on the generals； though they had been only partially heard in their defence； and； moreover； that they should all be included in one sentence； though it was contrary to a rule of Attic law； known as the psephisma of Canonus； to indict citizens otherwise than individually。 The Prytanes； or senators of the presiding tribe； at first refused to put the question to the Assembly in this illegal way； but their opposition was at length overawed by clamour and violence。 There was； however； one honourable exception。 The philosopher Socrates； who was one of the Prytanes； refused to withdraw his protest。 But his opposition was disregarded； and the proposal of Callixenus was carried； The generals were condemned； delivered over to the Eleven for execution； and compelled to drink the fatal hemlock。 Among them was Pericles； the son of the celebrated statesman。
In the following year （B。C。 405）； through the influence of Cyrus and the other allies of Sparta； Lysander again obtained the command of the Peloponnesian fleet； though nominally under Aracus as admiral； since it was contrary to Spartan usage that the same man should be twice NAVARCHUS。 His return to power was marked by more vigorous measures。 He sailed to the Hellespont； and laid siege to Lampsacus。 The Athenian fleet arrived too late to save the town； but they proceeded up the strait and took post at AEgospotami； or the 〃Goat's River；〃 a place which had nothing to recommend it； except its vicinity to Lampsacus； from which it was separated by a channel somewhat less than two miles broad。 It was a mere desolate beach； without houses or inhabitants； so that all the supplies had to be fetched from Sestos； or from the surrounding country； and the seamen were compelled to leave their ships in order to obtain their meals。 Under these circumstances the Athenians were very desirous of bringing Lysander to an engagement。 But the Spartan commander； who was in a strong position； and abundantly furnished with provisions； was in no hurry to run any risks。 In vain did the Athenians sail over several days in succession to offer him battle； they always found his ships ready manned； and drawn up in too strong a position to warrant an attack； nor could they by all their manoeuvres succeed in enticing him out to combat。 This cowardice； as they deemed it； on the part of the Lacedaemonians； begat a corresponding negligence on theirs； discipline was neglected and the men allowed to straggle almost at will。 It was in vain that Alcibiades； who since his dismissal resided in a fortress in that neighbourhood； remonstrated with the Athenian generals on the exposed nature of the station they had chosen； and advised them to proceed to Sestos。 His counsels were received with taunts and insults。 At length； on the fifth day； Lysander； having watched an opportunity when the Athenian seamen had gone on shore and were dispersed over the country； rowed swiftly across the strait with all his ships。 He found the Athenian fleet； with the exception of 10 or 12 vessels； totally unprepared； and he captured nearly the whole of it； without having occasion to strike a single blow。 Of the 180 ships which composed the fleet； only the trireme of Conon himself； the Paralus； and 8 or 10 other vessels succeeded in escaping。 Conon was afraid to return to Athens after so signal a disaster； and took refuge with Evagoras； prince of Salamis in Cyprus。
By this momentous victory （September； B。C。 405） the Peloponnesian war was virtually brought to an end。 Lysander； secure of an easy triumph； was in no haste to gather it by force。 The command of the Euxine enabled him to control the supplies of Athens； and sooner or later； a few weeks of famine must decide her fall。 He now sailed forth to take possession of the Athenian towns； which fell one after another into his power as soon as he appeared before them。 About November he arrived at AEgina； with an overwhelming fleet of 150 triremes； and proceeded to devastate Salamis and blockade Piraeus。 At the same time the whole Peloponnesian army was marched into Attica and encamped in the precincts of the Academus； at the very gates of Athens。 Famine soon began to be felt within the walls； and at the end of three months it became so dreadful； that the Athenians saw themselves compelled to submit to the terms of the conqueror。 These terms were： That the long walls and the fortifications of Piraeus should be demolished； that the Athenians should give up all their foreign possessions； and confine themselves to their own territory； that they should surrender all their ships of war； that they should readmit all their exiles； and that they should become allies of Sparta。
It was about the middle or end of March； B。C。 404； that Lysander sailed into Piraeus； and took formal possession of Athens； the war； in singular conformity with the prophecies current at the beginning of it； having lasted for a period of thrice nine； or 27 years。 The insolence of the victors added another blow to the feelings of the conquered。 The work of destruction； at which Lysander presided； was converted into a sort of festival。 Female flute…players and wreathed dancers inaugurated the demolition of the strong and proud bulwarks of Athens； and as the massive walls fell piece by piece exclamations arose from the ranks of the Peloponnesians that freedom had at length begun to dawn upon Greece。
CHAPTER XIV
THE THIRTY TYRANTS； AND THE DEATH OF SOCRATES； B。C。 404…399。
The fall of Athens brought back a host of exiles； all of them the enemies of her democratical constitution。 Of these these most distinguished was Critias； a man of wealth and family； the uncle of Plato； and once the intimate friend of Socrates； distinguished both for his literary and political talents； but of unmeasured ambition and unscrupulous conscience。 Critias and his companions soon found a party with which they could co…operate； and supported by Lysander they proposed in the assembly that a committee of thirty should be named to draw up laws for the future government of the city； and to undertake its temporary administration。 Among the most prominent of the thirty names were those of Critias and Theramenes。 The proposal was of course carried。 Lysander himself addressed the Assembly； and contemptuously told them that they had better take thought for their personal safety； which now lay at his mercy； than for their political constitution。 The committee thus appointed soon obtained the title of the Thirty Tyrants； the name by which they have become known in all subsequent time。 After naming an entirely new Senate； and appointing fresh magistrates； they proceeded to exterminate their most obnoxious opponents。 But Critias； and the more violent party among them； still called for more blood； and with the view of obtaining it； procured a Spartan garrison； under the harmost Callibius； to be installed in the Acropolis。 Besides this force； they had an organized band of assassins at their disposal。 Blood now flowed on all sides。 Many of the leading men of Athens fell； others took to flight。
Thus the reign of terror was completely established。 In the bosom of the Thirty； however； there was a party； headed by Theramenes； who disapproved of these proceedings。 But his moderation cost him his life。 One day as he entered the Senate… house； Critias rose and denounced him as a public enemy； and ordered him to be carried off to instant death。 Upon hearing these words Theramenes sprang for refuge to the altar in the Senate…house； but he was dragged away by Satyrus； the cruel and unscrupulous head of the 〃Eleven；〃 a body of officers who carried into execution the penal sentence of the law。 Being conveyed to prison； he was compelled to drink the fatal hemlock。 The constancy of his end might have adorned a better life after swallowing the draught； he jerked on the floor a drop which remained in the cup； according to the custom of the game called COTTABOS； exclaiming； 〃This to the health of the GENTLE Critias！〃
Alcibiades had been included by the Thirty in the list of exiles； but the fate which now overtook him seems to have sprung from the fears of the Lacedaemonians； or perhaps from the personal hatred of Agis。 After the battle of AEgospotami； Pharnabazus permitted the Athenian exile to live in Phrygia； and assigned him a revenue for his maintenance。 But a despatch came out from Sparta； to Lysander； directing that Alcibiades should be put to death。 Lysander communicated the order to Pharnabazus； who arranged for carrying it into execution。 The house of Alcibiades was surrounded with a band of assassins； and set on fire。 He rushed out with drawn sword upon his assailants； who shrank from the attack； but who slew him from a distance with their javelins and arrows。 Timandra； a female with whom he lived； performed towards his body the last offices of duty and affection。 Thus perished miserably； in the vigour of his age； one of the most remarkable； but not one of the greatest； characters in Grecian history。 With qualities which； properly applied； might have rendered him the greatest benefactor of Athens； he contrived to attain the infamous distinction of being that citizen who had inflicted upon her the most signal amount of damage。
Meantime an altered state of feeling was springing up in Greece。 Athens had ceased to be an object of fear or jealousy； and those feelings began now to be directed towards Sparta。 Lysander had risen to a height of unparalleled power。 He was in a manner idolized。 Poets showered their praises on him； and even altars were raised in his honour by the Asiatic Greeks。 In the name of Sparta he exercised almost uncontrolled authority in the cities he had reduced； including Athens itself。 But it was soon discovered that； instead of the freedom promised by the Spartans； only another empire had been established； whilst Lysander was even meditating to extort from the subject cities a yearly tribute of one thousand talents。 And all these oppressions were rendered still more intolerable by the overweening pride and harshness of Lysander's demeanour。
Even in Sparta itself the conduct of Lysander was beginning to inspire disgust and jealousy。 Pausanias； son of Plistoanax； who was now king with Agis； as well as the