SOCRATES AND ALCIBIADES. 225

that he would not come while the democracy was in
power, and it was by his influence that the tyrannical
Committee of Four Hundred was formed. After-
wards, falling out with these tyrants, Alcibiades
turned democrat again, was made admiral of the
fleet, and wrought the ruin of the oligarchy which
he had raised to power.

And now this brilliant and fickle son of Athens
worked as actively and ably for his native city as he
had before sought her ruin. Under his command
the fleet gained several important victories, and con-
quered Byzantium and other cities. The ruinous de-
feat at Agospotami would not have occurred had the
admiral of the fleet listened to his timely warning,
After the fall of Athens, and during the tyranny
of the Thirty, he retired to Asia Minor, where he
was honorably received by the satrap Pharnabazus.
And here the end came to his versatile career. One
night the house in which he slept was surrounded
by a body of armed men and set on fire. He rushed
out, sword in hand, but a shower of darts and arrows
quickly robbed him of life. Through whose enmity
he died is not known. Thus perished, at less than
fifty years of age, one of the most brilliant and able
of all the Athenians,—one who, had he lived, would
doubtless have added fresh and striking chapters to
the history of his native land, though whether to
her advantage or injury cannot now be told.

The career of Socrates was wonderfully different
from that of his brilliant but unprincipled friend.
While Alcibiades was seeking to dazzle and control,
Socrates was secking to convince and improve man-

I.—p