387 
G R E 
porarics. Pifander, Theramenes, and the otlier leaders 
of the ariftocratical party, warmly approved the views 
of Alcibiades. The Athenian foldiers likewife, though 
tliey detelled the impiety, admired tlie valour, of the 
illuftrious exile, and longed to fee him redored to the 
fervice of his country. Phrynichus, the pcrfonal ene¬ 
my of Alcibiades, alone oppofed the general current. 
When he perceived that his colleagues were deaf to 
every objection againit recalling the friend of Till’a- 
ptherncs, he fecretly informed the Spartan admiral Al- 
•tyocitus, of the intrigues which were carrying on to the 
difadvantage of his country. Daring as this treachery 
•was, Phrynichus addreffcd a traitor not Ids perfidious 
than himielf. Aftyochus was become the penfioner and 
creature of Tiil'aphernes, to whom Ite communicated 
the intelligence. The Perfian again communicated it 
to his favourite Alcibiades, who complained in ftrong 
terms to the ' Atiienians of the bafenei's and villany of 
Phrynichus. The latter exculpated himfelf with con- 
•fummate addrefs ; but as the return of Alcibiades 
might prove fatal to his fafety, he ventured, a fecond 
time, to write to Aftyochus, reproaching him with his 
breach of confidence, and explaining by what means he 
might furprife ilie whole Athenian fleet at Samo,‘> ; an 
exploit that mull for ever eflablifli his fame and for¬ 
tune. Aftyochus again betrayed the fecret to Tifta- 
phernes and Alcibiades ; but before their letters could 
be conveyed to the Athenian camp, Phrynichus, who 
by fome unknown channel was inlbrmed of this fecond 
treachery, anticipated the dangerous difcovery, by ap- 
prifing the Athenians of the enemy’s defign to furprife 
their fleet. They had fcarcely employed the proper 
means to eounterabl that purpofe, when melfengers came 
from Alcibiades to announce the horrid perfidy of a 
wretch who had bafely facrificed to private refentment 
the iaft hope of his country. But the melfengers ar¬ 
rived too late ; tiie prior itiformation of Phrynichus, as 
well as the bold and fingular wickedtiefs of his defign, 
which no common degree of evidence was thought fuf- 
ncient to prove, were I'uftained as arguments for his ex¬ 
culpation ; and it was believed that Alcibiades had 
made ufe of a ftratagcm moft infamous in itfelf, but not 
unexampled among the Greeks, for deftroying a man 
whom he detefted. 
The oppofition of Phrynichus, though it retarded 
the defigns of Alcibiades, prevented not the meafures 
of Pifander and his adbciates for aboliftiing the demo¬ 
cracy. The foldiers at Samos were induced to acqui- 
cfce in the refolution of their generals ; and Pifander 
headed the deputation which was fent from the camp 
to the city to effeft this iniportant revolution. He ac¬ 
quainted the extraordinary alTembly, fummoned on that 
occafion, with the meafures which had been adopted by 
their foldiers and fellow-citizens at Samos ; but loud 
murmurs of dilcontent refounded in difterent parts of 
the aflembly, Pifander aflced the realbn of this difap- 
probation. “ Had his opponents any thing better to 
propofe > If they had, let them come forw'ard and ex¬ 
plain the grounds of their dilfent : but, above all, let 
them explain how they could fave thcmfelves, their fa¬ 
milies, and their country, unlefs they complied with 
the demand of Tilfaphernes. The imperious voice of 
necellity was fuperior to law ; and w'hen the aftual dan¬ 
ger had ceafed, they might re-eftablifli their ancient 
Conftitution.” The opponents of Pii'ander W'ere unable 
or afraid to reply : the cabal alone afted with union 
and with vigour ; and difficult as it feemed to fubvert 
the Athenian democracy, yet this defign was accom- 
pliflied by the enterprifing activity of Pifander, the art¬ 
ful eloquence of Theramenes, the firm intrepidity of 
Phrynichus, and the fuperintending wifdom of Anti¬ 
phon, after it had fubfifted a hundred years with unex¬ 
ampled glory. 
in a deliberation concerning the means of retrieving 
E G E. 
the affairs of the republic, Pifander propofed the elc£ling 
of ten men, who ffiould be charged with the important 
truft of preparing and digefting refolutions, to be on an 
appointed day laid before the affembly ot the people. 
When the day arrived, the conim:fiioners had laut one 
relbliition to propofe : “That every citizen fliould be 
free to offer his opinion, however contrary to law, with¬ 
out fear of impeachment or trial a matter elfcntial 
to the interefts of the cabal, fincc, by a ftiange contra¬ 
diction in government, the Athenian orators and ftatcf- 
men were liable to profeciition before the ordinary 
courts of juftice, for fuch fpeeches and decrees as lia'ci 
been approved and confirmed by the affembly. In con- 
feqiience of this aft of indemnity, Pilander and his 
party boldly declared, that neither the fpirit nor the 
forms of the eftabliflied conftitution fuited the prefent 
dangerous and alarming crifis. That it was neccffary 
to new-model the w'hole fabric of government; for 
which purpofe five perfons (wliofe names he read) 
ought to be appointed by the people, to choofe an hun¬ 
dred others ; each of whom ftiould leleft three affo- 
ciates; and the four hundred thus cholen, men ot dig¬ 
nity and opulence, who xvould ferve their country 
without fee or reward, ought immediately to beinvefted 
with the guidance of tlje republic. Tiiis extraordinary 
propofal was accepted witliout oppofition : llie partifans 
of democracy dreaded the ftrength of the cabal ; and the 
uiidil'cerning multitude perceived not that they fiirren- 
dered their liberties to the artifice of an ambitious'tac- 
tion. But the conduft of the four hundred tyrants 
foon opened the eyes and underftanding ot the moft: 
thoiiglitlefs. They aboliftied every veftige of ancient 
freedom ; employed mercenary troops to overawe the 
multitude, and to intimidate or deftroy their real or 
fufpefted enemies. Inftead of feizing the opportunity 
of annoying the Peloponnefians, they lent ambaffadors 
to folicit peace from the Sfiartans on the moft diflio- 
nourable terms. 'I'heir tyranny rendered them odious 
in the city, and their cowardice made them contemptible 
in the camp at Samos. Their cruelty and injuftice were 
deferibed, and exaggerated, by the fugitives who con¬ 
tinually arrived iti that iflaiid. The generous youth, 
employed in the fea and land fervice, were impatient of 
the indignities offered to their fellow-citizens. 1. he 
fame indignities might be inffifted on themtelves, if 
they did not vindicate their freedom. Thefe fecret 
murmurs broke out into loud and licentious clamours, 
which were encouraged by the approbation of the Sa¬ 
mians. Thrafybulus and Thrafyllus, two officers of 
high merit and diftinftion, though not adfually entrufted 
vvith a fliare in tiie principal command, gave aftivity 
and boldnefs to the infurgents. The abettors of tlie 
new government were attacked by lurprife : thirty of 
the moft criminal were put to death, democracy was rq- 
eftabliftied in the camp, and the foldiers were bound by 
oath to maintain their hereditary government againff 
the confpiracy of domeftic foes, add to aft with vigour 
and unanimity againll the public enemy., 
Thrafybulus, who headed this fuccefsful fedition, 
exhorted the foldiers not to defpair of effefting in the 
capital the fame revolution wliich they had produced 
in the camp. Their moft immediate concern was to re- 
cal Alcibiades, who had been deceived and difgraced 
by the tyrants, and who not only felt with peculiar fen- 
fibiiity, but could refent wdth becoming dignity, the 
wrongs of his country and his own. The advice of 
Thrafybulus was approved; he immediately failed to 
Magnefia, and returned with Alcibiades. Near four 
years had elapfed fince the eloquent fon of Ciinias had 
fpoken in an Athenian affembly. Being prefented by 
Thrafybulus to his fellow-citizens, he began by accuf- 
ing his fortune, and lamenting his calamities. “Yet 
his banifhment ought not to aft’eft him w’ith permanent 
forrow, fince it had funuftied'hiin with an oppg^i'tunity 
