Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/377

47,48] ALCIBIADES AND THE ATHENIANS 369 let them fight at sea, and insisting that they must wait until the Phoenician ships arrived ; they would then fight at an advantage. In thi-s manner he ruined their affairs and impaired the efficiency of their navy, which had once been in first-rate condition. There were many other ways in which he showed openly and unmistakeably that he was not in earnest in the cause of his allies. In giving this advice to Tissaphernes and the King, now 47 that he had passed under their protec- ^, ., . , . . Akibiades tiilngiies tion, Alcibiades said what he really ^nh the hadins men at thought to be most for their interests •'^. Santos for his oivn But he had another motive: he was ^'f^'^""- Heivould make Tissapnciins the preparing the way for his own return friend of Athms. But from exile. He knew that, if he did there was one condition: not destroy his country altogether, the ~f^'"' "" '""" time would come when he would per- suade his countrymen to recall him ; and he thought that his arguments would be most effectual if he were seen to be on intimate terms with Tissaphernes. And the result proved that he was right. The Athenian soldiers at Samos soon perceived that he had great influence with him, and he sent messages to the chief persons among them, whom he begged to remember him to all good men and true, and to let them know that he would be glad to return to his country and cast in his lot with them. He would at the same time make Tissaphernes their friend ; but they must establish an oligarchy, and abolish the villainous demo- cracy which had driven him out. Partly moved by these messages, but still more of their own inclination, the trier- archs and leading Athenians at Samos were now eager to overthrow the democracy. The matter was stirred in the camp first of all, and 48 introduced into the city afterwards. A few persons went over from Samos to Alcibiades, and conferred with him : to them he held out the hope that he would make, first " Cp. V. 43 init.