m G R E 
the befl means of improving their vifl:ory. Several ad. 
vifed that the fleet Ihould fleer its courfe to Mitylene, 
to furprife the Peloponnefian fquadroii which blocked 
up the harbour of that city. Dioniedon recommended 
it as a more eflential object to recover the bodies of the 
flain, and to favc the wreck of twelve vcllels wliich had 
been difabled in the engagement. ThralybiiUis ob- 
ferved, that by dividing their rtrength, both purpofes 
ntiglit be eft'ected. his opinion was approved. Tlie 
charge of preferving the v/recks, and collecting the bo¬ 
dies of the dead, was continitted to Theramenes and 
Tnrafybiilus, Fifty veflels fvere deflined to that fer- 
vicc, doubly recommended by Immanity and religion. 
The remainder failed to the ifle of Lefbos, in queft of 
the Peloponnefians on that coafl, who narrov/ly efcaped 
deflrudtion, through the good management of Eteonicus, 
the Spartan vice-admiral. Soon alter the engagement, 
a brigantine arrived af Mitylene, acquainting him with 
tlie death of Callicratidas, and of tlic defeat and flight 
of the Peloponnefian fleet. The fagacity of Fitconicus 
forefaw tlie probable confequences ot thofe events. The 
Atltenians would naturally lail from ArginuHie to piir- 
I'ue tlieir good fortune, and Conon, who was Ihiit up at 
Mitt’lene, would be encouraged to break through the 
harbour, that he might join his victorious countrymen. 
In order to anticipate thole meafures, and to facilitate 
his own retreat, the Spartan commander ordered the 
brigantine privately to leave the harbour, and to return, 
at the diftance of a fliort time, with joyous acclamations 
and mufic, the rowers crowned with garlands, and call- 
jng out that Callicratidas had deflroyed the laft hope of 
Athens, and obtained a glorious and decifive victory. 
Tl'he contrivance fucceeded ; the Spartans thanked hea¬ 
ven for the good news by hymns and facrifices ; the 
bailors were enjoined to retrerti themfelves by a copious 
jepafl, and to profit of a favourable gale to fail to the 
ifle of Chios ; wiiile the foldiers burned their camp, and 
marched northward to Methyinna, to reinforce the gar- 
rifon there, which was threatened by the enemy. 
While the prudent forefight of Eteonicus laved the 
Peloponnefian fquadron at Mitylene, the violence of a 
ftorm prevented Theramenes and Thrafybiilus from 
faving their unfortunate companions, all of whom, ex- ' 
cepting one of the admirals, and a few others who 
clcaped by their extraordinary dexterity in fwimming, 
were overwhelmed by a tempefluous fea; nor could 
their dead bodies ever be recovered. The Athenians 
were likewife difappointed of the principal advantages 
which ought to have rcfulted from the engagement. 
Methymna was too flrongly fortified to be taken by 
afi'anlt; they could not fpare time for a regular fiege ; 
and when they proceeded to Chios in quefl of the Pelo¬ 
ponnefian fleer, they found it carefully fecured in the 
principal harbour of that ifland, which had been put in 
a vigorous (fate of defence. Thefe unforeleen circuiii- 
flances were the more mortifying to the commanders, 
becdufe, immediately after the battle, they had lent an 
advice-boat to Athens, acquainting the magiflrates'with 
the capture of feventy velfels 5 mentioning their intend¬ 
ed expeditions to Mitylene, Methymna, and Chios, from 
which they had reafon to hope tlie mofl diflinguiflied 
fuccefs ; and particularly taking notice that the import¬ 
ant charge of recovering the bodies of the drowned or 
flain had been committed to Theramenes and Thrafy- 
bulus, captains of approved conduct and fidelity. 
The joy whicli the Athenians received from this flat¬ 
tering intelligence was converted into rage and dilap- 
pointment, when they underflood that their fleet had 
returned to Samos, without reaping the expected fruits 
©fviflory. They were afflicted beyond meafure with 
the lofs of the wreck, by which their brave countrymen 
had been deprived of the facred rites of funeral; a cir- 
cumftance viewed with peculiar horror, becaufe it was 
f uppofed, according to a fuperflition confecrated by the 
belief of a^es, to fubjei^t their melancholy lhades to 
E C E. 
wander an hundred years on the gloomy banks of the 
Styx, before they could be tranfported to the regions 
ot light and blifs. The relations of tlie dead lamented 
tlieir private misfortunes ; the enemies of the admirals 
exaggerated the public calamity ; both demanded aii 
immediate and ferious examination into the caufe of 
this diflrefstul event, that the guilty might be difeo- 
vered and punilhed. Amidft tliis general ferment, Tiie- 
ramer.es failed to Athens, with a view to exculpate 
liimfeifand his colleague Thr.ffybuliis. The letter lent 
thither before them had excited their fear and their rc- 
feiitment; fince it rendered them refponfible for a duty 
vvhich they found it impoflible to perform. Theramenes 
accufed the admirals of having negledled the favourable 
moment to fave the perifhing, and to recover tlie bodies 
of the dead; and, after the opportunity of tliis import¬ 
ant fervice was irrecoverably lofl, of Iraving devolved 
their charge on others, in order to fltreen their own mif- 
condutl. The Athenians greedily liflened to the accii- 
fation, and cafhiered the abfeiit coniinanders. Conon, 
who during the acfion I'emained blocked up at Mity, 
lene, was intrufled with the fleet. Protoniaclius and 
Ariflogenus chofe a voluntary baniflimeiit. The refl 
returned home to juflity meafures which appeared fo 
criminal. 
Archedeimis, an opulent and powerful citizen, and 
Callixeiius, a (editions demagogue, partly moved by 
the intreaties ot Theramenes, and partly excited bjr 
perfoiial refentment, impeaclied tnc admirals to the fe- 
nate. The accufation was fupported by the relations 
of tile deceafed, who appeared in mourning robes, their 
heads fhaved, their arms folded, their eyes bathed in 
tears, piteoufly lamenting the lofs and difgrace of their 
families, deprived of their protertors, who had been 
themfelves deprived of thofe lafl and folemn rites to 
which all mankind are entitled. A falle witnefs fworc 
that he had been faved almofl by miracle from the 
wreck, and that his companions, as they were drown¬ 
ing, charged him to acquaint his country how they had 
fallen victims to the cruel neglett of their commanders, 
Callixenus called out for ample and condign punifhment 
to be immediately inflidled on the devoted admirals; 
this was vociferated by the noify rabble; and the 
fenators were intimidated into a reliuStant compliance 
witli meafures which they difapproved, and by which 
they were for ever to be difgraced. Yet the philofo- 
phic firninefs of Socrates difdained to fubmit. He pro- 
tefted againfl the tamenefs of his colleagues, and de¬ 
clared that neither threats, nor danger, nor violence, 
fhould compel him to confpire with injuflice for the 
deflrudlion of the innocent. 
But what could avail the voice ^f one virtuous man 
amidfl the licentious madnefs of thoufands ? The com¬ 
manders were accufed, tried, condemned, and, with the 
mofl irregular precipitancy, delivered to the execu¬ 
tioner. Before they were led to death, Diomedon ad- 
drelfed the alfembly in a fliort but ever-inemorable 
Ipeech. “ I am afraid, Atiienians! left the fentence 
which you have palled on us prove hurtful to the re¬ 
public. Yet. I would exhort you to employ the moft 
proper means to avert the vengeance of heaven. You 
mult carefully perform the facrifices which, before giv¬ 
ing battle at Arginulfie, we promifed to the gods in be¬ 
half of ourfelves and of you. Our misfortunes deprive 
us of an opportunity to acquit this juft debt, and to pay 
the fincere tribute of our gratitude. But we are deeply 
feiilible that the afiiltance of the gods enabled us to 
obtain that glorious and fignal viftory.’-’ The difinte- 
reitednels, the patriotifni, and the magnanimity, of this 
dilcourfe, muft have appeafed (if any thing had been 
able to appeale) the tumultuous palfions of the vulgar. 
But their headitrong fury defied every reftraint of reafon 
or of refentment. They perfifted in their bloody pur- 
pofe, which was executed without pity: yet their crir- 
elty was followed by a fpeedy repentance, aad punilhed 
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