or the present contented
themselves with drawing lots for their Prytanes, and making their
prayers and sacrifices to the gods upon entering office, but afterwards
departed widely from the democratic system of government, and except
that on account of Alcibiades they did not recall the exiles, ruled the
city by force; putting to death some men, though not many, whom they
thought it convenient to remove, and imprisoning and banishing others.
They also sent to Agis, the Lacedaemonian king, at Decelea, to say
that they desired to make peace, and that he might reasonably be more
disposed to treat now that he had them to deal with instead of the
inconstant commons.

Agis, however, did not believe in the tranquillity of the city, or that
the commons would thus in a moment give up their ancient liberty,
but thought that the sight of a large Lacedaemonian force would be
sufficient to excite them if they were not already in commotion, of
which he was by no means certain. He accordingly gave to the envoys of
the Four Hundred an answer which held out no hopes of an accommodation,
and sending for large reinforcements from Peloponnese, not long
afterwards, with these and his garrison from Decelea, descended to the
very walls of Athens; hoping either that civil disturbances might help
to subdue them to his terms, or that, in the confusion to be expected
within and without the city, they might even surrender without a blow
being struck; at all events he thought he would succeed in seizing the
Long Walls, bared of their defenders. However, the Athenians saw him
come close up, without making the least disturbance within the city; and
sending out their cavalry, and a number of their heavy infantry, light
troops, and archers, shot down some of his soldiers who approached too
near, and got possession of some arms and dead. Upon this Agis, at last
convinced, led his army back again and, remaining with his own troops in
the old position at Decelea, sent the reinforcement back home, after a
few days' stay in Attica. After this the Four Hundred persevering sent
another embassy to Agis, and now meeting with a better reception, at his
suggestion dispatched envoys to Lacedaemon to negotiate a treaty, being
desirous of making peace.

They also sent ten men to Samos to reassure the army, and to explain
that the oligarchy was not established for the hurt of the city or the
citizens, but for the salvation of the country at large; and that there
were