Callias: A Tale of the Fall of Athens

by Alfred John Church

  CHAPTER XVII.

  ATHENS IN THE DUST.

  "I feel that my place is at Athens," said Callias to his host a few daysafter their arrival.

  "In spite of the past?"

  "Yes. At such a time no one thinks of the past, but only of the future."

  "Well; I cannot say that you are wrong. If you think fit to go, I shallnot seek to hold you back. I must frankly say that I see little hope."

  "And you?" Callias went on after a pause. "What shall you do, if I maymake so bold as to ask?"

  "If I can save my country at all, it will be here. The only hope now isto detach Persia from Sparta. Perhaps now that Athens has fallen so low,the Persians will see what their true interests are. The worst of it isthat there is no real ruler, no one to carry out a consistent policy.The great king is absolute at the capital, but in the provinces he islittle more than a name. The satraps do almost as they please; theyactually make war on each other if it suits their purpose. So, it is notwhat is best for Persia, but what Tissaphernes or Pharnabazus may thinkbest for himself that will be done. Still there is a chance left; only Imust be on the spot to seize it if it comes. Were I to go to Athens, Ishould be only one man among a useless crowd, and you, my young friend,will, I very much fear, be little more."

  "Anyhow I shall go," replied the young man, "at all events there will beone sword more to be drawn for Athens."

  "Yes," muttered Alcibiades to himself, as his companion left the room,"if you get the chance of drawing it. I rather think that with that foxLysander in command, you will do nothing more for Athens than bring onemore mouth to be fed."

  Callias made his way to the coast with no difficulty. Assuming, at thesuggestion of Alcibiades, a citizen's dress, he joined a caravan oftraders which was on its way westward, and in their company travelledpleasantly and safely. Arrived at Miletus he took passage in a merchantship that was bound for AEgina, hoping if he could only get so far, to beable to make his way somehow into the city. At one time, indeed, he wasterribly afraid that this hope would be disappointed. The_Swallow_--this was the name of the vessel of AEgina--was challenged andoverhauled by a Corinthian ship of war. Callias made no attempt toconceal his nationality. Indeed it would have been useless, for anAthenian in those days was about as easily recognized over the whole ofthe Greek world as an Englishman is recognized in these, anywhere inEurope. To his great surprise the Corinthian captain simply said: "Youcan go; I have no order to detain you." That there was no kindness inhis permission Callias was perfectly well aware, for the hatred ofCorinth for Athens was tenfold more bitter than that of Sparta.

  It was a quarrel between Athens and Corinth, on the tender point of arebellious Corinthian colony, that had been the immediate cause of thePeloponnesian War; and even before this there had always been the potentinfluence of commercial rivalry to set the two states against eachother. The young Athenian noticed also a sinister smile on the captain'sface; but what it meant he was at a loss to determine.

  Landed at AEgina he lost no time in enquiring how he might best reach hisdestination.

  "Oh! you will get in easily enough," said the AEginetan merchant, theowner of the _Swallow_, to whom he stated his case.

  "Is not the city blockaded then?"

  "Yes, in a way," replied the man.

  "Please to explain what you mean," said Callias, who was getting alittle heated by these mysterious remarks.

  "Well," said the merchant, "King Pausanias is encamped outside the cityin some place that they call the Grove of Academus, I think. Do you knowit?"

  Callias assented with a nod.

  "And Lysander has a hundred and fifty ships off the Piraeus. Still Ithink that you will be able to get in. The blockade is not kept verystrictly."

  "Had I best go by night?"

  "Perhaps it would be better."

  "Can you help me to a boat?"

  "Certainly; but you will have to pay the boatman pretty highly, for, ofcourse, it is a risk, though it can be done."

  "Will you make the arrangements if I pay you the money in advance?"

  "Certainly, if you do not mind going so far as a _mina_. It is reallyworth the money."

  Callias paid the money, and was told to be in readiness to embark atmidnight.

  It would have enlightened him considerably if he could have seen themerchant's behavior as soon as he was safely out of the room.

  "Ah, you young serpent," the man cried, "you will be allowed to creepinto your hole easily enough; but if we don't suffocate you and yourwhole brood when we have got you there, my name is not Timagenes."

  The fact was that a revolution of which Callias knew nothing had takenplace at AEgina. An old rival and enemy of Athens, the city had beenconquered many years before, and the anti-Athenian party expelled. Andnow everything was changed. Lysander had brought back the exiles, andthough Athens had still friends, it was the hostile party that was inpower. Callias had observed a certain change in the demeanor of thepeople, but was too much engrossed in his own affairs to think muchabout it.

  The blockade was run as easily as the AEginetan had foretold. The boatpassed within fifty yards of one of the squadron, and Callias could havesworn that he saw a sentinel on the watch pacing the vessel's deck. Butthe man did not challenge, and the Piraeus was reached without anydifficulty.

  It was not long before all the mystery was explained.

  "This is just what I feared," said Hippocles, to whose house the youngAthenian hastened. "I knew that you would come back, and I could notwarn you."

  "What do you mean," cried the young man in astonishment. "Was it not myduty to return?"

  "Yes, in one way it was. But tell me how you got here?"

  Callias related the incidents of his journey, and expressed somesurprise that the Corinthian captain had not taken him prisoner, andthat the blockade was so negligently kept.

  "And you did not understand what all this meant?"

  "No; I understood nothing."

  "My dear friend," said the merchant, "it simply means that Lysander isgoing to starve us out, and that the more there are of us the easier andthe speedier his work will be. This has been his policy all along. Hehas taken no prisoners. Whenever he has taken a city, and there ishardly one that has not either been taken or given itself up, he hassent every Athenian citizen home. They are simply put on their parole tocome here. The consequence is that the city is fairly swarming withpeople, and that there is next to no food. I have a good store--for sometime past I have kept myself well provisioned, not knowing what mighthappen--and I am able to do something for my poor neighbors. But thestate of things in the city is simply awful. People, and people too whomI know as really well-to-do citizens, are dying of sheer starvation. Asfor the poor women and children it is truly heart breaking. Oh, my dearfriend, if you had only stopped away; for here you can do nothing. But Iknew you would come back, and I honor you for it."

  "But can nothing be done?" cried the young man. "It is better to diethan be starved like a wolf in his den."

  "The people have lost all heart. And indeed, if they were all brave aslions, we are hopelessly outnumbered. Pausanias must have as many asforty thousand men outside the city, for every city in the Island[52]except Argos, has sent its contingent; and we could not muster a fourthpart of the number, and such troops too! And where is our fleet? At thebottom of the AEgean, or in the arsenals of the enemy. I do not supposethat there are fifty ships, all told, in our docks. And of these a thirdare not sea-worthy. No, we must submit; and yet it is almost as much asa man's life is worth to mention the word."

  "But could we not make terms of some kind, not good terms I fear, butstill such as would be endurable? Has anything been done?"

  "The Senate sent to Agis, who was at Deccleia,[53] and proposed peace onthese terms: Athens was to become the ally of Sparta on the condition ofhaving the same friends and the same enemies, but was to be allowed tokeep the Long Walls[54] and the Piraeus. Agis said that he had noauthority to treat, and bade the envoys go to Sparta.
So they came backhere, and were directed to go. They reached a place on the borders ofLaconia and sent on their message to the ephors at Sparta, not beingallowed to proceed any further themselves. The ephors sent back thisanswer: 'Begone instantly; if the Athenians really desire peace, letthem send you again with other proposals, such as having reflected morewisely they may be disposed to make.' So the envoys returned. Some hadhoped that they would do some good. I must confess that I had not. Therewas terrible dismay. At last one Archistratus plucked up courage tospeak. 'The Lacedaemonians can force us to accept what conditions theyplease. Let us acknowledge what we cannot deny, and make peace with themon their own terms.' There was a howl of rage at this, for in truth theLacedaemonian terms were nothing less than this: 'Pull down a mile ofthe Long Walls, and give up your fleet.' The unlucky Archistratus wasthrown into prison where he lies still. Well, one said one thing, oneanother. At last Theramenes got up and said: 'The real manager ofaffairs is neither Agis nor Pausanias, nor even the Ephors, butLysander. Send me to him--he is a personal friend of mine own--and Iwill make the best terms I can with him.' To this the assembly agreed,having indeed nothing better to do. That was three or four days ago.Theramenes started the same night. I very much doubt whether he will beable to do any good. I am not even sure that he means to. But we shallsee."

  A miserable period of waiting followed. Day after day passed, and theenvoy neither returned nor sent any communication to his fellowcountrymen. No one knew where he was. Whether he was still with Lysanderor had gone on to Sparta--all was a mystery. Meanwhile the distress inthe city grew more and more acute. Callias had taken up his abode withHippocles, and was so out of absolute want. He was perfectly ready toacquiesce in the extreme frugality which was the rule of the house. Freeand bond all fared alike, and none had anything beyond the mostabsolute necessaries of life. Whatever could be spared was devoted tothe relief of the needy.

  Not the least trying part of the situation was the forced inaction. Noteven a sally was made. Indeed, it would have been a useless waste oflife. Not only were the forces of the enemy vastly superior, but thebesieged soldiers were almost unable to support the weight of theirarms, so scanty was the fare to which they were reduced. There weretimes when Callias was disposed to rush sword in hand on some outpost ofthe enemy, sell his life as dearly as he could, and perish.

  Two things held him back from carrying this idea into execution, thingscuriously unlike, yet working together for the same result. One was hislove for Hermione. Life had not lost all its charm, his horizon was notwholly dark, while there remained the light of this hope. Indeed it wasthe one consolation of his life that he was permitted to help her in herdaily ministration among her needy neighbors. A string of pensionerspresented themselves at the merchant's gates, and received such reliefas he could give. But Hermione was not content with this. There weresome, she knew, whose pride would not permit them to mingle in the trainof mendicants; there were others whose strength did not permit them tocome abroad. These she sought out in their own homes. Callias found amelancholy pleasure in accompanying and helping her. Not a word of lovepassed his lips. He would have scorned himself if he had added thesmallest grain to the burden of care that she bore. But he never failedin his attendance, and he was hailed by many a poor sufferer with apleasure only second to that which greeted the gracious presence of thegirl. When, as happened before long, fever the unfailing follower offamine, began to spread its ravages over the Piraeus, his labors andhers grew more arduous. Battling with these two fearful enemies withinthe walls, Callias almost forgot the foes that were without.

  The other restraining and strengthening influence was that whichSocrates exercised on the young man's mind. All the time that Calliascould spare from the labors that he shared with Hermione was given tothe society of the philosopher. The sage's indomitable courage andendurance were in themselves an encouragement of the highest order.Doubtless his physical strength, which made him capable of bearing analmost incredible degree of cold and hunger, helped him to show adauntless heart to the troubles which were breaking down so many. Indeedhe seemed scarcely to want food or drink. But the steadfastness withwhich he pursued his usual course of life, still keeping up his untiringsearch for wisdom was a spectacle nothing less than splendid, whilenothing could exceed his practical sagacity. Anyone who wanted shrewdadvice in the actual circumstances of life, anyone who desired to belifted out of the sordid present, with its miserable hopes and cares, onto a higher plane of life, came to Socrates and did not come in vain.

  At length, when nearly three months had passed, the long period ofsuspense seemed about to come to an end. The report ran through the citythat Theramenes had returned. What were the terms he had brought back,no one knew. On that point he remained obstinately silent. In fact hehad nothing to say, nothing further, that is, than the fact thatLysander professed himself unable to treat; the Ephors must beapproached, if anything was to be done.

  Had Lysander amused him with hopes that instructions and power to treatwould soon be sent down to him from Sparta, or had he deliberatelywaited till the city should be reduced to such a pitch of starvationthat it would be ready to consent to any terms? There was a brutal,cold-blooded cruelty in such conduct that makes it difficult to credit;yet many believed it to be the true explanation of the delay.[55] Topicture the dismay that prevailed through the assembly when Therameneshad given his report of the negotiations which he had _not_ concludedwould be impossible. There was nothing to be done but accept the bitternecessity. Theramenes, with nine others, was sent to Sparta with fullpower to treat. They were to accept any terms that might be offered. Theproud city had fallen as low as that.

  Then came another time of waiting. Happily it was not long. Theramenesfelt that the endurance of his countrymen had been tried to theuttermost, and that nothing more was to be gained. Athens was on herknees. It did not suit him and his purposes--for he had purposes of hisown, possibly a tyranny, certainly power--that she should be actuallyprostrate. He and his colleagues made all the haste that they could; andas their instructions were simple--to accept anything that might beoffered--there was little to delay them.

  THE PARTHENON AT THE PRESENT DAY.]

  At the end of about twelve days they returned. It was in the midst of abreathless suspense that Theramenes stood up to make his report. What hesaid may be thus given in outline.

  "We went with all speed to Sellasia[56] and there waited, having sent ona message to the Ephors that we had come with full power to treat. Onthe second day we were summoned to Sparta. There we found envoysassembled from the allies of the Lacedaemonians. Aristides also wasthere.

  "At the mention of the name of Aristides a murmur of fear and rage ranthrough the assembly. The man was one of the most notorious of theanti-patriotic party. He had been in exile for many years, and wasbelieved to have done more harm than any one else to his native city.

  "The senior of the Ephors stood up, and said: 'Friends and allies, theAthenians seek for peace. What say you? Shall we grant it to them?' Oneafter another the envoys rose in their places. They did not use manywords. It was not the custom of the place to be long in speech as theyknew. All said the same thing. 'We give our vote against peace. LetAthens be destroyed. There will be no true peace so long as she ispermitted to exist.' When all had spoken we were called on to speak.'You hear what these say,' said the Ephor who had not spoken before.'What have you to reply?' I answered that the Athenians were ready togive all pledges that might be asked from them that they would not harmeither Sparta or her allies or any city of the Greeks. After this wewere all commanded to withdraw. In about the space of an hour we weresummoned again into the chamber. The Ephor rose in his place and spoke.'The Corinthians and the other allies demand that Athens should bedestroyed. Nor do they this without reason. The Athenians have destroyedmany cities of the Greeks. Yet can we not forget that they have also intime past done good service to Greece. But of these things which you allknow it is needless to speak. Our sentence is this: Let the Atheni
anspull down their Long Walls for the space of a mile. Let them alsosurrender their fleet, keeping only twelve ships. On these terms theyshall have peace. These then, O men of Athens,' the speaker continued,'are the conditions which the Spartans demand. I confess that they arehard. Yet they are better than those which the rest of Greece wouldimpose upon you. Truly the Lacedaemonians stand between us and utterdestruction. And there is nothing beyond remedy in what they would layupon us. Walls that are broken down may be repaired, and for ships thathave been given up many others may be built; but of a city against whichthe decree of destruction has gone forth, there is an end. Therefore Ipropose that peace be made with the Lacedaemonians on these terms.'

  "One or two speakers ventured to rise in opposition. But they couldscarcely get a hearing. Probably they only went through the form ofopposing in order that they might be able at some future time to saythat they had done so. With but short delay the proposition was put tothe vote and carried by an overwhelming majority. The same eveningenvoys were sent to Lysander announcing that the Spartan conditions hadbeen accepted.

  "The next day the gates of the city were thrown open, and the fleet ofLysander sailed into the Piraeus. The ships of war were handed over tohim. Many were destroyed, and indeed the once famous and powerful fleetof Atticus had been reduced to a state of most deplorable weakness. Thesacrifice of the fleet, such as it was, was not so very costly afterall. The few sea-worthy ships that remained, besides the twelve that thecity was permitted to retain, were sent off to the Lacedaemonian arsenalof Gytheum. This done, the next thing was to beat down the Long Walls.'This is the first day of the freedom of Greece,' said Lysander, 'wemust keep it as a festival. Send for the flute players.' Accordingly theservices of every flute player in Attica were requisitioned; and to thesound of the gayest tunes which they could find in their _repertoire_the work of demolition went on. Every decent Athenian whatever hispolicy, kept, of course, close within doors; but there was neverthelessa vast concourse of spectators, the rabble who will crowd to any sight,however brutal and humiliating, the army of Pausanias and the crews ofLysander's fleet, with a miscellaneous crowd of foreigners who had cometo gloat over the downfall of the haughty city. Loud was the shout thatwent up when a clean breach was made through the walls. The generalfeeling was that Athens had suffered a blow from which she could neverrecover. But there were some who doubted. 'You have scratched the snake,not killed it,' said a Corinthian, as he turned away."

  FOOTNOTES:

  [52] The Peloponnesus or Island of Pelops.

  [53] Deccleia was the fort established in Athenian territory by thePeloponnesians early in the war and used as their headquarters duringtheir annual invasion of the country.

  [54] The Long Walls were the great strength of Athens. They joined theharbor of the Piraeus to the city.

  [55] Xenophon distinctly says that he lingered with Lysander, waitingfor the time when the Athenians, at the last pinch of starvation, shouldbe ready to accept any terms that might be offered.

  [56] Sellasia was a town on the border where the previous embassy hadbeen bidden to wait till the Ephors could be communicated with.