A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

228 Sicilian Expedition to End of War
IV.
Terms of Peace
Assembly of
Peloponnesian
allies.
Xenophon,
Bellenica,
ii. 2.
Ancient
World, 237 {.
The Athenian
fleet had
been destroyed
at
^gospotami,
and Athens
had been reduced
to
starvation
by a long
siege.
Theramenes
and others
were ambassadors
from
Athens, who
were treating
for peace.
A general assembly was convened, in which the Corinthians
and Thebans more particularly, though their views
were shared by many other Hellenes also, urged the meeting
not to come to terms with the Athenians, but to
destroy them. The Lacedaemonians replied that they
would never reduce to slavery a city which was itself an
integral portion of Hellas, and had performed a great and
noble service to Hellas in the most perilous of emergencies.
On the contrary, they were willing to offer peace on the
terms now specified—namely, "That the long walls and
the fortifications of Piraeus should be destroyed; that the
Athenian fleet, with the exception of twelve vessels,
should be surrendered; that the exiles should be restored;
and lastly, that the Athenians should acknowledge the
headship of
Sparta in peace and war, leaving to her the
choice of friends and foes, and following her lead by land
and sea." Such were the terms which Theramenes and
the rest who acted with him were able to report on their
return to Athens.
As they entered the city, a vast crowd met them,
trembling lest their mission should have proved fruitless.
For indeed delay was no longer possible, so long already
was the list of victims daily perishing from starvation.
On the day following, the ambassadors delivered their
report, stating the terms upon which the Lacedaemonians
were willing to make peace. Theramenes acted as spokesman,
insisting that they ought to obey the Lacedaemonians
and pull down the walls. A small minority raised their
voice in opposition but the majority were strongly in
favor of the proposition, and the resolution was passed to
accept the peace. Afterward Lysander sailed into the