a smaller history of greece-第26章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d；　except　that　the　franchise　was　restricted　to　5000　citizens；　and　payment　for　the　discharge　of　civil　functions　abolished。　　In　subsequent　assemblies；　the　Archons；　the　Senate；　and　other　institutions　were　revived；　and　a　vote　was　passed　to　recall　Alcibiades　and　some　of　his　friends。　The　number　of　the　5000　was　never　exactly　observed；　and　was　soon　enlarged　into　universal　citizenship。　　Thus　the　Four　Hundred　were　overthrown　after　a　reign　of　four　months；　B。C。　411。

While　these　things　were　going　on　at　Athens；　the　war　was　prosecuted　with　vigour　on　the　coast　of　Asia　Minor。　　Mindarus；　who　now　commanded　the　Peloponnesian　fleet；　disgusted　at　length　by　the　often…broken　promises　of　Tissaphernes；　and　the　scanty　and　irregular　pay　which　he　furnished；　set　sail　from　Miletus　and　proceeded　to　the　Hellespont；　with　the　intention　of　assisting　the　satrap　Pharnabazus；　and　of　effecting；　if　possible；　the　revolt　of　the　Athenian　dependencies　in　that　quarter。　　Hither　he　was　pursued　by　the　Athenian　fleet　under　Thrasyllus。　　In　a　few　days　an　engagement　ensued　（in　August；　411　B。C。）；　in　the　famous　straits　between　Sestos　and　Abydos；　in　which　the　Athenians；　though　with　a　smaller　force；　gained　the　victory　and　erected　a　trophy　on　the　promontory　of　Cynossema；　near　the　tomb　and　chapel　of　the　Trojan　queen　Hecuba。　　The　Athenians　followed　up　their　victory　by　the　reduction　of　Cyzicus；　which　had　revolted　from　them。　　A　month　or　two　afterwards　another　obstinate　engagement　took　place　between　the　Peloponnesian　and　Athenian　fleets　ness　Abydos；　which　lasted　a　whole　day；　and　was　at　length　decided　in　favour　of　the　Athenians　by　the　arrival　of　Alcibiades　with　his　squadron　of　eighteen　ships　from　Samos。

Shortly　after　the　battle　Tissaphernes　arrived　at　the　Hellespont　with　the　view　of　conciliating　the　offended　Peloponnesians。　　He　was　not　only　jealous　of　the　assistance　which　the　latter　were　now　rendering　to　Pharnabarzus；　but　it　is　also　evident　that　his　temporizing　policy　had　displeased　the　Persian　court。　　This　appears　from　his　conduct　on　the　present　occasion；　as　well　as　from　the　subsequent　appointment　of　Cyrus　to　the　supreme　command　on　the　Asiatic　coast　as　we　shall　presently　have　to　relate。　　When　Alcibiades；　who　imagined　that　Tissaphernes　was　still　favourable　to　the　Athenian　cause　waited　on　him　with　the　customary　presents；　he　was　arrested　by　order　of　the　satrap；　and　sent　in　custody　to　Sardis。　　At　the　end　of　a　month；　however；　he　contrived　to　escape　to　Clazomenae；　and　again　joined　the　Athenian　fleet　early　in　the　spring　of　410　B。C。　Mindaras；　with　the　assistance　of　Pharnabazas　on　the　land　side；　was　now　engaged　in　the　siege　of　Cyzicus；　which　the　Athenian　admirals　determined　to　relieve。　　Here　a　battle　ensued；　in　which　Mindarus　was　slain；　the　Lacedaemonians　and　Persians　routed；　and　almost　the　whole　Peloponnesian　fleet　captured。　　The　severity　of　this　blow　was　pictured　in　the　laconic　epistle　in　which　Hippocrates；　the　second　in　command；　＇Called　Epistoteus　or　〃Secretary〃　in　the　Lacedaemonian　fleet。　　The　commander　of　the　fleet　had　the　title　of　NAVARCHUS。＇　　announced　it　to　the　Ephors：　　〃Our　good　luck　is　gone；　Mindarus　is　slain；　the　men　are　starving；　we　know　not　what　to　do。〃

The　results　of　this　victory　were　most　important。　　Perinthus　and　Selymbria；　as　well　as　Cyzicus；　were　recovered；　and　the　Athenians；　once　more　masters　of　the　Propontis；　fortified　the　town　of　Chrysopolis；　over　against　Byzantium；　at　the　entrance　of　the　Bosporus；　re…established　their　toll　of　ten　per　cent；　on　all　vessels　passing　from　the　Euxine；　and　left　a　squadron　to　guard　the　strait　and　collect　the　dues。　　So　great　was　the　discouragement　of　the　Lacedaemonians　at　the　loss　of　their　fleet　that　the　Ephor　Endius　proceeded　to　Athens　to　treat　for　peace　on　the　basis　of　both　parties　standing　just　as　they　were。　　The　Athenian　assembly　was　at　this　time　led　by　the　demagogue　Cleophon；　a　lamp…maker；　known　to　us　by　the　later　comedies　of　Aristophanes。　　Cleophon　appears　to　have　been　a　man　of　considerable　ability；　but　the　late　victories　had　inspired　him　with　too　sanguine　hopes　and　he　advised　the　Athenians　to　reject　the　terms　proposed　by　Endius。　　Athens　thus　throw　away　the　golden　opportunity　of　recruiting　her　shattered　forces　of　which　she　stood　so　much　in　need；　and　to　this　unfortunate　advice　must　be　ascribed　the　calamities　which　subsequently　overtook　her。

The　possession　of　the　Bosporus　reopened　to　the　Athenians　the　trade　of　the　Euxine。　　From　his　lofty　fortress　at　Decelea　the　Spartan　king　Agris　could　descry　the　corn…ships　from　the　Euxine　sailing　into　the　Harbour　of　the　Piraeus；　and　felt　how　fruitless　it　was　to　occupy　the　fields　of　Attica　whilst　such　abundant　supplies　of　provisions　were　continually　finding　their　way　to　the　city。

In　B。C。　408　the　important　towns　of　Chalcedon；　Selymbria；　and　Byzantium　fell　into　the　hands　of　the　Athenians；　thus　leaving　them　undisputed　masters　of　the　Propontis。

These　great　achievements　of　Alcibiades　naturally　paved　the　way　for　his　return　to　Athens。　　In　the　spring　of　407　B。C。　he　proceeded　with　the　fleet　to　Samos；　and　from　thence　sailed　to　Piraeus。　　His　reception　was　far　more　favourable　than　he　had　ventured　to　anticipate。　　The　whole　population　of　Athens　flocked　down　to　Piraeus　to　welcome　him；　and　escorted　him　to　the　city。　　He　seemed　to　be　in　the　present　juncture　the　only　man　capable　of　restoring　the　grandeur　and　the　empire　of　Athens：　　he　was　accordingly　named　general　with　unlimited　powers；　and　a　force　of　100　triremes；　1500　hoplites；　and　150　cavalry　placed　at　his　disposal。　　Before　his　departure　he　took　an　opportunity　to　atone　for　the　impiety　of　which　he　had　been　suspected。　　Although　his　armament　was　in　perfect　readiness；　he　delayed　its　sailing　till　after　the　celebration　of　the　Eleusinian　mysteries　at　the　beginning　of　September。　　For　seven　years　the　customary　procession　across　the　Thriasian　plain　had　been　suspended；　owing　to　the　occupation　of　Decelea　by　the　enemy；　which　compelled　the　sacred　troop　to　proceed　by　sea。　　Alcibiades　now　escorted　them　on　their　progress　and　return　with　his　forces；　and　thus　succeeded　in　reconciling　himself　with　the　offended　goddesses　and　with　their　holy　priests；　the　Eumolpidae。

Meanwhile　a　great　change　had　been　going　on　in　the　state　of　affairs　in　the　East。　　We　have　already　seen　that　the　Great　King　was　displeased　with　the　vacillating　policy　of　Tissaphernes；　and　had　determined　to　adopt　more　energetic　measures　against　the　Athenians。　　During　the　absence　of　Alcibiades；　Cyrus；　the　younger　son　of　Darius；　a　prince　of　a　bold　and　enterprising　spirit；　and　animated　with　a　lively　hatred　of　Athens；　had　arrived　at　the　coast　for　the　purpose　of　carrying　out　the　altered　policy　of　the　Persian　court；　and　with　that　view　he　had　been　invested　with　the　satrapies　of　Lydia；　the　Greater　Phrygia；　and　Cappadocia。　　The　arrival　of　Cyrus　opens　the　last　phase　of　the　Peloponnesian　war。　　Another　event；　in　the　highest　degree　unfavourable　to　the　Athenian　cause；　was　the　accession　of　Lysander；　as　NAVARCHUS；　to　the　command　of　the　Peloponnesian　fleet。　　Lysander　was　the　third　of　the　remarkable　men　whom　Sparta　produced　during　the　war。　　In　ability；　energy；　and　success　he　may　be　compared　with　Brasidas　and　Gylippus；　though　immeasurably　inferior　to　the　former　in　every　moral　quality。　　He　was　born　of　poor　parents；　and　was　by　descent　one　of　those　Lacedaemonians　who　could　never　enjoy　the　full　rights　of　Spartan　citizenship。　　His　ambition　was　boundless；　and　he　was　wholly　unscrupulous　about　the　means　which　he　employed　to　gratify　it。　　In　pursuit　of　his　objects　he　hesitated　at　neither　deceit；　nor　perjury；　nor　cruelty；　and　he　is　reported　to　have　laid　it　down　as　one　of　his　maxims　in　life　to　avail　himself　of　the　fox's　skin　where　the　lion's　failed。

Lysander　had　taken　up　his　station　at　Ephesus；　with　the　Lacedaemonian　fleet　of　70　triremes；　and　when　Cyrus　arrived　at　Sardis；　in　the　spring　of　407　B。C。；　he　hastened　to　pay　his　court　to　the　young　prince；　and　was　received　with　every　mark　of　favour。　A　vigrorous　line　of　action　was　resolved　on。　　Cyrus　at　once　offered　500　talents；　and　affirmed　that；　if　more　were　needed；　he　was　prepared　even　to　coin　into　money　the　very　throne　of　gold　and　silver　on　which　he　sat。　　In　a　banquet　which　ensued　Cyrus　drank　to　the　health　of　Lysander；　and　desired　him　to　name　any　wish　which　he　could　gratify。　　Lysander　immediately　requested　an　addition　of　an　obolus　to　the　daily　pay　of　the　seamen。　　Cyrus　was　surprised　at　so　disinterested　a　demand；　and　from　that　day　conceived　a　high　degree　of　respect　and　confidence　for　the　Spartan　commander。　　Lysander　on　his　return　to　Ephesus　employed　himself　in　refitting　his　fleet；　and　in　organising　clubs　in　the　Spartan　interest　in　the　cities　of　Asia。

Alcibiades　set　sail　from　Athens　in　September。　　Being　ill　provided　with　funds　for　carrying　on　the　war；　he　was　driven　to　make　predatory　excursions　for　the　purpose　of　raising　money。　　During　his　absence　he　intrusted　the　bulk　of　the　fleet　at　Samos　to　his　pilot；　Antiochus；　with　strict　injunctions　not　to　venture　on　an　action。　　Notwithstanding　these　orders；　however；　Antiochus　sailed　out　and　brought　the　Peloponnesian　fleet　to　an　engagement　off　Notium；　in　which　the　Athenians　were　defeated　with　the　loss　of　15　ships；　and　Antiochus　himself　was　slain。　　Among　the　Athenian　armament　itself　great　dissatisfaction　was　growing　up　against　Alcibiades。　　Though　at　the　head　of　a　splendid　force；　he　had　in　three　months　time　accomplished　literally　nothing。　　His　debaucheries　and　dissolute　conduct　on　shore　were　charged　against　him；　as　well　as　his　selecting　for　confidential　posts　not　the　men　best　fitted　for　them；　but　those　who；　like　Antiochus　were　the　boon　companions　and　the　chosen　associates　of　his　revels。　　These　accusations　forwarded　to　Athens；　and　fomented　by　his　secret　enemies；　soon　produced　an　entire　revulsion　in　the　public　feeling　towards　Alcibiades。　　The　Athenians　voted　that　he　should　be　dismissed　from　his　command；　and　they　appointed　in　his　place　ten　new　generals；　with　Conon　at　their　head。

The　year　of　Lysander's　command　expired　about　the　same　time　as　the　appointment　of　Conon　to　the　Athenian　fleet。　　Through　the　intrigues　of　Lysander；　his　successor　Callicratidas　was　received　with　dissatisfaction　both　by　the　Lacedaemonian　seamen　and　by　Cyrus。　　Loud　complaints　were　raised　of　the　impolicy　of　an　annual　change　of　commanders。　　Lysander　threw　all　sorts　of　difficulties　into　the　way　of　his　successor；　to　whom　he　handed　over　an　empty　chest；　having　first　repaid　to　Cyrus　all　the　money　in　his　possession　under　the　pretence　that　it　was　a　private　loan。　　The　straightforward　conduct　of　Callicratidas；　however；　who　summoned　the　Lacedaemonian　commanders；　and　after　a　dignified　remonstrance；　plainly　put　the　question　whether　he　should　return　home　or　remain；　silenced　all　opposition。　　But　he　was　sorely　embarrassed　for　funds。　　Cyrus　treated　him　with　haughtiness；　and　when　he　waited　on　that　prince　at　Sardis；　he　was　dismissed　not　only　without　money；　but　even　without　an　audience。　　Callicratidas；　however；　had　too　much　energy　to　be　daunted　by　such　obstacles。　　Sailing　with　his　fleet　from　Ephesus　to　Miletus；　he　laid　before　the　assembly　of　that　city；　in　a　spirited　address；　all　the　ill　they　had　suffered　at　the　hands　of　the　Persians；　and　exhorted　them　to　bestir　themselves　and　dispense　with　the　Persian　alliance。　　He　succeeded　in　persuading　the　Milesians　to　make　him　a　large　grant　of　money；　whilst　the　leading　men　even　came　forward　with　privat