, en vue de briguer les fonctions judiciaires et les magistratures; il les exhorta à se concerter et à agir en commun pour l’abolition de la démocratie; il fit de son côté toutes les dispositions qu’exigeaient les circonstances, de manière à ne plus différer, et s’embarqua avec ses dix collègues pour aller trouver Tissaphernes.

Le peuple ne put d’abord entendre parler d’oligarchie sans un vif déplaisir ; mais quand Pisandros lui eut clairement démontré que c’était le dernier moyen de salut, d’une part la crainte, de l’autre l’espoir que ce changement ne serait que temporaire, le décidèrent à céder. On décréta que Pisandros et dix autres iraient auprès de Tissapherne et d’Alcibiade pour s’entendre avec eux sur les mesures à prendre. Conformément aux plaintes de Pisandros, le peuple déposa Phrynichos et Scironidès, qu’il remplaça par Diomédon et Léon dans le commandement de la flotte. Pisandros en voulait à Phrynichos pour son opposition au rappel d’Alcibiade; le motif qu’il fit valoir contre lui fut qu’il avait livré Iasos et Amorgès.

Pisandros se mit en rapport avec toutes les associations qui existaient dans la ville pour les élections et les procès ¹ . Π leur recommanda de se réunir et de se concerter dans le but d’abolir la démocratie. Enfin, après avoir pris les derniers arrangements afin d’éviter les retards, il s’embarqua avec ses dix collègues pour se rendre auprès de Tissapherne.

[1] The assembly was at first displeased when they heard the proposal concerning an oligarchy; but when they had been plainly shown by Peisander that there was no other salvation, through fear and at the same time because they expected to make a change later, they yielded.

[2] So they voted that Peisander and ten others should sail and conduct the negotiations with Tissaphernes and Alcibiades in whatever way might seem best to them.

[3] At the same time, when Peisander brought a false accusation against Phrynichus, they deposed him and his colleague Scironides from command and sent in their stead Diomedon and Leon to take charge of the fleet. For Peisander alleged that Phrynichus had betrayed Iasus and Amorges, and slandered him, because he did not believe him to be friendly to the negotiations with Alcibiades.

[4] And Peisander also visited all the clubs which chanced previously to exist in the city for the control of courts and officials and exhorted them to unite, and by taking common counsel to overthrow the democracy. Then, after he had made whatever other arrangements the circumstances demanded, so that there might be no further delay, he himself and the ten other men made their voyage to Tissaphernes.

[1] The people were at first very indignant on hearing mention made of the oligarchy; but when plainly informed by Pisander that there were no other means of preservation, being afraid, and at the same time having ¹ hopes of changing it again, they gave way.

[2] Accordingly they resolved that Pisander and ten commissioners with him should sail and conclude, as they might think would be best, the negotiations both with Tissaphernes and Alcibiades.

[3] At the same time, on Pisander's falsely accusing Phrynichus, the people deposed him from his command with his colleague Scironides, and sent Diomedon and Leon to the fleet as generals in their stead. For Pisander calumniated Phrynichus by saying that he had betrayed Iasus and Amorges, only because he did not think him favourable to the negotiations carried on with Alcibiades.

[4] Pisander likewise visited all the clubs which had previously existed in the city for mutual support in law-suits and elections to offices, and exhorted them to unite together and by common counsels abolish the democracy; and after making all his other preparations to suit the present state of affairs, so that there might be no more delay, he himself with the ten commissioners proceeded on his voyage to Tissaphernes.

[1] Populus vero primo quidem haec audiens de paucorum dominatu graviter ferebat; sed quum a Pisandro plane doceretur, non esse aliam salutis rationem, metu perculsu* et simul etiam sperans, fore aliquando, ut res immutaretur, cessit.

[2] et decreverunt, ut Pisander cum decem collegis proficisceretur ad rem cum Tissapherne et Alcibiade transigendam, ut c republiea maxime fore ipsis vide· retur.

[3] Et simul quum Pisander etiam Phryuichum eri-minatus esset, populus eum et Scironidem, ejos collegam, a praefectura amovit, et in eorum locum submisit ad classem Diomedon tem et Leontem. Phrynichum autem Pisander criminatus est ita, ut Iasum et Amorgen ab eo proditum diceret, propterea quod non existimabat, eum animo propensum esse ad ea, quae cum Alcibiade transigebantur.

[4] Atque Pisander quidem et conspirationes, quae prius in orbe erant judiciorum et magistratuum causa, omnes adiit et adhortatus est, ut in unum conjuncti et consilio communiter inito popularem statum tollerent, et praeterea ceteras quoque res ad praesentem usum necessarias praeparavit, ut nulla mora amplius interponeretur; quo facto ipse cum deceto collegis ad Tissaphernem navigavit.

Il popolo che da principio sentiva di mal animo il progetto dell’oligarchia, avvertito chiaramente da Pisandro che non vi era altro modo di scampo, cedè ; parte mosso dalla paura, parte anche sperando che le cose potrebber mutarsi. Poscia fu decretato clic I isandro con altri dieci personaggi partisse per trattare degli affari nel miglior modo possibile con Tissaferne ed Alcibiade ; e per le accuse di Pisandro stesso Frinico fu deposto del comando unitameute al suo collega Scironida, e furono sostituiti ammiragli Diomedonte e Leone. Pisandro avea accusato Frinicó come traditore di Iaso e di Amorge, perchè lo stimava contrario alle pratiche che si facevano con Alcibiade. Ricercò inoltre tutti i cospiratori che di prima erano in città, e che faceano la parte di oppositori ne’giudizi contro i magistrati, e li confortò a riunirsi insieme con gli altri, e deliberare in comune l’abolizione della democrazia. Finalmente dopo aver disposto il rimanente delle cose, come richiedevano i tempi presenti, acciò non fosse ritardato il corso agli affari, s’imbarcò co’suoi dieci compagni per recarsi a Tissaferne.