1Yet he could not withdraw from love of his country. 1For when Philocles, the Athenian general, had stationed his fleet at Aegospotami, and Lysander, the Spartan general, was not far off, busy prolonging the war as long as possible, because money was being supplied to them by the king, whereas the Athenians were exhausted and had nothing left but arms and ships, Alcibiades came to the Athenian army and there, in the presence of the troops, began to argue: if they wished, he would force Lysander either to fight or to sue for peace; 2the Spartans did not want to fight with their fleet for this reason, that they were stronger in land forces than in ships; 3but it would be easy for him to induce Seuthes, king of the Thracians, to drive Lysander off the land: once that was done, he would of necessity either fight with his fleet or end the war.
4Although Philocles saw that this was truly said, he nevertheless refused to do what was asked, because he felt that if Alcibiades were taken back he himself would be of no account with the army, and that if any success came there would be no share of it for him, whereas if any setback occurred he alone would be held to blame for the failure. 5As he left him, Alcibiades said, 'Since you oppose your country's victory, I give you this warning: do not keep your naval camp near the enemy; for there is a danger that the indiscipline of your soldiers will give Lysander the opportunity to crush your army.' 6Nor was he mistaken in this.
6For Lysander, having learned through scouts that the mass of the Athenians had gone ashore to plunder and that the ships had been left almost empty, did not let slip the opportunity for action, and with that attack he wiped out the whole war.