hostility. Often had Sosigenes been looking toward the door, expecting his Phanera, and now began to grow impatient. The words of Melanthos, who felt the cruelty of war chiefly because it would separate the two sisters and the two friends, touched the pride of Sosigenes. Unable to moderate his temper, now excited by the absence of Phanera after the sister had some time returned, he said fiercely,

"It is well to blame the citizens of the noblest city upon earth, for not enduring an indignity. It is well; but in slaves alone, or viler dependents."

"Sosigenes! Sosigenes!" cried Melanthos, starting up and rushing toward him. At that instant the impetuous Sosigenes, believing violence was about to follow affront, struck him with his dagger to the heart.

"I could not then calm thy anger with an' embrace! my2 too unhappy friend!" while the blood gurgled through the words, sobbed forth Melanthos.

[1 1st ed., "my."]
[2 1st ed., "O."]

Y

CCVIII.1

ALCIBIADES TO PERICLES.

OU commanded me, O Pericles, that I should write to you, whenever I found an opportunity on land. Phormio2 cast anchor before Naupactus: we command the Gulf of Crissa, and check the movements of the Corinthians. The business of blockading is little to my mind. Writing is almost as insufferable: it is the only thing I do not willingly undertake when my friends desire it. Beside, I have nothing in the world to write about. We have done little but sink a few vessels and burn a few villages. It is really a hard matter to find a table to write upon, so quick and so complete is the devastation. I fancied war had something in it more animating and splendid. The people of the Peloponese are brave, however. They sometimes ask for their children (if very young), but never for their lives. Why cannot we think them as little worth taking as they of giving?

I am heartily tired of this warfare; and Phormio has told me, in plain words, he is heartily tired of me. Upon this, I requested his permission to join without delay our army before Potidea. I

[In the 1st ed. this letter follows CCXII.]

[2 Phormio, one of the best of the Athenian generals, was a man of a rough and hardy character. Aristophanes alludes to him as delighting in the hardships of war.]