History of the Peloponnesian War

When the envoys sent by the Four Hundred arrived at Athens on their return from Samos and reported what Alcibiades had said— urging them to hold out and make no concessions to the enemy, and saying that he had great hopes both of reconciling the army to the people at home and of prevailing over the Peloponnesians—most of those who shared in the oligarchy,[*](Referring, not only to the Four Hundred, but especially to the rest of the citizens who, in 8.69.2, are designated as οἱ ἐν τῇ ξυνωμοσίᾳ.) who were even before this in distress, and would have been glad to be safely rid of the business in any way, were far more encouraged.