382 OLIGARCHY AT ATHENS [vill effect the revolt of Thasos. The recent change was exactly what they desired ; for the government had been reformed without danger to themselves, and the demo- cracy, who would have opposed them, had been over- thrown. Thus the result in the case of Thasos, and also, as I imagine, of many other states, was the opposite of what the oligarchical conspirators had intended. For the sub- ject-cities, having secured a moderate form of government, and having no fear of being called to account for their proceedings, aimed at absolute freedom ; they scorned the " sham independence " proffered to them by the Athenians. 6^ Peisander and his colleagues pursued their voyage and, „ . , , ^ as they had agreed, put down the de- Fetsattder returns to ... Athens, where he finds mocracics in the different states. Froin the work already half somc placcs they obtained the assist- done. Assassination of /• 1 , . 1 • 1 ji ^ , , „ ■' ance of heavy-armed troops, which they Androcles, the enemy •' ^ ' •> of Aidbiades. Pro- took with them to Athens. There gramme of the iieiv they found the revolution more than ^"' ^- half accomplished by the oligarchical clubs. Some of the younger citizens had conspired and secretly assassinated one Androcles, one of the chief leaders of the people, who had been foremost in procuring the banishment of Alcibiades'^. Their motives were two- fold : they killed him because he was a demagogue ; but more because they hoped to gratify Alcibiades, whom they were still expecting to return, and to make Tissaphcrnes their friend. A few others who were inconvenient to them they made away with in a like secret manner. Mean- while they declared in their public progranmie that no one ought to receive pay who was not on military service ; and that not more than five thousand should have a share in the government ; those, namely, who were best able to serve the state in person and with their money.
- Or, ' pretence of law and order,' reading ttJs vttovXov tvvofji'.ai with
Dionysius, supported b3' Scliol., and two good MSS. ; see note. '- Cp. viii. 69 med. •" Cp. vi. 89 fin.
