Alcibiădes

, an A then i an general famous for his enterprising spirit, versatile genius, and natural foibles. He was disciple to So crates, whose le ons and example checked for a while his vicious propensities. In the Peloponnesian war he encouraged the A then i ans to make an expedition against Syracuse. He was chosen general in that war, and in his absence his enemies accused him of impiety, and confiscated his goods. Upon this he fled, and stirred up the Spartans to make war against Athens, and when this did not succeed he retired to Ti aphernes, the Persian general. Being recalled by the A then i ans, he obliged the Lacedæmonians to sue for peace; made several conquests in Asia, and was received in triumph at Athens. His popularity was of short duration; the failure of an expedition against Cyme exposed him again to the resentment of the people, and he fled to Pharnabazus, whom he almost induced to make war upon Lacedæmon. This was told to Lysander the Spartan general, who prevailed upon Pharnabazus to murder Alcibiades. Two servants were sent for that purpose, and they set on fire the cottage where he was, and killed him with darts as he attempted to make his escape. He died in the 46th year of his age, 404 B.C., after a life of perpetual difficulties. If the ficklene of his countrymen had known how to retain among them the talents of a man who distinguished himself, and was admired wherever he went, they might have risen to greater splendour, and to the sovereignty of Greece. His character has been cleared from the aspersions of malevolence, by the writings of Thucydides, Timæus, and Theopompus; and he is known to us as a hero, who, to the principles of the debauchee, added the intelligence and sagacity of the statesman, the cool intrepidity of the general, and the humanity of the philosopher. Plutarch & Cornel i us Nepos , Alcibiades .— Thucydides , bks. 5, 6, & 7.— Xenophon , Hellenica , bk. 1 , . — Diodorus , bk. 12 .