The historical library of Diodorus the Sicilian in fifteen books : the first five contain the antiquities of Egypt, Asia, Africa, Greece, the islands, and Europe : the last ten an historical account of the affairs of the Persians, Grecians, Macedonians and other parts of the world : to which are added the fragments of Diodorus that are found in the Bibliotheca of Photius : together with those publish'd by H. Valesius, L. Rhodomannus, and F. Ursinus / made English by G. Booth ..., Esq.

CHAP. I.

A Peace between the Athenians and Lacedaemonians. The Athenians disagree a∣bout the Manner of their Government. The Government by Thirty. The Cruelty of the Thirty Tyrants, and especially towards Theramenes.

BY the Dissolution of the Government at Athens (which happen'd the Seven hundred and Eightieth year current from the Destruction of Troy) the City was involv'd in an * 1.1 Anarchy; at that time werefour Military Tribunes appointed at Rome to execute the Con∣sular Dignity, Caius Furius, Caius Servilius, Caius Valerius, and Numerius Fabius. And this Year was celebrated the Ninety Fourth Olympiad, in which Cocynas of Larissa was Victor. About this time the Athenians (their Power being broken) obtain'd a Peace with the Lacedae∣monians, and liberty to govern according to their own Laws, upon Condition they demo∣lish'd their Walls, which they pull'd down accordingly, but could not agree among them∣selves about the Form of their Government. For they that were for an Oligarchy gave their Votes for the restoring that ancient Government. But the greatest part who stood up for the Democracy, preferr'd the Government by the Senators, declaring that to be the truest Democracy.

When this banding one against another had continu'd some days; they for the Oli∣garchy sent to Lysander the Spartan, hoping thereby to gain the Point, in regard he was order'd (now the War was at an End) to settle the Government of the Cities, and in every Place he set up an Oligarchy. To this end they sail'd to him to Samos, where he then was, having lately taken the City. When they arriv'd and had crav'd his assistance he promis'd them his Aid; and thereupon (after he had made Thorax Governor of Samos) pass'd over to the Pireum with an hundred Sail. Then calling a General Assembly, he ad∣vis'd them to chuse Thirty Men, who should Govern the Common-wealth, and Manage all the Affairs of the City. Theramenes oppos'd this Proposal, repeating the Articles of * 1.2 the Peace, whereby it was agreed, That they should be govern'd according to the Laws of their own Country; and declar'd it would be a most intolerable piece of Injustice, * 1.3 if (against the Sacred Ties of an Oath) their Liberties must be thus ravish'd from them. Lysander answer'd, That the Athenians had first broken the League themselves, because they did not pull down their Walls within the time agreed, and grievously threaten'd Theramenes, and told him, That unless he desisted from his Oppositions against the Lacedae∣monians, he would put him to Death.

Upon this, both Theramenes and the People, being in a great Fright, were forc'd by a general suffrage to abolish the Democracy: and Thirty Men were forthwith chosen to be Governors of the Common-Wealth, in Name call'd Fit Magistrates, but in Deed and in Truth nothing but Tyrants. But because the Justice and Moderation of Theramene * 1.4 was evidently discern'd by the People, they judg'd he would be a Bridle to the Covetous∣ness * 1.5 of the rest of those plac'd over them, and thefore chose him to be one of the Thirty.

The Duty and Office of these Men was to chuse the Members of the Senate; to create Magistrates, and to make Laws for the Government of the City. But they forbore to make any Laws upon many specious pretences. Yet they fill'd the Senate and all the * 1.6 Places in the Magistracy with their own Creatures; who were call'd Pretors, but in truth, were meerly the Tyrants Tools.

At first they executed Justice upon Malefactors with great Severity, to the putting of them to Death: So that as yet they were well spoken of, and commended by every ho∣nest Citizen. But not long after, when they resolv'd to be Lawless, and set up an Arbi∣trary * 1.7 Power: they sent for a Garison from the Lacedaemonians, upon pretence that they would mould all things in the Government to the advantage of their Interest. For they knew very well that without a Foreign Force, they could not execute those Slaughters and Butcheries they design'd, for that all would as one Man rise up against them in their own defence.

When the Garison from Lacedaemon was come, they presently gain'd the Governor Cal∣libius, with Bribes and other fawning and flattering Addresses. Then they singled out some of the richest Citizens, such as they thought fit, and charging them as Innovators, and Plotters against the Government, put them to Death, and consiscated their Estates. But when Theramenes oppos'd his Collegues, and others (who were Zealous for the Com∣mon-Wealth) stood up for the Defence of their Liberties; the Thirty call'd a Senate, in * 1.8

which Critias, the President, loads Theramenes with many grievous Crimes, and chiefly, that he betray'd that Government, in the Administration of which he himself voluntarily accepted a share with the rest. Theramenes, in Answer to what he said, so clear'd himself of every particular laid to his Charge, that he gain'd the good Opinion of the whole Se∣nate. Upon which, Critias, with the rest of his Faction, (being afraid lest this Man should * 1.9 overturn the Oligarchy) surrounded him by the Soldiers, with their Swords drawn, with an intent forthwith to seize him.

But Theramenes foreseeing their purpose, rushes through, and flies to the Altar in the * 1.10 Senate-house, crying out, That he fled to the Gods, not that he hop'd thereby to save his Life, but that the Impiety of his Murtherers might be the more aggravated, by the violation of the Sacreds of their Religion: But though he was thence violently hal'd by the * 1.11 Lictors, yet bore all with an undaunted Spirit, being well principled in the Precepts of Philosophy, by his late Master Socrates. The People generally lamented his sad Misfortune, and un∣worthy Usage; but none durst rescue him by reason of the Soldiers that clos'd him round. But Socrates the Philosopher, and two of his Servants ran in, and endeavour'd to hinder the Lictors. But Theramenes intreated them they would forbear, declaring he could not but honour their Love and Courage shew'd on his behalf, but that it would be his greatest Misery if he should be the Cause of the Death of those who so greatly lov'd him. Socra∣tes therefore, and the rest, (when they saw none to come in to their assistance, and that * 1.12 the stronger Faction more and more increas'd) let fall their design. Theramenes thus forc'd from the Altars, was led through the Market-place to Execution by the Officers, who had him in charge. But the common People (affrighted with the arm'd Men) * 1.13 while they bewail'd the Condition of this miserable Man (as one most unjustly condemn'd) at the same time likewise deplor'd their own Bondage and Slavery. For every poor Man seeing the Virtue of Theramenes so despis'd and trampled under foot, foresaw that they by reason of their mean and low Condition, would be valu'd no more than things set behind the Door.

After they had executed him, the Thirty, upon false Accusations, put to death several * 1.14 others of the rich Men whom they had written down in a List, and when they were dead, seiz'd upon all they had: Among whom was Niceratus, the Son of Nicias the Ge∣neral, who was formerly sent against the Syracusians. He was a Man civil and courte∣ous to all, and almost the Richest and of greatest Interest of any Man in Athens; there was not therefore a Family but it lamented his Death, the Memory of his kind and sweet Disposition forcing Tears from every one. yet the Tyrants did not in the least remit any thing of their acts of Injustice and Violence, but growing still rather worse and worse in all manner of Villanies, they cut the Throats of Threescore of the richest Men in * 1.15 the City, that they might rowl in their Estates. The miserable Citizens being thus Slaughtered and Butchered, every day, almost all that had any thing to lose fled out of the City.

Then they put to death Autolicus, a most excellent and fluent Orator. And at length, every Man that was in any respect Eminent or Remarkable, they sacrific'd to their raging Lusts. By these Cruelties they so wasted and destroy'd the City, that a∣bove * 1.16 one half of its Inhabitants ran away and left it.

And although the Lacedaemonians saw the City thus spoil'd and ruin'd, yet they laugh'd in their Sleeves, having no desire it should ever recover its strength any more, as was very evident by many convincing arguments. For they made a Decree, that all the Fu∣gitives from Athens in every part of Greece, should be carry'd back bound to the Ty∣rants; and whosoever did oppose the Execution of this Decree, should be fin'd Five Talents.

This was in truth look'd upon as a very cruel and inhumane Edict, but the other Ci∣ties stood so much in awe of the Power of the Spartans, that it was every where obey'd. But the Argives were the first that shew'd their Abhorrence of the Lacedaemonian cruelty, and pitying the miserable Condition of the Exiles, receiv'd them with all tenderness of Compassion. The Thebans likewise decreed a Mulct to be impos'd upon him that did not to his power assist any Fugitive whom he saw to be carry'd away by Force. To this pass were brought the Affairs of Athens.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Olymp. 94. 1. An. M. 3568. Ant. Ch. 402.
• * 1.2

  Ant. Ch. 402.
• * 1.3

  The Thirty Ty∣rants chosen at Athens.
• * 1.4

  P. 397.
• * 1.5

  Theramenes chosen one of the Thirty.
• * 1.6

  Ant. Ch. 402.
• * 1.7

  The Cruelty of the Thirty Ty∣rants of A∣thens.
• * 1.8

  Ant Ch 402.
• * 1.9

  Theramenes accus'd by the Tyrants.
• * 1.10

  Hal'd from the Altar in the Senate.
• * 1.11

  Sheriffs, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.12

  Ant. Ch. 402.
• * 1.13

  Theramenes Executed
• * 1.14

  Many other: Executed.
• * 1.15

  They cut the Throats of the Richest in the City. Ant Ch. 402. P. 398.
• * 1.16

  The Cruelty of the Tyrants.