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176 176 HISTORY OF GREECE. pared to show you that your general Alkibiades is one of th profaners of the holy mysteries, in a private house. Pass a vote of impunity, and I will produce to you forthwith a slave of one here present, who, though himself not initiated in the mysteries, shall repeat to you what they are. Deal with me in any way you choose, if my statement prove untrue." While Alkibiades strenuously denied the allegation, the prytanes senators pre- siding over the assembly, according to the order determined by lot for that year among the ten tribes at once made proclama- tion for all uninitiated citizens to depart from the assembly, and went to fetch the slave Andromachus byname whom Py- thonicus had indicated. On being introduced, Andromachus deposed before the assembly that he had been with his master in the house of Polytion, when Alkibiades, Nikiades, and Meletus, went through the sham celebration of the mysteries ; many other persons being present, and especially three other slaves besides himself. "We must presume that he verified this affirmation by describing what the mysteries were which he had seen, the test which Pythonikus had offered. 1 Such was the first direct attack made upon Alkibiades by his enemies. Pythonikus, the demagogue Androkles, and other speakers, having put in evidence this irreverent proceeding, probably in substance true, enlarged upon it with the strongest invective, imputed to him many other acts of the like character, and even denounced him as cognizant of the recent mutilation of the Hermte. All had been done, they said, with a view to accomplish his purpose of subverting the democracy, when bereft of its divine protectors ; a purpose manifested by the constant tenor of his lawless, overbearing, antipopular demeanor. In- famous as this calumny was, so far as regarded the mutilation of the Hermae, for whatever else Alkibiades may have done, of that act he was unquestionably innocent, being the very person who had most to lose by it, and whom it ultimately ruined, they calculated upon the reigning excitement to get it accredited, and probably to procure his deposition from the command, pre- paratory to public trial. But in spite of all the disquietude arising from the recent sacrilege, their expectations were de- 1 Andokid. de Mvstcr. s. 11-1.3.