Muti- themselves, and singing mournful songs. The muti lation of the lation however of the images of Mercury, most of which Hermæ. A herma, or statue of Mercury. in one night had their faces all disfigured, terrified many persons who were wont to disregard most things of that nature. It was given out that it was done by the Corinthians, for the sake of the Syracusans, who were their colony, in hopes that the Athenians by such prodigies might be induced to delay or abandon the war. But this report gained no credit with the people, nor yet the belief of those who would not suppose that there was anything ominous in the matter, but thought it only an extravagant action, committed in that sort of sport which runs into license, by wild young men coming from a debauch. Alike enraged and terrified at the thing, looking upon it to proceed from a conspiracy of persons, who designed some commotions in the state, the council, as well as the assembly of the people, both of which met frequently in a few days' space, examined diligently everything that might administer ground for suspicion. During this examination, Androcles, one of the dema- 19 gogues, produced certain slaves and strangers before them, who accused Alcibiades and some of his friends of defacing other images in the same manner, and of having profanely acted the sacred Mysteries at a drunken meeting, where one Theodorus represented the Herald, Polytion the Torch-bearer, and Alcibiades the Chief Priest, while the rest of the party appeared as candidates for initiation, and had the style of Initiates. These are the matters contained in the articles of information*, which Thessalus the son of Cimon exhibited against Alcibiades, for his impious mockery of the two goddesses, Ceres and Proserpine. The people were highly exasperated and incensed against Alcibiades upon this accusation, which being aggravated by Androcles, the most malicious of all his enemies, at first disturbed his friends exceedingly. But when they perceived that all the seamen designed for Sicily were for him, and the soldiers also, and when the Argive and Mantinean auxiliaries, a thousand men at arms, openly declared that they had undertaken this distant maritime expedition for the sake of Alcibiades, and that, if he was ill-used, they would all go home, they recovered their courage, and became eager to make use of the present opportunity for justifying him. At this his enemies were again discouraged, fearing lest the people should be more gentle to him in their sentence, because of the occasion they had for his service. Therefore to obviate this, they contrived that some other orators, * An Eisangélia, the technical term for an indictment before the legislature, for misdemeanours not coming strictly under the letter of any written law. 20 who did not appear to be enemies to Alcibiades, but really hated him no less than those who avowed it, should stand up in the assembly and say, that it was a very absurd thing that one who was created general of such an army with absolute power, after his troops were assembled, and the confederates were come, should lose the opportunity, delaying here whilst the list of the jurors should be made up, and a day and hour be determined for the pleadings: and, therefore, let him sail at once; good fortune attend him; and when the war should be at an end, he might then in person make his defence according to the laws. Alcibiades perceived the malice of this postponement, and, appearing in the assembly, represented that it was monstrous for him to be sent with the command of so large an army, when he lay under such accusations and calumnies; that he deserved to die if he could not clear himself of the crimes objected to him; but when he had so done, and had proved his innocence, he should then cheerfully apply himself to the war, as standing no longer in fear of false accusers. But when he could not prevail with the people, who commanded him to sail immediately, he set out, and the other generals with him, having under their command near one hundred and forty galleys, five thousand one hundred men at arms, and about one thousand three hundred archers, slingers, and light-armed men, and all the other provisions corresponding. And arriving on the coast of Italy, he occupied Rhegium, and there stated his views of the manner in which they ought to conduct the war. He was opposed by Nicias; but Lamachus being of his opinion, they sailed for Sicily forthwith, and took Catana. This was all that was done while he was there, for he was immediately after summoned home by the Athenians to abide his trial. At first, as we before said, there were only some slight suspicions advanced against Alcibiades, and evil reports by certain slaves and strangers. But afterwards, in his absence, his enemies attacked him more violently, and confounded together the breaking the images with the profanation of the Mysteries, as though both had been committed in pursuance of the same conspiracy for changing the government. The people proceeded to imprison all that seemed in any way implicated in the matter, without distinction, and without hearing them, and repented now, considering the importance of the charge, that they had not immediately brought Alcibiades to his trial, and given judgment upon him. Any of his relations or friends or companions who fell into the people's hands, whilst they were in this fury, did not fail to meet with very severe usage. Thucydides has omitted to name the informers, but others mention Dioclides and Teucer. Amongst whom is Phrynichus, the comic poet, in whom we find the following: O dearest Hermes! only do take care, And mind you do not miss your footing there; For a new Dioclides to tell lies. To which he makes Mercury return this answer :- I will so: for I feel no inclination To reward Teucer for more information. The truth is, his accusers alleged nothing that was cer 21 tain or solid against him. One of them, being asked how he knew the men who defaced the images, replying, that he saw them by the light of the moon, made a palpable misstatement, for it was just new moon when the fact was committed. This made all men of understanding cry out upon the thing; but the people were as eager as ever to receive further accusations, nor was their first heat at all abated, but they went on seizing and imprisoning every one that had anything said against them. Amongst those who were detained in prison for their trials, was Andocides the orator, whose descent the historian Hellanicus deduces from Ulysses. He was always supposed to hate popular government, and to support oligarchy. The chief ground of his being suspected of defacing the images, was because the great Mercury, which stood near his house, and was an ancient monument of the tribe geïs, was almost the only statue, of all the remarkable ones, which remained entire. For this cause it is now called the Mercury of Andocides, all men giving it that name, though the inscription is evidence to the contrary. It happened that Andocides, amongst the rest who were prisoners upon the same account, contracted particular acquaintance and intimacy with one Timæus, a person inferior to him in repute, but of remarkable dexterity and boldness. He persuaded Andocides to accuse himself and some few others of this crime, urging to him that upon his confession he would be, by the decree of the people, secure of his pardon, whereas the event of judgment is uncertain to all men, but to great persons, such as he was, most formidable: and it was better for him, if he |