of the popular excitement.—Generals—not innocent men. 135-210 CHAPTER LXV. FROM THE BATTLE OF ARGINUSÆ TO THE RESTORATION OF THE DEMOCRACY AT ATHENS, AFTER THE EXPULSION OF THE THIRTY. Alleged propositions of peace from Sparta to Athens—doubtful.—Eteonikus at Chios—distress of his seamen—conspiracy suppressed.—Solicitations from Chios and elsewhere that Lysander should be sent out again.—Arrival of Lysander at Ephesus—zeal of his partisans—Cyrus.—Violent revolution at Milêtus by the partisans of Lysander.—Cyrus goes to visit his dying father—confides his tributes to Lysander.—Inaction of the Athenian fleet after the battle of Arginusæ.—Operations of Lysander.—Both fleets at the Hellespont.—Athenian fleet at Ægospotami.—Battle of Ægospotami—surprise and capture of the entire Athenian fleet.—Capture of the Athenian commanders, all except Konon.—Slaughter of the captive generals and prisoners.—The Athenian fleet supposed to have been betrayed by its own commanders.—Distress and agony at Athens, when the defeat of Ægospotami was made known there.—Proceedings of Lysander.—Miserable condition of the Athenian kleruchs, and of the friends of Athens in the allied dependencies.—Suffering in Athens.—Amnesty proposed by Patrokleidês, and adopted.—Oath of mutual harmony sworn in the acropolis.—Arrival of Lysander. Athens is blocked up by sea and land.—Resolute holding-out of the Athenians—their propositions for capitulating are refused.—Pretences of Theramenês—he is sent as envoy—his studied delay.—Misery and famine in Athens—death of Kleophon.—The famine becomes intolerable—Theramenês is sent to obtain peace on any terms—debate about the terms at Sparta.—Peace is granted by Sparta, against the general sentiment of the allies.—Surrender of Athens—extreme wretchedness—number of deaths from famine.—Lysander enters Athens—return of the exiles—demolition of the Long Walls—dismantling of Peiræus—fleet given up.—The exiles and the oligarchical party in Athens—their triumphant behavior and devotion to Lysander.—Kritias and other exiles—past life of Kritias.—Kritias at the head of the oligarchs at Athens.—Oligarchical leaders named at Athens.—Seizure of Strombichidês and other eminent democrats.—Nomination of the Thirty, under the dictation of Lysander.—Conquest of Samos by Lysander—oligarchy restored there.—Triumphant return of Lysander to Sparta—his prodigious ascendency throughout Greece.—Proceedings of the Thirty at Athens—feelings of oligarchical men like Plato.—The Thirty begin their executions—Strombichidês and the imprisoned generals put to death—other democrats also.—Senate appointed by the Thirty—is only trusted to act under their intimidation. Numerous executions without trial.—The senate began by condemning willingly everyone brought before them.—Discord among the Thirty—dissentient views of Kritias and Theramenês.—Lacedæmonian garrison