Peloponnesians which had the
advantage and were in pursuit. He soon put these to flight, and followed
them so close that he forced them on shore, and broke the ships in
pieces, the sailors abandoning them and swimming away, in spite of all
the efforts of Pharnabazus, who had come down to their assistance by
land, and did what he could to protect them from the shore. In fine, the
Athenians, having taken thirty of the enemy's ships, and recovered all
their own, erected a trophy. After the gaining of so glorious a victory
his vanity made him eager to show himself to Tissaphernes, and, having
furnished himself with gifts and presents, and an equipage suitable to
his dignity, he set out to visit him. But the thing did not succeed
as he had imagined, for Tissaphernes had long been suspected by the
Lacedaemonians, and was afraid to fall into disgrace with his king
upon that account, therefore thinking that Alcibiades had arrived
very opportunely, he immediately caused him to be seized and sent away
prisoner to Sardis; fancying, by this act of injustice, to clear himself
from all former imputations.

But about thirty days after, Alcibiades escaped from his keepers, and,
having got a horse, fled to Clazomenae, where he procured Tissaphernes
additional disgrace by professing that he was a party to his escape.
From there he sailed to the Athenian camp, and, being informed that
Mindarus and Pharnabazus were together at Cyzicus, he made a speech to
the soldiers, telling them that sea-fighting, land-fighting, and, by the
gods, fighting against fortified cities too, must be all one for them,
as, unless they conquered everywhere, there was no money for them. As
soon as he got them on ship-board, he hastened to Proconnesus and gave
command to seize all the small vessels they met, and guard them safely
in the interior of the fleet, that the enemy might have no notice of
his coming; and a great storm of rain, accompanied with thunder and
darkness, which happened at the same time, contributed much to the
concealment of his enterprise. Indeed, it was not only undiscovered
by the enemy, but the Athenians themselves were ignorant of it, for he
commanded them suddenly on board, and set sail when they had abandoned
all intention of it. As the darkness presently passed away, the
Peloponnesian fleet were seen riding out at sea in front of the harbor
of Cyzicus. Fearing, if they discovered the number of his ships, they
might endeavor to save them