ment of the army, in his absence, to men
who gained his favor by drinking and scurrilous talking, whilst he
wandered up and down at pleasure to raise money, giving himself up to
every sort of luxury in Abydos and Ionia, at a time when the enemy's
navy were on the watch close at hand. It was also objected to him, that
he had fortified a castle near Bisanthe in Thrace, for a safe retreat
for himself, as one that either could not, or would not, live in his own
country. The Athenians gave credit to these informations, and showed
the resentment and displeasure which they had conceived against him, by
choosing other generals.

As soon as Alcibiades heard of this, he immediately forsook the army,
afraid of what might follow; and, collecting a body of mercenary
soldiers, made war upon his own account against those Thracians who
called themselves free, and acknowledged no king. By this means he
amassed for himself considerable treasure, and, at the same time,
secured the bordering Greeks from the incursions of the barbarians.
Tydeus, Menander, and Adimantus, the newly made generals, were at that
time posted at Aegospotami, with all the ships which the Athenians
had left. Whence they used to go out every morning, offer battle to
Lysander, who lay near Lampsacus, and, returning back again, lie all the
rest of the day, carelessly and without order, in contempt of the enemy.
Alcibiades, who was not far off, did not think so lightly of their
danger, nor neglect to let them know it, but, mounting his horse, came
to the generals, and represented to them that they had chosen a very
inconvenient station, where there was no safe harbor, and where they
were distant from any town; so that they were constrained to send for
their necessary provisions as far as Sestos. He also pointed out to them
their carelessness in suffering the soldiers, when they went ashore,
disperse and wander up and down at their pleasure, while the enemy's
fleet under the command of one general, and strictly obedient to
discipline, lay so very near them. He advised them to remove the fleet
to Sestos. But the admirals not only disregarded what he said, but
Tydeus, with insulting expressions, commanded him to be gone saying,
that now not he, but others, had the command of the forces. The event,
soon made it evident how rightly he had judged of the errors which the
Athenians were committing. For Lysander fell upon them on a sudden, when
they least suspected it, with such