traitor? There he stands unmasked; he has forfeited our confidence for
evermore. But to show you that these are no new tactics of his, to prove
to you that he is a traitor in grain, I will recall to your memories
some points in his past history.

"He began by being held in high honour by the democracy; but taking a
leaf out of his father's, Hagnon's, book, he next showed a most headlong
anxiety to transform the democracy into the Four Hundred, and, in fact,
for a time held the first place in that body. But presently, detecting
the formation of rival power to the oligarchs, round he shifted; and we
find him next a ringleader of the popular party in assailing them. It
must be admitted, he has well earned his nickname 'Buskin.' (9) Yes,
Theramenes! clever you may be, but the man who deserves to live should
not show his cleverness in leading on his associates into trouble, and
when some obstacle presents itself, at once veer round; but like a pilot
on shipboard, he ought then to redouble his efforts, until the wind is
fair. Else, how in the name of wonderment are those mariners to reach
the haven where they would be, if at the first contrary wind or
tide they turn about and sail in the opposite direction? Death and
destruction are concomitants of constitutional changes and revolution,
no doubt; but you are such an impersonation of change, that, as you
twist and turn and double, you deal destruction on all sides. At one
swoop you are the ruin of a thousand oligarchs at the hands of the
people, and at another of a thousand democrats at the hands of the
better classes. Why, sirs, this is the man to whom the orders were given
by the generals, in the sea-fight off Lesbos, to pick up the crews of
the disabled vessels; and who, neglecting to obey orders, turned round
and accused the generals; and to save himself murdered them! What, I ask
you, of a man who so openly studied the art of self-seeking, deaf
alike to the pleas of honour and to the claims of friendship? Would not
leniency towards such a creature be misplaced? Can it be our duty at
all to spare him? Ought we not rather, when we know the doublings of his
nature, to guard against them, lest we enable him presently to practise
on ourselves? The case is clear. We therefore hereby cite this man
before you, as a conspirator and traitor against yourselves and us. The
reasonableness of our conduct, one further reflection may make clear.
No one, I take it, will dispute the splendo