The history of the world

§. XII. [unspec 30] The battaile at Aegos-Potamos, wherein the whole State of Athens was ruined; with the end of the Peloponnesian Warre.

THe Peloponnesian fleet vnder Lysander, the yeere next following, ha∣uing scowred the Aegean Seas, entred Hellespont, where (landing Souldiers) it besieged and tooke the Towne of Lampsacus. Hereup∣on all the Nauie of Athens, being an hundred and fourescore saile, made thither in haste, but finding Lampsacus taken before their com∣ming, they put in at Sestos, where hauing refreshed themselues, they sailed to the [unspec 40] Riuer called, Aegos-Potamos, which is (as we might name it) Goates-brooke, or the Riuer of the Goate; being on the Continent, opposite to Lampsacus: and there they cast Anchors, not one whole league off from Lysander, who rode at Lampsacus in the harbour. The next day after their arriuall they presented fight vnto the Peloponne∣sians, who refused it, whereupon the Athenians returned againe to Aegos-Potamos, and thus they continued fiue dayes, brauing euery day the Enemie, and returning to their owne harbour when it drew towards euening.

The Castle of Alcibiades was not farre from the Nauie, and his power in those places was such as might haue greatly auailed his Countrimen, if they could haue made vse of it. For he had waged Mercinaries, and making warre in his owne name [unspec 50] vpon some people of the Thracians, had gathered much wealth, and obtained much reputation among them. He perceiuing the disorderly course of the Athenian Com∣manders, repaired vnto them, and shewed what great inconuenience might grow, if they did not soone fore-see and preuent it. For they lay in a roade subject to eue∣ry

weather, neither neere enough to any Towne where they might furnish them∣selues with necessarie, nor so farre off as had beene more expedient. Sestus was the next Market-Towne; thither both Souldiers and Mariners resorted, flocking away from the Nauie euerie day, as soone as they were returned from brauing the Enemie. Therefore Alcibiades willed them either to lie at Sestus, which was not farre off, or at the least to consider better how neere their enemie was, whose feare proceeded rather from obedience to his Generall, than from any cowardise. This admonition was so farre despised, that some of the Commanders willed him to meddle with his owne matters, and to remember that his authoritie was out of date. Had it not beene for these opprobrious words, hee could (as hee told his [unspec 10] familiars) haue compelled the Lacedaemonians, either to fight vpon vnequall termes, or vtterly to quit their Fleet. And like enough it was that hee might so haue done by transporting the light-armed Thracians his Confederates, and others his Followers ouer the Straights, who assaulting the Peloponnesians by Land, would either haue compelled them to put to Sea, or else to leaue their ships to the mercy of the Athenians. But finding their acceptance of his good counsaile no better than hath beene rehearsed, he left them to their fortune, which how euill it would be he did prognosticate.

Lysander all this while defending himselfe by the aduantage of his Hauen, was not carelesse in looking into the demeanour of the Athenians. When they depar∣ted, [unspec 20] his manner was to send forth some of his swiftest Vessels after them, who ob∣seruing their doings, related vnto him what they had seene. Therefore vnderstan∣ding in what carelesse fashion they romed vp and downe the Countrie; he kept all his men a-boord after their departure, and the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 day gaue especiall charge to his Scouts, That when they perceiued the Athenians, disembarking, as their custome was, and walking towards Sestos, they should forth with returne, and hang vp a bra∣zen shield in the Prow, as a token for him to weigh Anchor.

The Scouts performed their charge, and Lysander being in a readinesse, made all speed that strength of Oares could giue, to Aegos-Potamos, where he found ve∣ry few of his enemies a-boord their Ships, not many neere them, and all in great [unspec 30] confusion vpon the newes of his approch.

Insomuch that the greatest industrie which the Athenians then shewed, was in the escape of eight or nine ships, which knowing how much that losse imported, gaue ouer Athens as desperate, and made a long flight vnto the Ile of Cyprus, all the rest were taken, and such of the Souldiers as came in to the rescue cut in pieces. Thus was the warre which had lasted seuen and twentie yeeres, with variable suc∣cesse concluded in one houre, and the glory of Athens in such wise eclipsed, that she neuer afterward shone in her perfect light.

Immediately vpon this victorie Lysander, hauing taken such Townes as readily did yeeld vpon the first fame of his exploit, set sayle for Athens, and ioyning his [unspec 40] forces with those of Agis and Pausanias, Kings of Sparta, summoned the Citie, which finding too stubborne to yeeld, and too strong to bee wonne on the sud∣den, hee put forth againe to Sea, and rather by terrour than violence, compelling all the Ilands, and such Townes of the Ionians, as had formerly held of the Athe∣nians, to submit themselues to Sparta, hee did thereby cut off all prouision of vi∣ctuals, and other necessaries, from the Citie, and inforced the people by meere fa∣mine to yeeld to these conditions: That the long walles, leading from the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the Port, should bee throwne downe; That all Cities subiect to their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, should be set at libertie; That the Athenians should bee Masters only of their owne Territories, and the fields adioyning to their Towne; And that they [unspec 50] should keepe no more then twelue Ships; That they should hold as Friends or E∣nemies, the same, whom the Lacedaemonians did, and follow the Lacedaemonians as Leaders in the Warres.

These articles being agreed vpon, the walls were throwne downe with great re∣joycing of those who had borne displeasure to Athens; and not without some con∣sultation of destroying the Citie, and laying waste the Land about it. Which ad∣uice, although it was not entertained, yet were thirtie Gouernours, or rather cru∣ell Tyrants, appointed ouer the people, who recompensed their former insolencie and injustice ouer their Captaines, by oppressing them with all base and intolera∣ble slauerie.

The only small hope then remaining to the Athenians, was, that Alcibiades might perhaps repaire what their owne folly had ruined. But the thirtie Ty∣rants perceiuing this, aduertised the Lacedaemonians thereof, who contriued, and (as [unspec 10] nowe domineering in euery quarter) soone effected his suddaine death.

Such end had the Peloponnesian Warre. After which the Lacedaemonians abu∣sing the reputation, and great power, which therein they had obtained, grew ve∣ry odious to all Greece, and by Combination of many Cities against them, were dispossessed of their high authoritie, euen in that very Age, in which they had subdued Athens. The greatest foile that they tooke was of the Thebans, led by Epaminondas, vnder whom Philip of Macedon, Father to Alexander the Great, had the best of his education. By these Thebans, the Citie of Sparta (besides other great losses receiued) was sundrie times in danger of being taken. But these haugh∣tie attempts of the Thebans came finally to nothing; for the seuerall Estates and Si∣gnories [unspec 20] of Greece, were growne so jealous one of anothers greatnesse, that the La∣cedaemonians, Athenians, Argiues, and Thebans, which were the mightiest, associating themselues with the weaker partie, did so counterpoize the stronger, that no one Citie could extend the limits of her jurisdiction so farre as might make her terrible to her Neighbours. And thus all parts of the Countrie remained rather euenly ballanced, than well agreeing, till such time as Philip, and after him Alexander, Kings of Macedon, (whose forefathers had beene dependants, and followers, yea almost meere Vassalls to the Estates of Athens and Sparte) found meanes, by making vse of their factions, to bring them all into seruitude, from which they neuer could be free, till [unspec 30] the Romanes presenting them with a shew of libertie, did themselues in∣deede become their Masters. [unspec 40] [unspec 50]