d in the way of their
obtaining the undisturbed direction of the people, and who thought
that if he were once removed the first place would be theirs. These
accordingly magnified the matter and loudly proclaimed that the affair
of the mysteries and the mutilation of the Hermae were part and parcel
of a scheme to overthrow the democracy, and that nothing of all this had
been done without Alcibiades; the proofs alleged being the general and
undemocratic licence of his life and habits.

Alcibiades repelled on the spot the charges in question, and also before
going on the expedition, the preparations for which were now complete,
offered to stand his trial, that it might be seen whether he was guilty
of the acts imputed to him; desiring to be punished if found guilty,
but, if acquitted, to take the command. Meanwhile he protested against
their receiving slanders against him in his absence, and begged them
rather to put him to death at once if he were guilty, and pointed out
the imprudence of sending him out at the head of so large an army, with
so serious a charge still undecided. But his enemies feared that he
would have the army for him if he were tried immediately, and that the
people might relent in favour of the man whom they already caressed
as the cause of the Argives and some of the Mantineans joining in the
expedition, and did their utmost to get this proposition rejected,
putting forward other orators who said that he ought at present to sail
and not delay the departure of the army, and be tried on his return
within a fixed number of days; their plan being to have him sent for
and brought home for trial upon some graver charge, which they would the
more easily get up in his absence. Accordingly it was decreed that he
should sail.

After this the departure for Sicily took place, it being now about
midsummer. Most of the allies, with the corn transports and the smaller
craft and the rest of the expedition, had already received orders to
muster at Corcyra, to cross the Ionian Sea from thence in a body to the
Iapygian promontory. But the Athenians themselves, and such of their
allies as happened to be with them, went down to Piraeus upon a day
appointed at daybreak, and began to man the ships for putting out to
sea. With them also went down the whole population, one may say, of the
city, both citizens and foreigners; the inhabitants of the country each
escorting those that belonged to them, their friends, their relati