The hystory writtone by Thucidides the Athenyan of the warre, whiche was betwene the Peloponesians and the Athenyans, translated oute of Frenche into the Englysh language by Thomas Nicolls citezeine and goldesmyth of London

Howe a greate deuision happe∣ned amongest the Athenyans, aswell within the cytie, as wythout, chiefly in the army that was in Samie, by meane of the change of the estate and gouernance of the same, whiche did greatly endomage them. ☞The .x. Chapter.

THe differente and controuersie of the sayd Athenyans was for that, that in the same tyme, the estate and gouernance of the towne, had bene changed at Athens, oute of the power of the comon people, vnto a smalle nomber. For Pysander and hys compaignions, beynge re∣tourned to Samie, brought the army that was there, to their wylle and obeys∣sance, and one greate parte of the Samiens, chiefly they exhorted the prycipalle of the towne to take the gouernance thereof into their handes, althoughe that there were manye, whyche were wyllynge to maignteigne the common estate, wherby happened greate deuision and sedition bitwene them. Also the Atheniās, that were there in the armye, hauynge consulted vpon the thyng amonge them∣self, and seynge that Alcibiades was not earnest in the matter, they concluded to forsake hym, and not to calle hym agayne, for that, that it semed to theyme, that thoughe he dyd come agayne into the cytie, yet shulde he not be conueniente nor mete, for to order and gouerne the affaires vnder the gouernance of a small nom∣ber, but rather was expediente that those that were there, of the estate, whereof was question: shulde deuyse the manner, howe that practique shulde be conduc∣tedde, and also howe the feate in warre shulde be pursued. Whereunto euery man of theym dyd readely offer to contrybute of hys oune monney and all other thin∣ges necessarye, knowynge that they shulde no more laboure for the comons nor for any other, but for theymself. And so they sente againe Pysander and the moy∣tie of the ambassadours whyche had bene sente towardes Tyssaphernes, vnto Athenes, for to geue order there in the affaires, and charged them, that through al the cyties whiche they shulde passe, of the obeyssance of the Athenyans, y^t they shulde comytte the gouernance into the hande of a smalle nomber of the pryncy∣palles, and the other parte of the sayd ambassadours also departed & euerye one dyd goo into sondry places for to do the lyke. And also they ordeyned that Dyo∣trephes,* 1.1 who was thā at the siege of Chio, shuld go into the prouince of Thrace, which was delyuered into his gouernance, who, in his departure from the sayd siege, passing through Thasse, abolisshed the comon estate, and comytted the go∣uernance into the handes of a small nomber of men. But being departed oute of the cytie, the greate parte of the Thessyans, hauing enclosed their towne w^t wall aboutes one moneth after his departure, perswadedde themself to haue no more nede to be gouerned by those, which the Athenians had sett there, nor by y^• meane to remaine vnder their obeyssance: but rather hopedde within shorte time to reco∣uer entier lybertie through the ayde of the Lacedemonyans, for that, that their cytizeins, which were bannisshed by the Athenians, were withdrawin to Lacede∣monie, and sollycited with their power, that shyppes shulde be sente vnto theym and that the towne myghte rebelle. So it chanced vnto theyme hooly in that same, as they desyred, whiche is, that the cytie wythoute anny danger was com∣mytted into their lybertie, and the commons, whyche were bente to speake a∣gaynste the estate of a smalle nomber, were wythoute hurte rebuke or offence

depryued of the gouernance, and to those that toke partie wyth the Athenyans, and vnto whome Diotrephes had betaken the gouernement, yt chaunced whole contrary to their thinkinges. And the lyke was done in many other of the cyties subiected to the Athenyans, which, consyderynge (as it semeth to me) that they shulde haue no more feare of the Athenyans, and that the same fourme of lyuing in their obeissance vnder the coulour of pollecie, was for trouth but a couloured seruitude or bondage, they attended al for a true lybertie. As touching Pisander and hys compaignions, that were gone w^t hym, they comytted the gouernance of the cyties, through whyche, they passed, into the hande of a small nombere, at their pleasuer: and oute of some of the same, they dyd take souldyars, whyche they caryed wyth them to Athenes, where they founde that their complices and frendes, hadde already done many thynges, redoundinge to their intente for to abolishe the comons estate. For one Androcles, who had greate authoritie wyth the comon people, and that had bene one of the chiefest, that were cause of the ban¦nishmente of Alcibiades, was slayne by a secrett conspiratie of some yonge com∣paignyons of the cytie for twoo purposes. The one for that, that he had tomuche authoritie wyth the comon people, the other for to acquire and gette the good wille of Alcibiades: who as they thoughte shulde haue comme agayne into au∣thorie, trustinge that he wold make Tyssaphernes their frende. And for the selfe purposes they had by lyke meanes caused some other to be slayne, whyche semed vnto them, to be contrary vnto that practique: & also they had shewed vnto the comons by studyed and apparante narrations and reasons: that there shulde be no more wages payde but to those, that sarued in the warrre, and that in the ad∣mynistration of the comō affayres, no greater nomber shulde entermeddle, than of fyue houndred men, and chieflye of those, that were hable to sarue the comone weale, both wyth bodyes and wyth goodes: whyche thynge semed honnorable to the comon people, and those same, whiche were cause of the brynging downe of the comon estate, thought yet by that change to haue authorytie. For also the auncyent facyon of assemblynge the people and the counseille in alle affaires, of hearynge the opynyons of all men, and of followynge the greater nomber, didde stylle remayne. But nothing might be proponed or declared wythout delibera∣tion of the small nomber, whyche hadde the authorytie. Amongest whom, there were that conferred a parte of all that shulde be proponed and sette fourthe for their intente: and whan they had said their opynyon, no man durst speake against yt for feare: seinge the great nomber and authorytie of the said gouernours. For also, whan any dyd speake against yt, meanes were founde for to cause him to dye: also they dyd no iustice, nothere make inquyrie for manquellers or murthe∣rers: wherof the people were so afrayed and abashed: that they durste not saye a worde: and they thought that they dyd gett very muche by holdyng their peace or kepynge sylence, in that they receyued no other incomodytie and violence. And somuche the more they were in greater feare, that they doubted, leaste there had bene a much greater nōber of people in that same conspiracie, for it was not very easye to vnderstand, who were the coniuratours and accomplices or parttakers in that same secte, aswell for greatnes of the cytie and multytude of people, as al∣so that the one dyd not knowe the intent of the other, and also dyd not complaine the one to the other, nother to discouer his secret vnto hym, nor to treate to take secrete vengeance therof. For the suspition and mystruste was so great through oute the people, that a man durste not truste, no not hys acquaintance and fren∣des, doubting leaste they had bene of the same cōspiratie, for that, that there was in yt suche thynges, as neuer were doubted. By reason whereof a man coulde no

more knowe, to whyche, of the comons he might truste, wherby the estate of the coniurators or parttakers was greatly assured, pryncypally bycause of the said diffidence or mistruste. Pysander and his compaignions than being come in the tyme of that same trouble, they brought to passe right easly, & in a small season, their enterpryse. And furst hauyng assembled y^e people, they caused thē to consent to chose tenne grephiers and secretayries, the which shulde haue full power and auctorytie to pronounce to the people, that whyche shulde be deuysed to be putt in consultation for the welthe of the cytie at a daye, which was named. The whi∣che day beynge come and the assemblie made in a great felde, wherin was situ••∣ted the temple of Neptunus aboutes tenne stades out of the cytie: there was no other thinge recyted by the grephiers, but that it was lawfull for to declare and publishe the decree of the Athenyans in whatsoeuer parte a man wold. And who soeuer shulde wryte that the pronouncer did againste the lawes, or otherewyse did him oultrage or empeshemente, shuld be greuously punished. Afterwardes, the saide decree was published, whiche was of this substance, that all the officers whiche were than in authoritie by the chosynge of the comons, shulde be abolis∣shed and sett of, and that no wages shuld be payde vnto them: & that they shuld electe fyue presedentes, who shuld afterwards name an houndred men, and eue∣ry of those, shuld choise three other, which shuld be in the whole foore houndred: who, whan they shuld come vnto the court, shuld haue full power & ample auc∣torytie to execute that, which shulde be determyned to be for the welth of the co¦mon weale: and moreouer to assemble fyue thousand cytezeins, at all and asmany tymes, as they shuld thinke good. Pysander dyd pronoūce that same decre, who in the same, & in other things did willingly al that, which he learned to s••••ue for the extinguishinge and abrogation of the comons estate. But the said decree had already of longe tyme bifore bene made by Antiphon,* 1.2 who was in great reputa∣tion. For truly there was not at the same tyme in the cytie any man that excea∣ded him in vertue, and also he was very well aduysed and prudente for to fynde & counsaill in good, expedient & comon affayres: & moreouer he had a great grace to speke and declare them: and albeit that he neuer wolde come to the assemblie of the people, nother to any other cōtentious cōgregation, except that he were re∣quired: yet the comon people had him in suspition for the effycacitie & elegancie of his speakinge. And though that he wolde not entermedle in causes, yet euerye man that had any matter, were it iudiciall or touchinge the comons, he reputed that he had great fauour, yf he might haue hym for counsaillor. And aftere that the estate of foore houndred was abragated & that men proceded against those, whiche were the pryncipall authors therof, being accused as the other, he defen∣ded his case and answered therein in my conceyte better than anny man, to my re¦membrance, euer dyd. Phrynicus also shewed hymself greatly fauorable to the same comons estate, for feare of Alcibiades, whome he knew to haue vnderstan∣ded al y^t, which he had treated w^t Astiochus being at Samie: for it semed to him that he wold neuer retourne so long, as the said gouernance of foore hoūdred en∣dured. And also he was estemed a man vertuous & constant in great aduersities for y^t, that mē had sene by experyence, that he neuer shewed himself that his herte failled him. Theramines also sone of Agnō was of y^e chief & principall for to extin¦guish y^e comon gouernemēt, who was a mā veray sufficient, aswel in worde as in dede. This worke being than conducted by so great nōber of mē of vnderstāding & of auctority: it was no maruail that it was brought to effect, though y^t it semed and was for trouth a very difficile and harde thing to depriue the comon people of Athens frō their lybertie, which had bene & wherin they were about a hoūdred

yeares after that the tyrantes or euyll rulers were bannished. And they had not only bene exempted out of the subiectyon of all other: but also for, more than the halfe of the foresaid tyme, they had gouerned ouer other people. The assemble of the people beinge departed, after that they hadde approued and ratefyed the sayde decree, the foure houndred gouernours were afterwardes broughte into the courte, in thys manner. The Athenyans were contynually in armure by rea∣son of the ennemyes, whiche were in Decelea, to wytte, the one for to warde the walles, the other the gates and other places, whereunto they were appoyncted. And whan the assygned daye dyd come for to do the sayde acte: those that were not of that coniuration or secte: were suffred to goo into their howses, as the cus∣tome was. And to those, that were of yt, was comaunded that they shulde tary, not in the place of their watche, and where their weapons were, but in some o∣ther parte therby, and that if they perceyued any that woolde resyste that, which was done or empesche or let yt, that they shulde repoulse suche wyth their wea∣pons if nede were. And those, whiche were deputed and ordeyned therunto, were the Andrians, the Thenyans, three houndred of the Caristiens, and those of the cytie of Egyne, whyche the Athenyans had caused to come for to inhabitt there. The thynges beynge than so ordonned, the foure houndred chosen to the gouer∣nance, euery of them bearyng a dagger hydde vnder his habillement or clothing, and wyth them sixe skoore yonge men for to assyste and strengthen them, whan it shulde be nedefull: entred all togiders into the pallays, where the courte was holden, and enuyronned the senatours, whyche dyd sitt in counsaill. Who aftere the custome declared their opynyons by blacke and whyte beanes, and so sayde vnto them that they shulde take their payment, for the tyme, that they had ser∣ued, and departed. Whiche payment the same foure houndred had brought thē, and as they yssued fourthe of the counsailles chamber, they delyuered to euerye of them their duties. And by that meane, they departed out of the court without makynge any resistence, and wythout that the reste of the comons ones styrred. And than the foure houndred dyd entre and choyse amonge themselfe certayne threasouriers and receyuours, and that done, dyd sacrefyce solempnelye for the treatinge of the sayde newe offycers. And by that meane the comone gouernance was hooly changed, and a greate parte of that, whyche was done byfore that ti∣me, was reuoked, resarued, that they did not calle agayne the bannished men, for that Alcibiades shulde not be comprysed therein. In the reste, the sayde gouer∣nours dydde all thynges at theire wylle, and amonge othere caused some of the Cytezeyns to dye, doubtinge leaste that they shulde haue bene placedde in theire steede, for that they semed to them not to be for their purpose. Some other they dyd put into prysone, and some they bannyshed. That done, they sente vnto Agis kynge of the Lacedemonyans, who was at Decelea, an Heraulte: signefying that they woolde reconcyle themselfe wyth the Lacedemonyans, and shewynge hym that he myght conceyue and take more suertie and truste in them, than in the va¦ryable and vnconstant comons. But he, whiche thought wel, that the cytie could not be but in trouble: and that the comons woolde not suffre their authorytie to be easely abolished, specially, if they parceyued any great army commyng byfore their towne: and that the estate of the sayde foure houndred was not so establis∣shed, but that it myght well be troubled, he made them no answer touchyng the appoynctement. But wythin fewe dayes after, he caused to assemble a greate nō∣ber of men of warre, in the countrey of Peloponese, & wyth them and those, that he had Decelea, he came vnto the walles of the cytie of Athenes, trustynge that they wolde haue rendred themself to hys wylle, aswell for the trouble, that was

amonge them, both wythin and without the cytie, as also for feare, seing so great puissance at theire gates. And though that they woolde not doo yt, yet yt semed vnto hym, that he myght easely take the great walls by force, for that, that they were solitarie and required euer great watche and warde. But it chaūced wholy otherwyse, for the Athenyans dyd make no tumulte nor insurrection amongest themself, but they caused their horsemen and also one parte of their fotemen, as∣well well armed, as lyght armed to yssue fourth, the whiche repoulsed inconty∣nently, those, which were approched next vnto the wals, and did slay a great part of them, y^e spoiles of whom, they caryed into the towne. Wherupon Agis seyng, that his enterprise did take no good effect, he retourned to Decelea, & certen days after hys retourne, he sent backe the strange souldyars, whych he had caused to come for that same enterpryse, and reteygned those, that he hadde furste there. And neuerthelas the foore houndred sente eftsones vnto hym for to treate the appoynctement, the whyche he did take in good parte, so that he perswaded them to sende Ambassadours vnto Lacedemonie for to treate the peace, whyche they greately desyred. On the other syde, they sente tenne cytezeins of their faction or secte, vnto those, that were at Samie, for to shewe them, amonge many othere charges, whyche they had, that the same, which they had done in changing of the comons estate, was not to the damage of the cytie, but for the welth therof, and that the auctorytie, was not in the power of foore houndred onelye, but of fyue thousand, and therby that it was asmuch in the handes of the comons, as bifore time it had bene: for somuch as at no affayre, that euer was treated vpon in the cytie as domesticall, nor w^tin the self countrey as foreyne, there was neuer foūde vnder the comons gouernance so great a nomber, as fiue thousand men. And the foore houndred did sende this Ambassade vnto Samie, immediatly after the be¦gynninge, fearing leaste those that were there of the army by sea, wolde not be a∣greable to that change, nother obey their gouernance, and leaste the euylland the discorde shuld beginne there, and afterwards come into the cytie, as it happened. For after y^e time, that the sayd change was made at Athens, there was a mutyne and sedytion made in the sayd cytie of Samie, for the selfe occasion in this man∣ner. For some Samyens, the whyche in fauoure of the comons estate, that was than in the cytie and for defence ther of, were reysed vp and in the armure against the pryncipalles of the towne that wolde haue vsurped the admynistration, did sone after tourne & changed their opynyon at the perswation of Pysander, whan he was come thider, and of other his followers and accomplices Athenians, whō he founde there. And willing to put downe the sayd comō estate, they assembled to the nomber of foore houndred fully determyned to assaulte and dryue awaye all those, that conducted the comon gouernance: pretendinge themself to be and represente all the comons. And at the arryuall they dyd slay an vngracious man, and one of an euill lyuinge an Athenyan named Hyperbolus,* 1.3 who was bannis∣shed oute of Athens, nother for suspytion nor feare, that annye man had of hys puissance nor of hys aucthorytie: but for synne and offence, and for that, that he procured shame to the cytie, togiders with one of the Dukes Athenyans named Charminus,* 1.4 and some other Athenyans that were in hys compaignie, by whose counsail he gouerned himself. And they determined to procede further in fauour of the smal nōber. But y^e other cytezeins taking partie w^t the comon estate, which vnderstode this cōiuration or conspyratie, did discouer it, chiefly to some of y^e capy¦tains that were vnder y^e charge of Diomedō & of Leon, dukes of y^e Atheniās. The which dukes, for somuche as they had had that same charge & other honnours of the comōs, were not cōtent that y^e auctorytie shuld come into hands of a smal

nomber. And lykewyse they discouered it vnto Thrasylus, wherof the one was patrone of a shipp, and the other capytayne of the men of warre, that were in the same: and also the sayd men of warre, whome they knewe to haue affection to the sayde comons estate: prayinge and requyringe that they woolde not suffer them to be so foyled and ouercharged by the sayde coniuratours, whiche had conspy∣red their death, nother also in suche affayre, to habandonne, the cytie of Samie, whyche shulde cause it to lose and wythdrawe the good wille, that it had borne to y^• Athenyās, if they wold change the fourme of lyuing, which they had vsed vn∣tyll that same time. This thinge, being so declared to the Chiefes and capitains, they did speke particulerly to the souldyars: perswading them not to suffre that same conspyratie to take effecte. And furste they practysed the compaignie of the Athenyans, that men call Pareles, and afterwardes all the free men, that were in that same Athenyan shyp, whych had bene both than & at all tymes byfore, con∣trarye to the estate and gouernance of the smalle nomber, and also were in good estymation wyth Diomedon & wyth Leon, in suche sorte, that whan they made any voiage in the sea, they delyuered vnto them willyngly the charge and warde of certayne shippes. Those same than beynge ioygned wyth those of the towne, that were for the comons estate, they de••yed the thre houndred coniurators that were chosen and putt in authorytie. Wherof they dyd slay thirty and bannisshed three of the pryncypal authors. They pardoned the othere, and restored the com∣mons estate into his former auctorytie. That done, the Samyens and the Athe∣nyan souldyars, that were there, did incontynently sende that same shippe wyth Parales togyders wyth that Capytayn and Patrone of the same ship, named Chereas, the sonne o•• Archestratus, that was aydinge to that same busynes, for to aduertyse the Athenyans of that, whiche had bene there done, knowinge also that the gouernance of the cytie of Athens had bene putt into the power of four houndred. Who vnderstanding the commyng of that same shyppe, caused twoo or three of the sayde Parales to be taken and putte into prysone, and caused the other to be charged into other shyppes, and sent them into dyuers places of Eu¦bea for to be suerly warded, resarued Chereas, who perceyuynge, whiche waye the wynde wolde blowe, hydde and saued himself: and afterwardes retourned to Samie, and reoported to those, that were there, alle that, whyche had bene done at Athens, and made the thynges muche greater, than they were: saying that all they that toke parte wyth the comons, were beatē and oultraged, wythout that, that there was any one parsone that durste hysse agaynste the gouernours: and that they oultraged and wronged not onely the men but also theire wy••es and children. And moreouer that they determyned the lyke to all those that were in the armye of Samie, that shulde be ••waruinge and discrepant from their will•••• and to take their wyues, childrene and nexte parentes, and to cause them to dye if they wolde not condescende vnto their wylle. And the sayde Chereas reaported many other thynges, whyche were all lyes, wherby the souldyars were so spyte∣full and inflamed, that they were of opynyon to slay not onelye those, that hadde brought in the estate of a small nomber at Samie: but also those alle, that had cleued and consented therunto. Beynge declared vnto them by some, whiche en∣termedled for to quiett and appaysetheym, that in so doynge they shulde putte the cytie in danger to fall into the handes of the enemyes, whyche were in greate nomber in the sea, for to come to assaulte them, they dyd forbeare to do yt. And neuerthelas wyllynge to sett vp agayne openly the comon estate in the same cy∣tie: Thrasibulus and Thrasillus, who were the chiefes and pryncypall conduc∣tours of that same practique, constrayned all the Athenyans, that were there in

the armye, and chiesly those, that toke partie wyth the gouernance of the smalle nomber, for to helpe with their power to defende the comon estate: and to follow (touchynge the same) that, whyche those capytains wolde do, and in that doinge to defende the cytie of Samie againste the Peloponesyans, and to take the foure houndred newe gouernours of Athens, for ennemyes: and not to make any trea¦tie nor appoinctement w^t theym. All the Samyens, whych were in age to beare weapons, made the lyke othe: vnto whō the souldyars made also othe, for to ly∣ue & to die w^t them in one self fortune. Reputing that there was none other hope of welth, nother for them nor for those of the towne. But rather they al did take theymselfe for loste, ayther yf the estate of foure houndred shulde take place at Athenes, orelles if the Peloponesyans shulde take the towne by force. In thies entrefaictes a longe tyme was employed ad lost, whylest the souldyars Atheny∣ans that were in the army of Samie, wylled to restore the cytie of Athens to the comon estate: and those, which had the gouernance at Athens, to constraine those of Samie, to do as they dyd. But the souldyars beynge assembled for thys mat∣ter, they fourthw^t deposed all the capytains & other, hauing charge in that same army, that were suspected to fauour the estate of foore houndred, and dyd putt other into their places. Of whyche nomber were Thrasybulus and Thrasillus,* 1.5 who the one after the other, exhorted all the souldyars to be constant in the same purpose for many reasons, whyche they declared vnto them: though that the cy∣tie of Athenes had condescended to the gouernement of the said foore houndred. And amonge other thynges they shewed them, howe they themself were in grea¦ter nomber than those, whyche remayned in the Cytie, and also had greater ha∣bundance and facultie of all thinges than they, for somuch as hauinge the ships in their handes and all the army by sea, they myght constraigne all the subiected & confederated cyties, for to contribute monney. And if they were bannyshed out of Athens they had y^• same cytie of Samie, which, was nayther smal nor weake, but rather the same of Athens, beyng depriued of the force by sea, wherin it preten¦ded to excede al other: they shuld be sufficiētly puissant, for to chase away the ene∣mys Peloponesyās, yf they shuld come to assault thē in Samie, like as they had done at other times: & also for to resiste those that were at Athenes, & for to be y^• maisters, hauyng the ships in their handes, by meane wherof, they might haue victua••lles in habundance, where those of Athenes shulde haue lacke therof. And that, whyche they had had vntill that same houre, which came to descende in the poarte of Pyreus, was by the meane and fauour of the army by sea, whych was there at Samie, which thyng they could no more haue, if they refused to restore the gouernance of the cytie into the handes of the comons: and therby, that those, whyche were there, myghte better empesche, and stoppe the vsage of the sea, fro those, that were in the cytie of Athenes: than the same that were in the cytie, from them. For that, whyche the same cytie coulde fournishe of yt selfe, was the lea••t partie, that a man might hope to haue for to resiste the enemis, & losing the same they shuld lose nothing: for that, that there was no more monney in y^• Cytie that they myghte sende, but rather the souldyars were constrayned to sarue at their expences: and also they had no more good counsail, whiche was the onely thyng, that caused the cytie to haue obeissance of the hoostes that were wythout: but ra¦ther they had greatly lacke therof, forsomuche as they had violated and corrup¦ted their aunycent lawes: where they, whych were at Samye, bothe woolde con∣sarue them, & also constrayne other to kepe them. Wherfore it was not to bileue that those amongeste them, whyche had bene authors of a better counsaille and opynyon in thys matter, than those: that were in the cytie: shuld be more meane

And on the other parte, yf they woolde offer vnto Alcibiades hys restorynge and hys reappeale: he wold ryght wyllinglye make the allyance and amytie bitwene them and the kynge. And if all other parties shulde faille them, hauinge so great an armye by sea: yet myght they saille into whatsoeuer such place, as they shulde thynke good, where they myghte fynde bothe cyties and landes for to inhabytte. Wyth suche sayings and perswations they anymated the one, the othere: & neuer¦thelas vsed all diligence for to prepare all thynges apperteigning to the warre. Whyche thynges perceyued by the Ambassadours, whyche the foore houndred sente thy der, to be already dyuulged and spredde abroade through the comons, they kepte sylence and dyd not expounde nor vtter their charge.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Diotre∣phus.
• * 1.2

  Antiphō
• * 1.3

  Hiperbo¦lus.
• * 1.4

  Charmi¦nus.
• * 1.5

  Thrasy¦bulus.

  Thrasil¦lus.