§5.1Neque vero his rebus tam amici Alcibiadi sunt facti quam timore ab eo alienati.
But in truth, they did not become friends to Alcibiades by these services so much as they were alienated from him by fear.
nam cum acerrimi viri praestantem prudentiam in omnibus rebus cognoscerent, pertimuerunt ne caritate patriae ductus aliquando ab ipsis descisceret et cum suis in gratiam rediret.
For when they recognized the outstanding wisdom of this most sharp-witted man in all matters, they feared that, led by love for his country, he might one day defect from them and return to favor with his own people.
itaque tempus eius interficiundi quaerere instituerunt. §5.2id Alcibiades diutius celari non potuit: erat enim ea sagacitate, ut decipi non posset, praesertim cum animum attendisset ad cavendum.
Therefore, they began to seek an opportunity to kill him. This plan could not be concealed from Alcibiades for very long; for he possessed such sagacity that he could not be deceived, especially when he had directed his mind to being on his guard.
itaque ad Tissaphernem, praefectum regis Darii, se contulit. §5.3cuius cum in intimam amicitiam pervenisset et Atheniensium male gestis in Sicilia rebus opes senescere, contra Lacedaemoniorum crescere videret, initio cum Pisandro praetore, qui apud Samum exercitum habebat, per internuntios colloquitur et de reditu suo facit mentionem.
Therefore, he betook himself to Tissaphernes, the satrap of King Darius. When he had attained a close friendship with him, and saw that the power of the Athenians was declining because of their badly managed affairs in Sicily, while on the contrary that of the Lacedaemonians was increasing, he at first communed through intermediaries with the general Pisander, who had an army at Samos, and made mention of his return.
is erat enim eodem quo Alcibiades sensu, populi potentiae non amicus et optimatium fautor. §5.4ab hoc destitutus primum per Thrasybulum, Lyci filium, ab exercitu recipitur praetorque fit apud Samum, post suffragante Theramene populi scito restituitur parique absens imperio praeficitur simul cum Thrasybulo et Theramene. §5.5horum in imperio tanta commutatio rerum facta est, ut Lacedaemonii, qui paulo ante victores viguerant, perterriti pacem peterent.
For he was of the same sentiment as Alcibiades, being no friend to the power of the people but a supporter of the aristocrats. Deserted by this man, he was first received by the army through the agency of Thrasybulus, son of Lycus, and was made general at Samos; afterwards, with Theramenes supporting him, he was restored by a decree of the people, and, though absent, was appointed to equal command along with Thrasybulus and Theramenes. Under their command, so great a change of affairs took place that the Lacedaemonians, who a little before had flourished as victors, were terrified and sued for peace.
victi enim erant quinque proeliis terrestribus, tribus navalibus, in quibus ducentas naves triremes amiserant, quae captae in hostium venerant potestatem. §5.6Alcibiades simul cum collegis receperat Ioniam, Hellespontum, multas praeterea urbes Graecas, quae in ora sitae sunt Thraeciae, quarum expugnarant complures, in eis Byzantium, neque minus multas consilio ad amicitiam adiunxerant, quod in captos clementia fuerant usi. §5.7ita praeda onusti, locupletato exercitu, maximis rebus gestis Athenas venerunt.
For they had been defeated in five land battles and three naval battles, in which they had lost two hundred triremes, which, having been captured, had fallen into the power of the enemy. Alcibiades, together with his colleagues, had recovered Ionia, the Hellespont, and additionally many Greek cities situated on the coast of Thrace, of which they had taken several by storm, including Byzantium; and they had attached no fewer to their alliance by policy, because they had treated the captives with clemency. Thus, laden with booty, having enriched the army, and having performed the greatest exploits, they came to Athens.