ange of constitution was extorted from the people。 Pisander and ten others were despatched to treat with Alcibiades and Tissaphernes。
Upon their arrival in Ionia they informed Alcibiades that measures had been taken for establishing an oligarchical form of government at Athens； and required him to fulfil his part of the engagement by procuring the aid and alliance of Persia。 But Alcibiades knew that he had undertaken what he could not perform； and he now resolved to escape from the dilemma by one of his habitual artifices。 He received the Athenian deputation in the presence of Tissaphernes himself； and made such extravagant demands on behalf of the satrap that Pisander and his colleagues indignantly broke off the conference。
Notwithstanding the conduct of Alcibiades the oligarchical conspirators proceeded with the revolution at Athens； in which they had gone too far to recede。 Pisander； with five of the envoys； returned to Athens to complete the work they had begun。
Pisander proposed in the assembly； and carried a resolution； that a committee of ten should be appointed to prepare a new constitution； which was to be submitted to the approbation of the people。 But when the day appointed for that purpose arrived； the assembly was not convened in the Pnyx； but in the temple of Poseidon at Colonus； a village upwards of a mile from Athens。 Here the conspirators could plant their own partisans； and were less liable to be overawed by superior numbers。 Pisander obtained the assent of the meeting to the following revolutionary changes：1。 The abolition of all the existing magistracies； 2。 The cessation of all payments for the discharge of civil functions； 3。 The appointment of a committee of five persons； who were to name ninety…five more； each of the hundred thus constituted to choose three persons； the body of Four Hundred thus formed to be an irresponsible government； holding its sittings in the senate house。 The four hundred were to convene a select body of five thousand citizens whenever they thought proper。 Nobody knew who these five thousand were； but they answered two purposes； namely； to give an air of greater popularity to the government； as well as to overawe the people by an exaggerated notion of its strength。
Thus perished the Athenian democracy； after an existence of nearly a century since its establishment by Clisthenes The revolution was begun from despair of the foreign relations of Athens； and from the hope of assistance from Persia； but it was carried out through the machinations of the conspirators after that delusion had ceased。
At Samos the Athenian army refused to recognise the new government。 At the instance of Thrasybulus and Thrasyllus a meeting was called in which the soldiers pledged themselves to maintain the democracy； to continue the war against Peloponnesus； and to put down the usurpers at Athens。 The soldiers； laying aside for a while their military character； constituted themselves into an assembly of the people； deposed several of their officers； and appointed others whom they could better trust。 Thrasybulus proposed the recall of Alcibiades； notwithstanding his connection with the oligarchical conspiracy； because it was believed that he was now able and willing to aid the democratic cause with the gold and forces of Persia。 After considerable opposition the proposal was agreed to； Alcibiades was brought to Samos and introduced to the assembly； where by his magnificent promises； and extravagant boasts respecting his influence with Tissaphernes； he once more succeeded in deceiving the Athenians。 The accomplished traitor was elected one of the generals； and； in pursuance of his artful policy； began to pass backwards and forwards between Samos and Magnesia； with the view of inspiring both the satrap and the Athenians with a reciprocal idea of his influence with either； and of instilling distrust of Tissaphernes into the minds of the Peloponnesians。
At the first news of the re…establishment of democracy at Samos； distrust and discord had broken out among the Four Hundred。 Antiphon and Phrynichus； at the head of the extreme section of the oligarchical party； were for admitting a Lacedaemonian garrison。 But others； discontented with their share of power； began to affect more popular sentiments； among whom were Theramenes and Aristocrates。 Meantime Euboea； supported by the Lacedaemonians and Boeotians； revolted from Athens。 The loss of this island seemed a death…blow。 The Lacedaemonians might now easily blockade the ports of Athens and starve her into surrender； whilst the partisans of the Four Hundred would doubtless co…operate with the enemy。 But from this fate they were saved by the characteristic slowness of the Lacedaemonians； who confined themselves to securing the conquest of Euboea。 Thus left unmolested； the Athenians convened an assembly in the Pnyx。 Votes were passed for deposing the Four Hundred； and placing the government in the hands of the 5000； of whom every citizen who could furnish a panoply might be a member。 In short； the old constitution was restored； except that the franchise was restricted to 5000 citizens； and payment for the discharge of civil functions abolished。 In subsequent assemblies； the Archons； the Senate； and other institutions were revived； and a vote was passed to recall Alcibiades and some of his friends。 The number of the 5000 was never exactly observed； and was soon enlarged into universal citizenship。 Thus the Four Hundred were overthrown after a reign of four months； B。C。 411。
While these things were going on at Athens； the war was prosecuted with vigour on the coast of Asia Minor。 Mindarus； who now commanded the Peloponnesian fleet； disgusted at length by the often…broken promises of Tissaphernes； and the scanty and irregular pay which he furnished； set sail from Miletus and proceeded to the Hellespont； with the intention of assisting the satrap Pharnabazus； and of effecting； if possible； the revolt of the Athenian dependencies in that quarter。 Hither he was pursued by the Athenian fleet under Thrasyllus。 In a few days an engagement ensued （in August； 411 B。C。）； in the famous straits between Sestos and Abydos； in which the Athenians； though with a smaller force； gained the victory and erected a trophy on the promontory of Cynossema； near the tomb and chapel of the Trojan queen Hecuba。 The Athenians followed up their victory by the reduction of Cyzicus； which had revolted from them。 A month or two afterwards another obstinate engagement took place between the Peloponnesian and Athenian fleets ness Abydos； which lasted a whole day； and was at length decided in favour of the Athenians by the arrival of Alcibiades with his squadron of eighteen ships from Samos。
Shortly after the battle Tissaphernes arrived at the Hellespont with the view of conciliating the offended Peloponnesians。 He was not only jealous of the assistance which the latter were now rendering to Pharnabarzus； but it is also evident that his temporizing policy had displeased the Persian court。 This appears from his conduct on the present occasion； as well as from the subsequent appointment of Cyrus to the supreme command on the Asiatic coast as we shall presently have to relate。 When Alcibiades； who imagined that Tissaphernes was still favourable to the Athenian cause waited on him with the customary presents； he was arrested by order of the satrap； and sent in custody to Sardis。 At the end of a month； however； he contrived to escape to Clazomenae； and again joined the Athenian fleet early in the spring of 410 B。C。 Mindaras； with the assistance of Pharnabazas on the land side； was now engaged in the siege of Cyzicus； which the Athenian admirals determined to relieve。 Here a battle ensued； in which Mindarus was slain； the Lacedaemonians and Persians routed； and almost the whole Peloponnesian fleet captured。 The severity of this blow was pictured in the laconic epistle in which Hippocrates； the second in command； ＇Called Epistoteus or 〃Secretary〃 in the Lacedaemonian fleet。 The commander of the fleet had the title of NAVARCHUS。＇ announced it to the Ephors： 〃Our good luck is gone； Mindarus is slain； the men are starving； we know not what to do。〃
The results of this victory were most important。 Perinthus and Selymbria； as well as Cyzicus； were recovered； and the Athenians； once more masters of the Propontis； fortified the town of Chrysopolis； over against Byzantium； at the entrance of the Bosporus； re…established their toll of ten per cent； on all vessels passing from the Euxine； and left a squadron to guard the strait and collect the dues。 So great was the discouragement of the Lacedaemonians at the loss of their fleet that the Ephor Endius proceeded to Athens to treat for peace on the basis of both parties standing just as they were。 The Athenian assembly was at this time led by the demagogue Cleophon； a lamp…maker； known to us by the later comedies of Aristophanes。 Cleophon appears to have been a man of considerable ability； but the late victories had inspired him with too sanguine hopes and he advised the Athenians to reject the terms proposed by Endius。 Athens thus throw away the golden opportunity of recruiting her shattered forces of which she stood