History of the Peloponnesian War

Now this was only a specious pretext intended for the masses, for the very same men who were endeavouring to change the government were going to have control of the state. The people, however, and the council chosen by the bean[*](ie. by lot, the bean being used in drawing lots. This definition distinguishes the popular council, or βουλὴ of 500, from the Areopagus, ἡ βουλὴ ἡ ἐξ )αρείον πάγου.) were none the less still convened; but they discussed nothing that was not approved by the conspirators; nay, not only were the speakers from this party, but what should be said had been previously considered by them.

And no one of the others any longer spoke against them, through fear and because it was seen that the conspiracy was widespread; and if any one did oppose, at once in some convenient way he was a dead man. And no search was made for those who did the deed, nor if they were suspected was any legal prosecution held; on the contrary, the populace kept quiet and were in such consternation that he who did not suffer any violence, even though he never said a word, counted that a gain.

Imagining the conspiracy to be much more widespread than it actually was, they were cowed in mind, and owing to the size of the city and their lack of knowledge of one another they were unable to find out the facts.

For the same reason it was also impossible for any man that was offended to pour out his grievances to another and thus plot to avenge himself,[*](Or, “so as to defend himself against one who was plotting against him.”) for he would discover any person to whom he might speak to be either a stranger or, if an acquaintance, faithless.

For all the members of the popular party approached each other with suspicion, as though every one had a hand in what was going on. And, indeed, there were among them men whom one would never have expected to change over and favour an oligarchy; and it was these who caused the greatest distrust among the masses and rendered the most valuable service toward the few in securing their safety by confirming in the populace this distrust of their own people.