48. You have heard the witnesses. At last, being established in power, he
took part in no good deed, but in many of an opposite character. If,
however, he were an honest man, he ought, in the first place, not to rule
contrary to law; secondly, to inform the council concerning all the
reports, that they were false, and that Batrachus and Aeschylides did not
announce the truth, but told things invented by the Thirty, as agreed
upon for the injury of the citizens. 49. And indeed, jurors, all who were
ill disposed toward you, remained quiet just the same; for there were
others saying and doing things which were greater evils than what could
(otherwise) come to the city. But for those who said they were well
disposed, why did they not show it there, both by speaking what was best
themselves, and preventing men from doing wrong?
50. But perhaps he might be able to say he was afraid, and this will be a
sufficient excuse to some of you. (Observe) then, if he shall appear to
be opposing the Thirty in speech; otherwise it will be evident that these
things pleased him, and he had so much power that, although, he opposed,
he suffered no evil from them. And he ought to have this zeal for your
safety, but not for Theramenes, who has wronged you in many respects. 51.
But that he considered the city hostile and your enemies his friends, I
shall establish by many proofs; likewise that the quarrels with each
other arose not on your behalf, but on theirs, to determine who shall do
these things and govern the state. 52. For, if they made the revolt in
behalf of those who had been wronged, when would there have been a better
opportunity for a ruler to show his friendship than when Thrasybulus had
taken possession of Phyle? But he, instead of announcing or doing
anything good toward those at Phyle, came with his fellow-rulers to
Salamis and Eleusis, and led away three hundred of the citizens to
prison, and by one vote condemned them all to death. 53. But when we came
to the Piraeus, and disputes arose, and speeches were made about a
reconciliation, we each had many hopes of behaving towards each other, as
both parties gave indications; for the Piraeus party, being superior,
permitted them to depart, (54) and they, having come to the city, drove
out the Thirty, except Pheido and Eratosthenes, and chose as leaders
those most opposed to them, thinking justly that by the same persons both
the Thirty would be hated, and the Piraeus party loved. 55. Of these,
then, Pheido, who had been one of the Thirty, and Hippocles, and
Epichares of Lamptrae, and others seeming to be the most opposed to
Charicles and Critias and their club, when they were established in
power, created much greater party-feeling against the Piraeus party for
the city party. 56. And they openly showed that they were making the
disturbance, not on behalf of the Piraeus party, nor on behalf of those
perishing unjustly, neither did they trouble themselves about the dead,
nor those who were going to be put to death, but those who had more power
and were getting rich faster. 57. For, having seized the offices and the
city, they made war upon both parties, both the Thirty who had done all
evils, and you who had suffered all evils; and this was evident to all,
that, if the former were accused unjustly, you (were accused) justly, but
if you unjustly, the Thirty justly, for they were banished from the city,
not having been guilty of other things, but of these things. 58. So that
it is necessary to be exceedingly indignant that Pheido, having been
chosen to conciliate you and restore you, did the same things as
Eratosthenes, and with the same mind was ready to injure those who were
in the majority in their own party by means of you; and he was not
willing to restore the city to you in unjust exile, but, having come to
Sparta, he tried to persuade them to begin hostilities, falsely saying
that the city would fall into the power of the Boeotians, and other
things besides by which he hoped to persuade them. 59. But not being able
to obtain this, either because the sacred rites were in the way, or
because they themselves did not wish it, he borrowed a hundred talents in
order that he might be able to hire mercenaries; and they chose Lysander
as leader, who was very friendly to the oligarchy, and most hostile to
the state, especially the Piraeus party. 60. Then having hired all men
for the destruction of the city, and inciting cities, and finally the
Lacedaemonians, and such of their allies as they could persuade, they
made preparations not to restore but to destroy the city (and would have
succeeded), had it not been for certain brave men, to whom I charge you
to show your gratitude by punishing these wretches. 61. You know these
things yourselves, and I know it is not necessary to provide witnesses,
nevertheless (I will), for I need to stop speaking, and it is more
pleasant for you to hear the same words from as many as possible.