It happened, at the very time when Nicias was by these arts
brought into disgrace with the people, that ambassadors arrived
from Lacedaemon, who, at their first coming, said what seemed very
satisfactory, declaring that they had full powers to arrange all
matters in dispute upon fair and equal terms. The council received
their propositions, and the people was to assemble on the morrow
to give them audience. Alcibiades grew very apprehensive of this,
and contrived to gain a secret conference with the ambassadors.
When they were met, he said: "What is it you intend, you men of
Sparta? If you expect to obtain equal terms from the Athenians,
and would not have things extorted from you contrary to your
inclinations, begin to treat with he people upon some reasonable
articles, not avowing yourselves plenipotentiaries; and I will be
ready to assist you, out of good-will to the Lacedaemonians." When
he had said this, he gave them his oath for the performance of
what he promised, and by this way drew them from Nicias to rely
entirely upon himself, and left them full of admiration of the
discernment and sagacity they had seen in him. the next day, when
the people were assembled and the ambassadors introduced,
Alcibiades, with great apparent courtesy, demanded of them: With
what powers they had come? They made answer that they had not come
as plenipotentiaries.
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