Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides Book 6

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They find the Salaminia just arrived from Athens to summon to trial Alcibiades, on charges preferred against him by the state, as well as some others, accused partly with him of profanation of the mysteries, partly of mutilation of the Hermae. For at Athens prevailed now the greatest fear and mistrust in recollection of the tyranny of the Peisistratids.

τὴν Σαλαμινίαν ναῦν: one of the two Athenian state triremes. See on 3. 33. 2. ναῦν, which might have been omitted, is found also 61. 19. Cf. 8. 74. 1 τὴν Πάραλον ναῦν.

ὡς κελεύσοντας : after τὴν Σαλαμινίαν ναῦν, for the synesis, see on 1. 52. 4. Cobet suspects ὡς κελεύσοντας ἀποπλεῖν, St. ὡς κελεύσοντας, both unnecessarily.

ἀποπλεῖν: sail back, as often: 1. 89. 12; 2. 94. 19; 3. 79. 7, 85. 3, 88. 13; 4. 56. 9, 65. 9.—ὧν ἡ πόλις ἐνεκάλει: acc. to 61. § 1 reference is here made not only to the profanation of the mysteries, but also to a plot against the democracy (cf. 28. § 2). The expression implies that in the interim a formal charge against Alcibiades had been brought before the people.

τῶν στρατιωτῶν τῶν μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ: Cl. explains, dependent on ἐπ᾽ ἄλλους τινάς (cf. 2. 51. 4 ἄλλο οὐδὲν τῶν εἰωθότων). Steup objects that thus μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ is strange, since Alcibiades as one of the three generals commanded only the third of the army that fell to him by lot (42. § 1), and that the gens. μεμηνυμένων ὡς ἀσεβούντων cannot be explained. He suggests ἐπ᾽ ἄλλους τινάς, τῶν στρατιωτῶν τινων μετ̓ αὐτοῦ κτἑ. Hude writes τῶν στρατιωτῶν, τῶν <μὲν> μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ κτἑ., which is doubtless just what Thuc. intended, as Kr. also understands.—μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ: cf. 28. 5 ὧν καὶ τὸν Ἀλκιβιάδην ἐπῃτιῶντο and 61. 4 τὰ μυστικὰ, ὧν ἐπαίτιος ἦν.

τῶν δὲ καὶ περὶ τῶν Ἑρμῶν : of the mutilation of the Hermae Alcibiades had not been accused, acc. to 28. § 1 and 61. § 1.

οὐδὲν ἧσσονζήτησιν ἐποιοῦντο κτἑ.: cf. 27. § 2. 9. οὐ δοκιμάζοντες τοὺς μηνυτάς: i.e. without satisfying themselves of their credibility.

πάντα ὑπόπτως ἀποδεχόμενοι: in their state of suspicion accepting everything. Cf. διαβολὰς ἀποδέχεσθαι 41. 4. Lindau's conjecture ἀνυπόπτως does not agree with the context.—πονηρῶν ἀνθρώπων: obj. gen. with πίστιν.

βασανίσαι : sift to the bottom, examine closely; elsewhere of persons (7. 86. 18; 8. 92. 10).

καὶ χρηστὸν δοκοῦντα εἶναι: even though reputed worthy.

αἰτιαθέντα: once accused.—ἀνέλεγκτον: Schol. ἀνεξετάστως, i.e. without close investigation.

ἀκοῇ: (= ἐξ ἀκοῆς) with ἐπίστασθαι also 60. 2; 4. 126. 15; with εἰδέναι 1. 4. 1; 6. 55. 2; 7. 87. 21; with αἰσθάνεσθαι 6. 17. 22, 20. 3; with νομίζειν 4. 81. 12.

χαλεπήν : harsh, severe; cf. 59. 4.—τελευτῶσαν: adv. Schol. ἐν τοῖς τελευταίοις χρόνοις.

οὐδ̓ ὑφ̓ ἑαυτῶν : not even by themselves (i.e. the Athenians), οὐδέ emphasizing the second and strongest ground, fear of return of a tyranny.—ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὸ Λακεδαιμονίων: under Cleomenes, 510 B.C. Thuc. adds in 59. 17 καὶ Ἀλκμεωνιδῶν τῶν φευγόντων. Cf. Hdt. 6. 123. 8 οἱ μὲν γὰρ ἐξηγρίωσαν τοὺς ὑπολοίπους Πεισιστρατιδέων Ἵππαρχον ἀποκτείνοντες, οὐδέ τι μᾶλλον ἔπαυσαν τοὺς λοιποὺς τυραννεύοντας: Ἀλκμεωνίδαι δὲ ἐμφανέως ἠλευθέρωσαν, εἰ δὴ οὗτοί γε ἀληθέως ἦσαν οἱ τὴν Πυθίην ἀναπείσαντες προσημαίνειν Λακεδαιμονίοισι ἐλευθεροῦν τὰς Ἀθήνας.

ὑπόπτως ἐλάμβανε : see on l. 10; 3. 59. 6; 4. 17. 8.