Page:History of Greece Vol VIII.djvu/74

 52 HISTORY OF GREECE. assembly broke up, he crossed over again to the mainland, under pretence of concerting measures with Tissaphernes to realize his recent engagements. Believed substantially, though not in strict form, from the penalties of exile, Alkibiades was thus launched in a new career. After having first played the game of Athens against Sparta, next, that of Sparta against Athens, thirdly, that of Tissaphernes against both, he now professed to take up again the promotion of Athenian interests. In reality, however, he was and had always been playing his own game, or obeying his own self- interest, ambition, or antipathy. He was at this time eager to make a show of intimate and confidential communication with Tissaphernes, in order that he might thereby impose upon the Athenians at Samos, to communicate to the satrap his recem election as general of the Athenian force, that his importance with the Persians might be enhanced, and lastly, by passing backwards and forwards from Tissaphernes to the Athenian camp, to exhibit an appearance of friendly concert between the two, which might sow mistrust and alarm in the minds of the Peloponnesians. In this tripartite manoeuvring, so suitable to his habitual character, he was more or less successful, especially in regard to the latter purpose. For though he never had any serious chance of inducing Tissaphernes to assist the Athenians, he did, nevertheless, contribute to alienate him from the enemy, as well as the enemy from him. 1 Without any longer delay in the camp of Tissaphernes than was necessary to keep up the faith of the Athenians in his prom- ise of Persian aid, Alkibiades returned to Samos, where he was found by the ten envoys sent by the Four Hundred from Athens, on their first arrival. These envoys had been long in their voyage ; having made a considerable stay at Delos, under alarm from intelligence of the previous visit of Chaereas, and the furious indignation which his narrative had provoked. 2 At length they reached Samos, and were invited by the generals to make their communication to the assembled armament. They had the utmost difficulty in procuring a hearing, so strong was the antipathy against them, so loud were the cries that the subverters of the 1 Thucyd. viii, 82, 83. 87. * Thucyd. viii, 77-86.