ever。 Which fell out thus。 The persons who had principally hindered
the peace were Cleon and Brasidas。 War setting off the virtue of the
one and hiding the villainy of the other； gave to the one occasions of
achieving brave actions； to the other opportunity of committing
equal dishonesties。 Now when these two were in one battle both slain
near Amphipolis； Nicias was aware that the Spartans had long been
desirous of a peace； and that the Athenians had no longer the same
confidence in the war。 Both being alike tired； and； as it were by
consent； letting fall their hands； he； therefore； in this nick of
time； employed his efforts to make a friendship betwixt the two
cities； and to deliver the other states of Greece from the evils and
calamities they laboured under； and so establish his own good name for
success as a statesman for all future time。 He found the men of
substance； the elder men； and the land…owners and farmers pretty
generally all inclined to peace。 And when； in addition to these； by
conversing and reasoning； he had cooled the wishes of a good many
others for war； he now encouraged the hopes of the Lacedaemonians； and
counselled them to seek peace。 They confided in him； as on account
of his general character for moderation and equity； so； also；
because of the kindness and care he had shown to the prisoners taken
at Pylos and kept in confinement； making their misfortune the more
easy to them。
The Athenians and the Spartans had before this concluded a truce for
a year； and during this； by associating with one another； they had
tasted again the sweets of peace and security and unimpeded
intercourse with friends and connections； and thus longed for an end
of that fighting and bloodshed； and heard with delight the chorus sing
such verses as…
〃my lance I'll leave
Laid by； for spiders to o'erweave；〃
and remembered with joy the saying； In peace； they who sleep are
awaked by the cock…crow； not by the trumpet。 So shutting their ears；
with loud reproaches； to the forebodings of those who said that the
Fates decreed this to be a war of thrice nine years； the whole
question having been debated； they made a peace。 And most people
thought； now； indeed； they had got an end of all their evils。 And
Nicias was in every man's mouth； as one especially beloved of the
gods； who； for his piety and devotion； had been appointed to give a
name to the fairest and greatest of all blessings。 For in fact they
considered the peace Nicias's work； as the war the work of Pericles；
because he； on light occasions； seemed to have plunged the Greeks into
great calamities； while Nicias had induced them to forget all the
evils they had done each other and to be friends again； and so to this
day it is called the Peace of Nicias。
The articles being； that the garrisons and towns taken or； either
side and the prisoners should be restored； and they to restore the
first to whom it should fall by lot。 Nicias； as Theophrastus tells us；
by a sum of money procured that the lot should fall for the
Lacedaemonians to deliver the first。 Afterwards； when the
Corinthians and the Boeotians showed their dislike of what was done；
and by their complaints and accusations were well…nigh bringing the
war back again； Nicias persuaded the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians；
besides the peace； to make a treaty of alliance； offensive and
defensive； as a tie and confirmation of the peace； which would make
them more terrible to those that held out； and the firmer to each
other。 Whilst these matters were on foot； Alcibiades； who was no lover
of tranquillity； and who was offended with the Lacedaemonians
because of their applications and attentions to Nicias； while they
overlooked and despised himself； from first to last； indeed； had
opposed the peace； though all in vain； but now finding that the
Lacedaemonians did not altogether continue to please the Athenians；
but were thought to have acted unfairly in having made a league with
the Boeotians； and had not given up Panactum； as they should have
done； with its fortifications unrazed； nor yet Amphipolis； he laid
hold on these occasions for his purpose； and availed himself of
every one of them to irritate the people。 And； at length； sending
for ambassadors from the Argives； he exerted himself to effect a
confederacy between the Athenians and them。 And now； when
Lacedaemonian ambassadors were come with full powers； and at their
preliminary audience by the council seemed to come in all points
with just proposals； he； fearing that the general assembly； also；
would be won to their offers； overreached them with false
professions and oaths of assistance； on the condition that they
would not avow that they came with full powers； this； he said； being
the only way for them to attain their desires。 They being
over…persuaded and decoyed from Nicias to follow him； he introduced
them to the assembly； and asked them presently whether or no they came
in all points with full powers； which； when they denied； he；
contrary to their expectation； changing his countenance； called the
council to witness their words； and now bade the people beware how
they trust or transact anything with such manifest liars； who say at
one time one thing； and at another the very opposite upon the same
subject。 These plenipotentiaries were； as well they might be；
confounded at this； and Nicias； also being at a loss what to say；
and struck with amazement and wonder； the assembly resolved to send
immediately for the Argives； to enter into a league with them。 An
earthquake； which interrupted the assembly； made for Nicias's
advantage； and the next day the people being again assembled； after
much speaking and soliciting； with great ado he brought it about
that the treaty with the Argives should be deferred； and he be sent to
the Lacedaemonians； in full expectation that so all would go well。
When he arrived at Sparta； they received him there as a good man；
and one well inclined towards them； yet he effected nothing； but；
baffled by the party that favoured the Boeotians； he returned home；
not only dishonoured and hardly spoken of； but likewise in fear of the
Athenians； who were vexed and enraged that through his persuasions
they had released so many and such considerable persons； their
prisoners； for the men who had been brought from Pylos were of the
chiefest families of Sparta； and had those who were highest there in
place and power for their friends and kindred。 Yet did they not in
their heat proceed against him； otherwise than that they chose
Alcibiades general； and took the Mantineans and Eleans； who had thrown
up their alliance with the Lacedaemonians； into the league； together
with the Argives； and sent to Pylos freebooters to infest Laconia；
whereby the war began to break out afresh。
But the enmity betwixt Nicias and Alcibiades running higher and
higher； and the time being at hand for decreeing the ostracism or
banishment； for ten years； which the people； putting the name on a
sherd； were wont to inflict at certain times on some person
suspected or regarded with jealousy for his popularity or wealth； both
were now in alarm and apprehension； one of them； in all likelihood；
being to undergo this ostracism； as the people abominated the life
of Alcibiades； and stood in fear of his boldness and resolution； as is
shown particularly in the history of him； while as for Nicias； his
riches made him envied； and his habits of living； in particular his
unsociable and exclusive ways； not like those of a fellow…citizen；
or even a fellow…man； went against him； and having many times
opposed their inclinations； forcing them against their feelings to
do what was their interest； he had got himself disliked。
To speak plainly； it was a contest of the young men who were eager
for war； against the men of years and lovers of peace； they turning
the ostracism upon the one； these upon the other。 But…
〃In civil strife e'en villains rise to fame。〃
And so now it happened that the city； distracted into two factions；
allowed free course to the most impudent and profligate persons； among
whom was Hyperbolus of the Perithoedae； one who could not； indeed；
be said to be presuming upon any power； but rather by his
presumption rose into power； and by the honour he found in the city；
became the scandal of it。 He； at this time； thought himself far enough
from the ostracism； as more properly deserving； the slave's gallows；
and made account； that one of these men being； despatched out of the
way he might be able to play a part against the other that should be
left； and openly showed his pleasure at the dissension； and his desire
to inflame the people against both of them。 Nicias and Alcibiades；
perceiving his malice； secretly combined together； and setting both
their interests jointly at work； succeeded in fixing the ostracism not
on either of them； but even on Hyperbolus。 This； indeed； at the
first made sport； and raised laughter among the people； but afterwards
it was felt as an affront； that the thing should be dishonoured by
being employed upon so unworthy a subject； punishment； also； having
its proper dignity； and ostracism being one that was appropriate
rather for Thucydides； Aristides； and such like persons； whereas for
Hyperbolus it was a glory； and a fair ground for boasting on his part；
when for his villainy he suffered the same with the best men。 As
Plato； the comic poet； said of him：…
〃The man deserved the fate； deny who can；
Yes； but the fate did not deserve the man；
Not for the like of him and his slave…brands；
Did Athens put the sherd into our hands。〃
And； in fact； none ever afterwards suffered this sort of punishment；
but Hyperbolus was the last； as Hipparchus the Cholargian； who was kin
to the tyrant； was the first。
There is no judgment to be made of fortune； nor can any reasoning
bring us to a certainty about it。 If Nicias had run the risk with
Alcibiades whether of the two should undergo the ostracism； he had
either prevailed； and； his rival being expelled the city； he had
remained secure； or； being overcome； he had avoided the utmost
disasters； and preserved the reputatio