Cornelii Nepotis Vitae (Hamilton)/Alcibiades

by Cornelius Nepos

Cornelius Nepos

Vitae (Editio Interlinearis Latina-Anglica Ad Modum Hamiltonii)

VII. Alcibiades

editio: Philadelphia, 1890(?); Iacobus Hamiltonius (James Hamilton) et Ioannes Gulielmus Subsilvius (J. W. Underwood) recensuit

VI. Lysander	VIII. Thrasybulus

I

Alcibiades,	filius	Cliniae,	Atheniensis.	In
Alcibiades,	the son	of Clinias,	the Athenian.	In

hoc	natura	videtur	experta	quid	possit (sub.)
him	nature	seems	having tried	what	she can

efficere.	Enim	constat	inter	omnes,	qui
to effect.	For	it is agreed	among	all,	who

prodiderunt	memoriae	de	eo,	nihil	fuisse
have delivered	to memory	of	him,	nothing	to have been

excellentius	illo	vel	in	vitiis	vel	in	virtutibus.
more excellent	than he	either	in	vices	or	in	virtues.

Natus	in	amplissima	civitate,	summo	genere,
Born	in	a most ample	state,	from the highest	race,

multo	formosissimus	omnium	suae	aetatis,	aptus
by much	the most beautiful	of all	of his	age,	fit

ad	omnes	res,	que	plenus	consilii.	Namque
to (for)	all	things,	and	full	of counsel.	For

fuit	summus	imperator	et	mari	et
he was	the highest	commander	both	by sea	and

terra;	disertus,	ut	valeret (sub.)	in	primis
by land;	eloquent,	that	he did prevail	in (among)	the first

dicendo;	quod	tanta	erat	commendatio
in speaking;	because	so great	was	the recommendation

oris	atque	orationis,	ut	nemo	posset (sub.)
of mouth	and	of speech,	that	nobody	was able

resistere	ei	dicendo;	deinde,	quum	tempus
to resist	to him	in speaking;	then,	when	the time

posceret (sub.),	laboriosus,	patiens,	liberali,	splendidus,
did demand,	laborious,	patient,	liberal,	splendid,

non	minus	in	vita	quam	victu;	affabilis,
not	less	in	life	than	in manner of living;	affable,

blandus,	callidissime	inserviens	temporibus.	Idem,
courteous,	most cunningly	serving	to the times.	The same,

simul-ac	remiserat	se,	neque	caussa	suberat,
as soon as	he had relaxed	himself,	nor	cause	was near,

quare	perferret	laborem	animi,	reperiebatur
wherefore	he should bear	labour	of mind,	was found

luxuriosus,	dissolutus,	libidinosus,	intemperans,	ut
luxurious,	dissolute,	lustful,	intemperate,	that

omnes	admirarentur (sub.)	tantam	dissimilitudinem	que
all	did wonder at	so great	dissimilitude	and

tam	diversam	naturam	in	uno	homine.
so	different	nature	in	one	man.

II

Educatus-est	in	domo	Periclis	(enim	dicitur
He was brought up	in	the house	of Pericles	(for	he is said

fuisse	privignus	eius),	eruditus	a	Socrate.
to have been	the step-son	of him),	instructed	by	Socrates.

Habuit	Hipponicum	socerum,	divitissimum	omnium
He had	Hipponicus	father-in-law,	the richest	of all

loquentium	Graeca	lingua,	ut,	si	ipse
speaking	in the Greek	language,	that,	if	himself

vellet	fingere,	posset (sub.)	neque	reminisci
might wish	to imagine,	he could	neither	to recollect

plura	bona,	neque	consequi	maiora,	quam	vel	fortuna
more	goods,	nor	to obtain	greater,	than	either	fortune

vel	natura	tribuerat.	Ineunte	adolescentia
or	nature	had bestowed.	In entering	youth

amatus-est	a	multis	more	Graecorum,
he was loved	by	many	in the manner	of the Greeks,

in	eis	a	Socrate,	de	quo	Plato	in
in (among)	these	by	Socrates,	of	whom	Plato	in (his)

Symposio	facit	mentionem.	Namque	induxit
Symposium	makes	mention.	For	he has introduced

eum	commemorantem	se	pernoctasse
him	mentioning	himself	to have passed the night

cum	Socrate,	neque	surrexisse	ab	eo	aliter,
with	Socrates,	nor	to have risen	from	him	otherwise,

ac	filius	debuerit (sub.)	a	parente.	Posteaquam
than	a son	ought	from	a parent.	After that

factus-est	robustior,	amavit	non	minus	multos,
he became	more robust,	he loved	not	less	many,

in	amore	quorum,	quoad	licitum-est,	fecit
in	the love	of whom,	as far as	it was allowed,	he did

multa	odiosa	delicate	que	iocose,	quae
many	odious (things)	delicately	and	jestingly,	which

referremus,	nisi	haberemus (sub.)	maiora
we might relate,	unless	we had	greater

que	potiora.
and	preferable (things).

III

Peloponnesio	bello	Athenienses,	auctoritate
In the Peloponnesian	war	the Athenians,	by the authority

atque	consilio	huius,	indixerunt	bellum
and	by the counsel	of him,	proclaimed	war

Syracusanis:	ad	gerendum	quod	ipse	delectus-est
to the Syracusans:	to	carrying on	which	himself	was chosen

dux,	duo	collegae	praeterea	dati,	Nicias	et
leader,	two	colleagues	besides	(were) given,	Nicias	and

Lamachus.	Quum	id	appararetur (sub.),	accidit,
Lamachus.	When	that	was prepared,	it happened,

prius-quam	classis	exiret (sub.),	ut	una	nocte	omnes
before that	the fleet	did go out,	that	in one	night	all

Hermae,	qui	erant	in	oppido	Athenis,
the statues of Mercury,	which	were	in	the town	Athens,

praeter	unum,	qui	erat	ante	ianuam	Andocidis,
except	one,	which	was	before	the gate	of Andocides,

deiicerentur (sub.).	Itaque	ille	postea	vocitatus-est
were overthrown.	Therefore	it	afterwards	was often called

Mercurius	Andocidis.	Quum	hoc	appareret (sub.)
the Mercury	of Andocides.	When	this	did appear

factum-esse	non	sine	magna	consensione
to have been done	not	without	great	agreement

multorum,	quod	pertineret (sub.)	non	ad	privatam,	sed
of many,	because	it did pertain	not	to	a private,	but

ad	publicam	rem,	magnus	timor	iniectus-est
to	a public	thing,	great	fear	was thrown in

multitudini,	ne	qua	repentina	vis	exsisteret
to the multitude,	lest	any	sudden	violence	should exist

in	civitate,	quae	opprimeret	libertatem	populi.
in	the state,	which	might oppress	the liberty	of the people.

Hoc	videbatur	convenire	maxime	in	Alcibiadem,
This	did seem	to suit	mostly	unto	Alcibiades,

quod	existimabatur	et	potentior	et	maior,
because	he was esteemed	both	more powerful	and	greater,

quam	privatus.	Enim	devinxerat	multos
than	a private (man).	For	he had bound down	many

liberalitate,	etiam	reddiderat	plures	suos
by liberality,	also	he had rendered	more	his own

forensi	opera.	Quare	fiebat,
by forensic	work (assistance).	Wherefore	it did happen,

ut	converteret (sub.)	oculos	omnium	ad	se,
that	he did turn	the eyes	of all	to	himself,

quotiescumque	prodisset (sub.)	in	publicum,	neque
as often as	he did come forth	into	public,	neither

quisquam	poneretur (sub.)	par	ei	in	civitate.
any one	was placed	equal	to him	in	the state.

Itaque	habebant	non	solum	maximam	spem	in
Therefore	they had	not	only	the greatest	hope	in

eo,	sed	etiam	timorem,	quod	poterat	et	obesse
him,	but	also	fear,	because	he was able	both	to injure

et	prodesse	plurimum.	Aspergebatur	infamia
and	to profit	very much.	He was sprinkled	with infamy

etiam,	quod	dicebatur	facere	mysteria[1]	in
also,	because	he was said	to make	the mysteries	in

sua	domo,	quod	erat	nefas	more	Atheniensium,
his	house,	which	was	unlawful	by custom	of Athenians,

que	id	existimabatur	pertinere	non	ad	religionem,
and	that	was thought	to pertain	not	to	religion,

sed	ad	coniurationem.
but	to	conspiracy.

IV

Compellabatur	hoc	crimine	in	concione
He was charged	with	this charge	in	the assembly

ab	inimicis.	Sed	tempus	proficiscendi	ad	bellum
by	enemies.	But	the time	of setting out	to	the war

instabat.	Ille	intuens	id,	neque	ignorans
was at hand.	He	observing	that,	nor	being ignorant of

consuetudinem	suorum	civium,	postulabat,	si
the custom	of his	citizens,	did demand,	if

vellent (sub.)	quid	agi	de	se,
they did wish	any (thing)	to be done	concerning	himself,

quaestio	haberetur	potius	de	praesenti,	quam
inquiry	should be had	rather	of	(him) present,	than

absens	accusaretur	crimine	invidiae.	Vero
being absent	he should be accused	by a charge	of envy.	But

inimici	eius,	quia	intelligebant	non
the enemies	of him,	because	they did understand (him)	not

posse	noceri,	decreverunt	quiescendum	in
to be able	to be hurt,	determined	to be quiet	in

praesenti,	et	illud	tempus	exspectandum,	quo
present,	and	that	time	to be waited for,	in which

exisset,	ut	sic	aggrederentur
he should have gone out,	that	thus	they might attack

absentem;	que	fecerunt	ita.	Nam	postquam
(him) absent;	and	they did	so.	For	after that

crediderunt	eum	pervenisse	in	Siciliam,
they believed	him	to have arrived	into	Sicily,

fecerunt	reum,	absentem,	quod	violasset (sub.)
they made	(him) accused,	being absent,	that	he had violated

sacra.	De	qua	re	quum	nuntius
sacred (things).	Concerning	which	thing	when	a messenger

missus-esset (sub.)	a	magistratu	in	Siciliam	ei,
had been sent	by	the magistracy	into	Sicily	to him,

ut	rediret	domum	ad	caussam	dicendam,
that	he should return	home	to	cause	to be spoken (pleaded),

que	esset (sub.)	in	magna	spe	provinciae
and	he was	in	great	hope	of the province

administrandae	bene,	noluit	non	parere,	et
to be managed	well,	he was unwilling	not	to obey,	and

ascendit	in	triremem,	quae	missa-erat	ad	deportandum
ascended	into	a trireme,	which	had been sent	to	carry off

eum.	Pervectus	Thurios	in	Italiam	hac,
him.	Being carried	to Thurii	into	Italy	in this,

reputans	multa	secum	de	immoderata
revolving	many (things)	with himself	of	the immoderate

licentia	suorum	civium	que	crudelitate	erga
licentiousness	of his	citizens	and	cruelty	towards

nobiles,	ratus	utilissimum	evitare
the nobles,	having thought	(it) most useful	to shun

impendentem	tempestatem,	subduxit	se	clam
the impending	tempest,	he withdrew	himself	secretly

a	custodibus,	et	inde	venit	primum	Elidem,
from	keepers,	and	thence	he came	first	(to) Elis,

deinde	Thebas.	Autem	postquam	audivit
afterwards	(to) Thebes.	But	after that	he heard

se	damnatum	capitis,	bonis	publicatis,
himself	condemned	of head,	goods	being confiscated,

et,	id	quod	venerat	usu,	sacerdotes
and,	that	which	had come	in use,	the priests

Eumolpidas[2]	coactos	a	populo,	ut	devoverent
Eumolpidae	forced	by	the people,	that	they might curse

se,	que	quo	memoria	eius	devotionis
himself,	and	that	the memory	of that	curse

esset	testatior,	exemplum,	incisum	in
might	be more witnessed,	an example (a copy),	cut	in

lapidea	pila,	positum-esse	in	publico,
a stony	pillar,	to have been placed	in	public,

demigravit	Lacedaemonem.	Ibi,	ut	ipse
he removed	(to) Lacedemon.	There,	as	himself

consueverat	praedicare,	gessit	bellum	non	adversus
had used	to declare,	he carried on	war	not	against

patriam,	sed	suos	inimicos,	quod	iidem	essent (sub.)
country,	but	his	enemies,	because	the same	were

hostes	civitati.	Nam	quum	intelligerent (sub.)	se
enemies	to the state.	For	when	they did understand	himself

posse	prodesse	plurimum	reipublicae,	eiecisse
to be able	to profit	very much	to the republic,	to have ejected

ex	ea,	que	paruisse	suae	irae,	plus
out of	it,	and	to have obeyed	to their own	anger,	more

quam	communi	utilitati.	Itaque	consilio
than	to the common	utility.	Therefore	by the counsel

huius	Lacedaemonii	fecerunt	amicitiam	cum
of him	the Lacedemonians	made	friendship	with

rege	Persarum:	deinde	munierunt	Deceleam
the king	of the Persians:	then	they fortified	Decelea

in	Attica,	que	perpetuo	praesidio	posito
in	Attica,	and	a perpetual	garrison	being placed

ibi,	tenuerunt	Athenas	in	obsidione.	Opera
there,	they held	Athens	in	siege.	By the work

eiusdem	averterunt	Ioniam	a
of the same (Alcibiades)	they turned away	Ionia	from

societate	Atheniensium.	Quo	facto	coeperunt
the alliance	of the Athenians.	Which	being done	they began

esse	multo	superiores	bello.
to be	much	superior	in war.

V

Neque	vero	his	rebus	facti-sunt	tam
Nor	indeed	by these	things	were they made	so

amici	Alcibiadi,	quam	alienati	ab	eo
friendly	to Alcibiades,	as	alienated	from	him

timore.	Nam	quum	cognoscerent (sub.)	praestantem
by fear.	For	when	they did know	the excellent

prudentiam	acerrimi	viri	in	omnibus	rebus,
prudence	of (this) most bold	man	in	all	things,

pertimuerunt,	ne	aliquando,	ductus	caritate
they dreaded,	lest	at some time,	led	by dearness

patriae,	descisceret	ab	ipsis,	et	rediret
of country,	he should revolt	from	themselves,	and	should return

in	gratiam	cum	suis.	Itaque
into	favour	with	his own (countrymen).	Therefore

instituerunt	quaerere	tempus	eius	interficiendi.
they resolved	to seek	the time	of him	to be killed.

Id	potuit	celari	non	diutius	Alcibiadi.
That	was able	to be concealed	not	longer	to Alcibiades.

Enim	erat	ea	sagacitate,	ut	posset (sub.)
For	he was	with	that sagacity,	that	he was able

non	decipi,	praesertim,	quum	attendisset (sub.)
not	to be deceived,	especially,	when	he had applied

animum	ad	cavendum.	Itaque	contulit	se	ad
mind	to	bewaring.	Therefore	he betook	himself	to

Tissaphernem,	praefectum	regis	Dari.	Quum
Tissaphernes,	governor	of king	Darius.	When

pervenisset (sub.)	in	intimam	amicitiam	cuius,	et
he had come	into	intimate	friendship	of whom,	and

rebus	gestis	male	in	Sicilia,	videret (sub.)
things	being carried on	badly	in	Sicily,	did see

opes	Atheniensium	senescere,	contra
the resources	of the Athenians	to decay,	on the other hand

Lacedaemoniorum	crescere,	initio
(those) of the Lacedemonians	to increase,	in the beginning

colloquitur,	per	internuntios,	cum	Pisandro
he converses,	through	messengers,	with	Pisander

praetore,	qui	habebat	exercitum	apud	Samum,
the praetor,	who	had	an army	at	Samos,

et	facit	mentionem	de	suo	reditu.	Enim	erat
and	makes	mention	of	his	return.	For	he was

eodem	sensu,	quo	Alcibiades,	non	amicus
in the same	sense,	in which	Alcibiades,	not	friendly

potentiae	populi,	et	fautor	optimatum.
to the power	of the people,	and	a favorer	of the nobles.

Destitutus	ab	hoc,	recipitur	primum	per
Abandoned	by	him,	he is received	first	through

Thrasybulum,	filium	Lyci,	ab	exercitu,	que
Thrasybulus,	the son of	Lycus,	by	the army,	and

fit	praetor	apud	Samum;	post,	Theramene
is made	praetor	at	Samos;	afterwards,	Theramenes

suffragante,	restituitur	populiscito,	que
voting for (it),	he is restored	by decree of people,	and

absens	praeficitur	pari	imperio	simul	cum
absent	is appointed	to equal	command	together	with

Thrasybulo	et	Theramene.	In	imperio	horum
Thrasybulus	and	Theramenes.	In	the command	of these

tanta	commutatio	rerum	facta-est,	ut
so great	a change	of things	was made,	that

Lacedaemonii,	qui	paullo	ante	viguerant
the Lacedemonians,	who	a little	before	had flourished

victores,	perterriti	peterent (sub.)	pacem.	Enim
victors,	terrified	did seek	peace.	For

victi-erant	quinque	terrestribus-praeliis,	tribus
they had been conquered	in five	land-battles,	in three

navalibus,	in	quibus	amiserant	ducentas	triremes
naval,	in	which	they had lost	two hundred	trireme

naves,	quae	captae	venerant	in	potestatem
ships,	which	being taken	had come	into	the power

hostium.	Alcibiades,	simul	cum	collegis,	receperat
of enemies.	Alcibiades,	together	with	colleagues,	had received

Ioniam,	Hellespontum,	multas	Graecas	urbes	praeterea,
Ionia,	the Hellespont,	many	Grecian	cities	besides,

quae	sitae-sunt	in	ora	Asiae,	complures
which	were situated	on	the coast	of Asia,	several

quarum	expugnarant,	in	his	Byzantium;
of which	they had stormed,	in (among)	these	Byzantium:

neque	adiunxerant	minus	multas	consilio	ad
nor	had they joined	less	many	by counsel	to

amicitiam,	quod	usi-fuerant	clementia	in
friendship,	because	they had used	clemency	unto

captos.	Ita	onusti	praeda,	exercitu
(those) taken.	Thus	loaded	with booty,	the army

locupletato,	maximis	rebus	gestis,
being enriched,	the greatest	things	being carried on,

venerunt	Athenas,
they came	(to) Athens,

VI

Quum	universa	civitas	descendisset (sub.)	obviam
When	the whole	state	had descended	opposite

his	in	Piraeeum,	tanta	fuit
(to meet) to these	into	Piraeus,	so great	was

exspectatio	omnium	Alcibiadis	visendi,
the expectation	of all	of Alcibiades	to be visited (the strong desire of seeing him),

ut	vulgus
that	the common-people

conflueret (sub.)	ad	triremem	eius,	proinde-ac	si
did crowd	to	the trireme	of him,	just as	if

advenisset (sub.)	solus.	Enim	persuasum-erat	sic
he had arrived	alone.	For	it had been persuaded	thus

populo,	et	superiores	adversas,	et	praesentes
to the people,	both	the former	adverse,	and	present

secundas	res	accidisse	opera	eius.
prosperous	things	to have happened	by work	of him.

Itaque	tribuebant	et	amissum	Siciliae,	et
Therefore	they did attribute,	both	the loss of	Sicily,	and

victorias	Lacedaemoniorum	suae	culpae,
the victories	of the Lacedemonians	to their own	fault,

quod	expulissent (sub.)	talem	virum	e	civitate.
because	they had expelled	such	a man	from	the state.

Neque	videbantur	arbitrari	id	sine	caussa.
Nor	did they seem	to think	that	without	cause.

Nam	postquam	coeperat	praeesse	exercitui,
For	after that	he had begun	to be over	to the army,

hostes	potuerant	esse	pares	neque	terra,
the enemies	had been able	to be	equal	neither	by land,

neque	mari.	Ut	hic	egressus-est	e	navi,
nor	by sea.	When	he	went out	from	ship,

quamquam	Theramenes	et	Thrasybulus	praefuerant
although	Theramenes	and	Thrasybulus	had been over

eisdem	rebus,	que	venerant	simul	in
to the same	things,	and	had come	at the same time	into

Piraeeum,	tamen	omnes	prosequebantur	illum	unum,
Piraeus,	yet	all	did follow	him	alone,

et,	id	quod	numquam	antea	venerat	usu,
and,	that	which	never	before	had come	in use,

nisi	victoribus	Olympiae,	donabatur
unless	to the victors	of (at) Olympia,	he was presented

aureis	que	aeneis	coronis	vulgo.
with golden	and	with brazen	crowns	by the common people.

Ille	lacrimans	accipiebat	talem	benevolentiam	suorum
He	weeping	did receive	such	benevolence	of his

civium,	reminiscens	acerbitatem	pristini	temporis.
citizens,	remembering	the bitterness	of former	time.

Postquam	venit	Astu,	concione	advocata
After that	he came	(to) city (Athens),	the assembly	being called

fecit	verba	sic,	ut	nemo	fuerit (sub.)	tam	ferus,
he made	words	thus,	that	nobody	was	so	savage,

quin	lacrimarit (sub.)	casum	eius,	que
but that	he wept	the accident	of him,	and

ostenderit (sub.)	se	inimicum	his,	opera
showed	himself	an enemy	to these,	by work

quorum	pulsus-fuerat	patria,	proinde-ac	si
of whom	he had been driven	from country,	just as	if

alius	populus,	non	ille	ipse,	qui	tum	flebat,
another	people,	not	that	self,	which	then	did weep,

damnasset (sub.)	eum	sacrilegii.	Ergo	bona
had condemned	him	of sacrilege.	Therefore	the goods

restituta-sunt	huic	publice,	que	illi	idem	Eumolpidae
were restored	to him	publicly,	and	those	same	Eumolpidae

sacerdotes,	qui	devoverant	eum,	coacti-sunt
priests,	who	had cursed	him,	were compelled

resacrare	rursus,	que	illae	pilae,	in	quibus
to remove the curse	again,	and	those	pillars,	in	which

devotio	scripta-fuerat,	praecipitatae	in	mare.
the curse	had been written,	precipitated	into	the sea.

VII

Haec	laetitia	fuit	non	nimis	diuturna	Alcibiadi.
This	joy	was	not	too (very)	lasting	to Alcibiades.

Nam	quum	omnes	honores	decreti-essent (sub.)	ei,
For	when	all	honours	had been decreed	to him,

que	tota	respublica	domi	que	belli
and	the whole	republic	at home	and	of (at) war

tradita,	ut	gereretur	arbitrio	unius,
delivered,	that	it might be carried on	by will	of one (of him alone),

et	ipse	postulasset (sub.),	ut	duo
and	himself	had demanded,	that	two

collegae	darentur	sibi,	Thrasybulus	et
colleagues	should be given	to himself,	Thrasybulus	and

Adimantus,	neque	id	negatum-esset (sub.):	profectus
Adimantus,	nor	that	had been denied:	having set out

iam	classe	in	Asiam,	recidit	in	invidiam,
now	with fleet	into	Asia,	he fell back	into	hatred,

quod	apud	Cymen	gesserat	rem	minus
because	at	Cyme	he had carried on	the thing	less

ex	sententia.	Enim	ducebant
out	of opinion (to their mind).	For	they did lead (think)

eum	non	posse	efficere	nihil.	Ex	quo
him	not	to be able	to effect	nothing.	From	which

fiebat,	ut	tribuerent (sub.)	omnia	gesta
it did happen,	that	they did attribute	all (things)	carried on

minus	prospere	culpae	eius,	quum	loquerentur (sub.)
less	prosperously	to fault	of him,	when	they did speak (say)

eum	fecisse	aut	negligenter	aut	malitiose,	sicut
him	to have done	either	negligently	or	maliciously,	as

accidit	tum.	Nam	arguebant	corruptum
it happened	then.	For	they did accuse	(him) corrupted

a	rege	noluisse	capere	Cymen.
by	the king	to have been unwilling	to take	Cyme.

Itaque	putamus	nimiam	opinionem	ingeni	atque
Therefore	we think	too much	opinion	of ability	and

virtutis	fuisse	maxime	malo	huic.
of bravery	to have been	chiefly	to (as) evil	to him.

Enim	timebatur	non	minus	quam	diligebatur,
For	he was feared	not	less	than	he was beloved,

ne,	elatus	secunda	fortuna	que	magnis	opibus,
lest,	being elated	by good	fortune	and	by great	resources,

concupisceret	tyrannidem.	Quibus	rebus	factum-est,
he should desire	tyranny.	By which	things	it was done,

ut	abrogarent (sub.)	magistratum	absenti,	et
that	they did abrogate	the magistracy	to him absent,	and

substituerent (sub.)	alium	in	locum	eius.	Ut
did substitute	another	into	the place	of him.	When

ille	audivit	id,	noluit	reverti	domum,
he	heard	that,	he was unwilling	to return	home,

et	contulit	se	Pactyen,	que	ibi	communivit
and	betook	himself	(to) Pactye,	and	there	he fortified

tria	castella,	Bornos,	Bysanthen,	Neontichos;	que
three	castles,	Borni,	Bysanthe,	Neontichos;	and

manu	collecta	primus	civitatis	Graeciae	introiit
a band	being collected	first	of state	of Greece	he entered

in	Thraciam,	existimans	gloriosius,	locupletari
into	Thrace,	thinking	(it) more glorious,	to be enriched

praeda	barbarorum,	quam	Graiorum.	Ex	qua
with spoil	of barbarians,	than	of Greeks.	From	which

re	creverat	cum	fama,	tum
thing	he had increased	when (as well)	in fame	then (as)

opibus,	que	pepererat	magnam	amicitiam
in resources,	and	had obtained	great	friendship

sibi	cum	quibusdam	regibus	Thracia.
to himself	with	some	kings	of Thrace.

VIII

Neque	tamen	potuit	recedere	a	caritate
Nor	however	was he able	to recede	from	love

patriae.	Nam	quum	Philocles,	praetor
of country.	For	when	Philocles,	commander

Atheniensium,	constituisset (sub.)	suam	classem	apud
of the Athenians,	had arranged	his	fleet	at

flumen	Aegos,	neque	Lysander,
the river	Aegos (Aegospotamos),	nor	Lysander,

praetor	Lacedaemoniorum,	abesset (sub.)	longe,
the commander	of the Lacedemonians,	was distant	far,

qui	occupatus-erat	in	eo,	ut	duceret
who	had been occupied	in	that,	that	he might lead (protract)

bellum	quam-diutissime,	quod	pecunia	suppeditabatur
the war	as long as possible,	because	money	was supplied

ipsis	a	rege;	contra	nihil
to themselves	by	the king;	on other hand	nothing

super-erat	exhaustis	Atheniensibus	praeter	arma
did remain	to exhausted	Athenians	except	arms

et	naves,	Alcibiades	venit	ad	exercitum
and	ships,	Alcibiades	came	to	the army

Atheniensium,	que	ibi	vulgo	praesente
of the Athenians,	and	there	the common people	being present

cepit	agere:	si	vellent (sub.),	se	coacturum
began	to treat:	if	they did wish,	himself	about to force

Lysandrum	aut	dimicare	aut	petere	pacem:
Lysander	either	to fight	or	to seek	peace:

Lacedaemonios	nolle	eo	confligere	classe,
the Lacedemonians	to be unwilling	therefore	to engage	with fleet,

quod	valerent (sub.)	plus	pedestribus
because	they did prevail	more	in pedestrian (land)

copiis	quam	navibus,	autem	esse	facile	sibi
forces	than	in ships,	but	to be	easy	to himself

deducere	Seuthen,	regem	Thracum,	ut
to bring down	Seuthes,	the king	of the Thracians,	that

depelleret	eos	terra;	quo	facto,
he might drive	them	from land;	which	being done,

necessario	aut	conflicturos	classe,	aut
necessarily	either	(to be) about to engage	with fleet,	or

composituros	bellum.	Etsi	Philocles
about to settle	the war.	Although	Philocles

animadvertebat	id	vere	dictum,	tamen
did perceive	that	(to be) truly	said,	yet

noluit	facere	postulata,	quod	sentiebat,
he was unwilling	to do	the demands,	because	he did perceive,

Alcibiade	recepto,	se	futurum	nullius
Alcibiades	being received,	himself	about to be	of no

momenti	apud	exercitum;	et,	si	quid
weight	at (with)	the army;	and,	if	any (thing)

secundi	evenisset,	nullam	partem	in
of favourable	should have happened,	no	part	in

ea	re	fore	suam;	contra
that	thing	to be about to be	his own;	against (contrary to)

ea,	si	quid	adversi	accidisset,
these (things),	if	any (thing)	of adverse	should have happened,

se	futurum	unum	reum	eius	delicti.
himself	about to be	alone	impeached	of that	fault.

Alcibiades	discedens	ab	hoc,	inquit,	quoniam
Alcibiades	departing	from	him,	says,	since

repugnas	victoriae	patriae,	moneo	illud,
thou opposest	to victory	of country,	I admonish	that,

habeas	nautica	castra	iuxta	hostes.	Enim
thou mayest have	naval	camps	near	the enemies.	For

est	periculum,	ne	immodestia	nostrorum
(there) is	danger,	lest	by the disorder	of our

militum	occasio	nostri	exercitus	opprimendi
soldiers	occasion	of our	army	to be oppressed

detur	Lysandro.	Neque	ea	res	fefellit
may be given	to Lysander.	Nor	that	thing	deceived

illum.	Nam	quum	Lysander	comperisset (sub.)
him.	For	when	Lysander	had found out

per	speculatores,	vulgum	Atheniensium
by	spies,	the common people	of the Athenians

exisse	in	terram	praedatum,	que	naves
to have gone out	into	the land	to plunder,	and	the ships

relictas	paene	inanes,	dimisit	non	tempus
left	almost	empty,	he let go	not	the time

rei	gerendae,	que	eo	impetu
of the thing	to be-carried-on,	and	in that	assault

delevit	totum	bellum.
he finished	the whole	war.

IX

At	Alcibiades,	Atheniensibus	victis,
But	Alcibiades,	the Athenians	being conquered,

arbitratus	eadem	loca	non	satis	tuta	sibi,
having thought	the same	places	not	sufficiently	safe	to himself,

abdidit	se	penitus	in	Thraciam	supra
hid	himself	wholly	into	Thrace	above

Propontidem,	sperans	suam	fortunam	posse
Propontis,	hoping	his	fortune	to be able

facillime	occuli	ibi.	Falso.	Nam	postquam
most easily	to be concealed	there.	Falsely.	For	after that

Thraces	senserunt	eum	venisse	cum	magna
the Thracians	perceived	him	to have come	with	great

pecunia,	fecerunt	insidias	[ei];	qui	abstulerunt
money,	they made	snares	[to him];	who	took away

ea,	quae	apportarat,	potuerunt	non	capere
those (things),	which	he had brought,	were able	not	to take

ipsum.	Ille	cernens,	nullum	locum	in	Graecia	tutum
himself.	He	perceiving,	no	place	in	Greece	safe

sibi,	propter	potentiam	Lacedaemoniorum,
to himself,	on account of	the power	of the Lacedemonians,

transiit	ad	Pharnabazum	in	Asiam,	quem	quidem
passed over	to	Pharnabazus	into	Asia,	whom	indeed

cepit	adeo	sua	humanitate,	ut	nemo
he took	so much	with his	politeness,	that	nobody

antecederet (sub.)	eum	in	amicitia.	Namque
did excel	him	in	friendship.	For

dederat	ei	Grunium,	castrum	in	Phrygia,	ex
he had given	to him	Grunium,	a castle	in	Phrygia,	from

quo	capiebat	quinquagena	talenta	vectigalis.
which	he did take	fifty	talents	of tribute.

Qua	fortuna	Alcibiades	erat	non	contentus,
With which	fortune	Alcibiades	was	not	content,

neque	poterat	pati	victas	Athenas	servire
nor	was he able	to suffer	conquered	Athens	to serve

Lacedaemoniis.	Itaque	ferebatur	omni
to the Lacedemonians.	Therefore	he was borne	by every

cogitatione	ad	patriam	liberandam.	Sed	videbat,
thought	to	country	to-be-liberated.	But	he did see,

id	non	posse	fieri	sine	rege
that	not	to be able	to be done	without	the king

Persarum,	que	ideo	cupiebat	eum
of the Persians,	and	therefore	he did desire	him

adiungi	amicum	sibi;	neque	dubitabat,
to be joined	(as) a friend	to himself;	nor	did he doubt,

se	facile	consecuturum,	si	modo	habuisset
himself	easily	about to obtain (that),	if	only	he should have had

potestatem	eius	conveniendi.	Nam	sciebat
power	of him	to be met.	For	he did know

fratrem	Cyrum	clam	parare	bellum	ei,
(his) brother	Cyrus	secretly	to prepare	war	to him,

Lacedaemoniis	adiuvantibus.	Si	aperuisset
the Lacedemonians	assisting.	If	he should have discovered

id,	videbat	se	initurum	magnam
that,	he did see	himself	about to come into	great

gratiam.

favour.

X

Quum	moliretur (sub.)	haec,	que	peteret (sub.)
When	he was attempting	these (things),	and	did seek

a	Pharnabazo,	ut	mitteretur	ad	regem,
from	Pharnabazus,	that	he might be sent	to	the king,

eodem	tempore	Critias	que	ceteri	tyranni
in the same	time	Critias	and	the other	tyrants

Atheniensium	miserunt	certos	homines	in	Asiam
of the Athenians	sent	certain	men	into	Asia

ad	Lysandrum,	qui	facerent	eum	certiorem,
to	Lysander,	who	might make	him	more certain,

nisi	sustulisset (sub.)	Alcibiadem,	nihil	earum
unless	he had taken away	Alcibiades,	nothing	of those

rerum	fore	ratum,	quas	ipse
things	to be about to be	confirmed,	which	himself

constituisset (sub.)	Athenis.	Quare,	si	vellet (sub.)
had appointed	at Athens.	Wherefore,	if	he did wish

suas	res	gestas	manere,	persequeretur
his	things	carried on	to remain,	he should follow up

illum.	Laco	commotus	his	rebus,	statuit
him.	The Spartan	moved	with	these things,	resolved

agendum	sibi	accuratius	cum
to be-acted	to himself (that he must act)	more carefully	with

Pharnabazo.	Ergo	renuntiat	huic,
Pharnabazus.	Therefore	he announces back	to him,

quae	essent (sub.)	regi	cum
(the things) which	were	to the king	with

Lacedaemoniis,	[futura	irrita,]	nisi	tradidisset (sub.)
the Lacedemonians,	[about	to be void,]	unless	he had delivered

Alcibiadem	vivum	aut	mortuum.	Satrapes	tulit
Alcibiades	alive	or	dead.	The Satrap	bore

non	hoc,	et	malint	violare	clementiam,
not	this,	and	was more willing	to violate	clemency,

quam	opes	regis	minui.	Itaque
than	the resources	of the king	to be lessened.	Therefore

misit	Susamithren	et	Bagaeum	ad	interficiendum
he sent	Sysamithres	and	Bagaeus	to	kill

Alcibiadem,	quum	ille	esset (sub.)	in	Phrygia,	que
Alcibiades,	when	he	was	in	Phrygia,	and

compararet (sub.)	ite	ad	regem.	Missi
did prepare	journey	to	the king.	Being sent

dant	negotium	vicinitati,	in	qua
they give	business	to the neighbourhood,	in	which

Alcibiades	tum	erat,	ut	interficiant	eum.	Quum
Alcibiades	then	was,	that	they may kill	him.	When

illi	auderent (sub.)	non	aggredi	[eum]	ferro,
they	did dare	not	to attack	[him]	with iron (weapon),

contulerunt	ligna	noctu	circa	eam
they brought together	woods	by night	about	that

casam	in	qua	quiescebat,	que	succenderunt	eam,
cottage	in	which	he did rest,	and	kindled	it,

ut	conficerent	incendio,	quem	diffidebant
that	they might finish	with burning,	whom	they did distrust

posse	superari	manu.	Autem	ut	ille
to be able	to be overcome	with hand.	But	when	he

excitatus-est	sonitu	flammae,	etsi	gladius
was roused	by the sound	of the flame,	although	(his) sword

subductus-erat	ei,	eripuit	telum
had been withdrawn	from him,	he snatched	a weapon

subalare	sui	familiaris.	Namque
under the arm (a dagger)	of his	domestic.	For

quidam	hospes	ex	Arcadia	erat	cum	eo,	qui
a certain	guest	out of	Arcadia	was	with	him,	who

numquam	voluerat	discedere.	Iubet	hunc
never	had wished	to depart.	He orders	him

sequi	se,	et	arripuit	id	vestimentorum,
to follow	himself,	and	snatched up	that	of clothes,

quod	fuit	in	praesentia.	His	eiectis
which	was	in	presence (at hand.)	These	being thrown out

in	ignem,	transiit	vim	flammae.
into	the fire,	he passed over	the violence	of the flame.

Quem	ut	barbari	viderunt	effugisse
Whom	when	the barbarians	saw	to have escaped

incendium,	interfecerunt	telis	missis
the burning,	they killed	with weapons	sent

eminus,	que	retulerunt	caput	eius	ad
from a distance,	and	carried back	the head	of him	to

Pharnabazum.	At	mulier,	qui	consuerat	vivere
Pharnabazus.	But	the woman,	who	had used	to live

cum	eo,	cremavit	mortuum	contectum	sua
with	him,	burnt	(him) dead	covered	with her own

muliebri	veste	incendio	aedificii,	quod
female	robe	in the burning	of the house,	which

comparatum-erat,	ad	interimendum	vivum.	Sic
had been prepared	to	destroying	(him) alive.	Thus

Alcibiades	obit	supremum	diem	natus	circiter
Alcibiades	met	last	day	being born	about

quadraginta	annos.
forty	years.

XI

Tres	gravissimi	historici	extulerunt	summis
Three	most grave	historians	have extolled	with highest

laudibus	hunc	infamatum	a	plerisque:	Thucydides,
praises	him	defamed	by	many:	Thucydides,

qui	fuit	eiusdem	aetatis,	Theopompus,	qui	natus-fuit
who	was	of the same	age,	Theopompus,	who	was born

aliquanto	post,	et	Timaeus,	qui	duo	maledicentissimi
somewhat	after,	and	Timaeus,	which	two	most slanderous

quidem,	nescio	quo	modo	conscierunt
indeed,	I know not	in what	manner	they have agreed

in	illo	uno	laudando.	Nam	praedicarunt
in	him	alone	to be praised.	For	they have declared

ea	de	eo,	quae	diximus	supra,
those (things)	of	him,	which	we have said	above,

atque	hoc	amplius:	quum	natus-esset (sub.)	Athenis
and	this	more:	when	he had been born	in Athens

splendidissima	civitate,	superasse	omnes
a most splendid	state,	to have surpassed	all

Athenienses	splendore	ac	dignitate	vitae;	postquam
Athenians	in splendor	and	dignity	of life;	after that

expulsus	inde	venerit (sub.)	Thebas,
being expelled	thence	he came	(to) Thebes,

inservisse	adeo	studiis	eorum,	ut	nemo
to have applied	so	to the pursuits	of them,	that	nobody

posset (sub.)	aequiparare	eum	labore	que	viribus
was able	to equal	him	in labour	and	in strengths

corporis	(enim	omnes	Boeotii	inserviunt	firmitati
of body	(for	all	the Boeotians	apply	to firmness

corporis	magis	quam	acumini	ingeni);	eumdem
of body	more	than	to quickness	of genius);	the same

apud	Lacedaemonios,	moribus	quorum	summa
at	the Lacedemonians,	by customs	of whom	the highest

virtus	ponebatur	in	patientia,	dedisse	se	sic
virtue	was placed	in	patience,	to have given	himself	so

duritiae,	ut	vinceret (sub.)	omnes	Lacedaemonios
to hardship,	that	he did conquer	all	the Lacedemonians

parsimonia	victus	atque	cultus;	fuisse	apud
in parsimony	of food	and	of dress;	to have been	at

Thracas,	vinolentos	homines	que	deditos	venereis
the Thracians,	drunken	men	and	given	to lewd

rebus;	antecessisse	quoque	hos	in	his	rebus;
things;	to have excelled	also	them	in	these	things;

venisse	ad	Persas,	apud	quos	summa
to have come	to	the Persians,	at	whom	the highest

laus	esset (sub.)	venari	fortiter,	vivere	luxuriose,
praise	was	to hunt	bravely,	to live	luxuriously,

imitatum (esse)	consuetudinem	horum	sic,	ut	illi
to have imitated	custom	of these	so,	that	they

ipsi	admirarentur (sub.)	eum	maxime	in
themselves	did admire	him	very much	in

his.	Quibus	rebus	effecisse,	ut
these (things).	By which	things	to have effected,	that

apud	quoscumque	esset,	poneretur (sub.)	princeps,
at	whomsoever	he might be,	he was placed	chief,

que	haberetur (sub.)	carissimus.	Sed	satis	de
and	was held	most dear.	But	enough	of

hoc,	ordiamur	reliquos.
him,	let us begin	the rest.

1. Mysteries of Ceres, celebrated with the utmost secrecy at Eleusis.
2. Descendants of Eumolpus, son of Neptune, and chief priests of Ceres, whose rites he had been accused of violating.