to send news to Athens and entreat relief.—Kallikratidas defeats the squadron of Diomedon.—Prodigious effort of the Athenians to relieve Konon—large Athenian fleet equipped and sent to Arginusæ—Kallikratidas withdraws most of his fleet from Mitylênê, leaving Eteonikus to continue the blockade.—The two fleets marshalled for battle.—Comparative nautical skill, reversed since the beginning of the war.—Battle of Arginusæ—defeat of the Lacedæmonians—death of Kallikratidas.—It would have been better for Greece, and even for Athens, if Kallikratidas had been victor at Arginusæ.—Safe escape of Eteonikus and his fleet from Mitylênê to Chios.—Joy of Athens for the victory—indignation arising from the fact that the Athenian seamen on the disabled ships had not been picked up after the battle.—State of the facts about the disabled ships, and the men left in them.—Despatch of the generals to Athens, affirming that a storm had prevented them from saving the drowning men.—Justifiable wrath and wounded sympathy of the Athenians—extreme excitement among the relatives of the drowned men.—The generals are superseded, and directed to come home.—Examination of the generals before the senate and the people at Athens.—Debate in the public assembly—Theramenês accuses the generals as guilty of omitting to save the drowning men.—Effect of the accusation by Theramenês upon the assembly.—Defence of the generals—they affirm that they had commissioned Theramenês himself to undertake the duty.—Reason why the generals had not mentioned this commission in their despatch.—Different account given by Diodorus.—Probable version of the way in which the facts really occurred.—Justification of the generals—how far valid?—The alleged storm. Escape of Eteonikus.—Feelings of the Athenian public—how the case stood before them—decision adjourned to a future assembly.—Occurrence of the festival of Apaturia—the great family solemnity of the Ionic race.—Burst of feeling at the Apaturia—misrepresented by Xenophon.—Proposition of Kallixenus in the senate against the generals—adopted and submitted to the public assembly.—Injustice of the resolution—by depriving the generals of the customary securities for judicial trial. Psephism of Kannônus.—Opposition taken by Euryptolemus on the ground of constitutional form.—Graphê Paranomôn.—Excitement of the assembly—constitutional impediment overruled.—The prytanes refuse to put the question—their opposition overruled, all except that of Sokratês.—Altered temper of the assembly when the discussion had begun—amendment moved and developed by Euryptolemus.—Speech of Euryptolemus.—His amendment is rejected—the proposition of Kallixenus is carried.—The six generals are condemned and executed.—Injustice of the proceeding—violation of the democratical maxims and sentiments.—Earnest repentance of the people soon afterwards—disgrace and end of Kallixenus.—Causes