17. Theramenes and others who were plotting against
you, knowing that there were some who were opposed
to the destruction of the democracy and would take
an opposite stand for freedom, chose to bring against
these men false accusations and to place them in danger
before the assembly on peace was held, that no one
there might raise objections in your cause. 18.
Therefore they adopt the following plan. They
persuade this Agoratus to become an informer against
the Strategi and Taxiarchs; not that he was in their
secrets, Athenians, no indeed, (for they were not so
foolish and friendless, that, when they were engaged
in an affair of this size, they would call in Agoratus,
a slave and a son of slaves, as being trustworthy
and well disposed,) but because it seemed to them that
he was a necessary informer. 19. Therefore they
wished him to seem to give testimony unwillingly and
with reluctance, that he might seem to you somewhat
more trustworthy.
But that he testified willingly I think you know from
the case. For they sent Theocritus, known as
the son of Elaphostictus, to the Boule, which was
in session before the Thirty. And this Theocritus
was a friend and relative of Agoratus. 20. But
the Boule in the time of the Thirty was tampered with,
and as you know, greatly favored an oligarchy.
And the proof is that those in that Boule served in
the last one under the Thirty. Why do I relate
this to you? That you may know that the decision
of that Boule was not well disposed to you, but was
entirely for the destruction of your party, and that
you may know them to be such. 21. Theocritus
coming into the Boule in secret session testified that
some were together with the intention of raising opposition
to the established government. But said he could
not give their names individually, for he had sworn
the same oaths with them; that there were others who
would tell, but that he personally would never do
it. 22. If he did not testify according to a
plot, why did not the Boule compel Theocritus to give
their names, and not to give testimony without names?
But now this vote was passed.
DECREE.
23. When therefore, the vote was passed, those
chosen from the Boule went to Agoratus at the Piraeus,
and falling in with him in the market-place, sought
to arrest him. But Nicias and Nicomenes and a
few others present, seeing that this was not best
for the state, refused to let them take Agoratus,
but took him from them and gave bail for him and pledged
to bring him into the Boule. 24. The councilors
took the names of those who had given bail, and stopped
them, and then went away to the city. But Agoratus
and the bondsmen sat down on the altar of Munychia.
While they were there they planned what must be done.
It seemed best to the bondsmen and to all the others
to get Agoratus out of the way as soon as possible,
(25) and as two boats were moored at Munychia they
besought him by all means to get out of Athens, and
said that they themselves were willing to go away
