64
Thus the reverse of what was to be expected has overtaken the city. For the friends of Theramenes deserved no less to perish with him, except such as might be found acting in opposition to him: but here I see them referring their defence to him, and we have his associates attempting to win credit as though he had been the author of many benefits, and not of grievous injuries.
65
He, first of all, was chiefly responsible for the former oligarchy,After the disaster in Sicily, 412 B.C. by having prompted your choice of the government of the Four Hundred. His father, who was one of the Commissioners,Ten persons specially appointed to revise the constitution. was active in the same direction, while he himself, being regarded as a strong supporter of the system, was appointed general by the party.
66
So long as he found favour, he showed himself loyal; but when he saw Peisander, Callaeschrus and others getting in advance of him, and your people no longer disposed to hearken to them, immediately his jealousy of them, combined with his fear of you, threw him into co-operation with Aristocrates.
67
Desiring to be reputed loyal to your people, he accused Antiphon and Archeptolemus, his best friends, and had them put to death; and such was the depth of his villainy that, to make credit with those men,i.e., the oligarchs. he enslaved you, while also, to make credit with you, he destroyed his friends.
68
Held in favour and the highest estimation, he who by his own choice offered to save the city, by his own choice destroyed it, asserting that he had discovered a capital and most valuable expedient. He undertook to arrange a peace without giving any hostages or demolishing the walls or surrendering the ships: he would tell nobody what it was, but bade them trust him.
