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Andocides On his Return 11 [andoc. 2.11]



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[10] At the time I needed none to remind me of my plight -- partly through

my own folly, partly through the force of circumstances, nothing was

wanting to complete my misery and my disgrace -- and I saw that you would

be best pleased were I to adopt that mode of life and that place of

residence which would enable me to remain furthest from your sight.

Eventually, however, as was only natural, I was seized with a longing for

the old life as a citizen among you which I had abandoned for my present

place of exile; and I decided that I should be best advised either to have

done with life or to render this city such a service as would dispose you

to let me at last resume my rights as your fellow.



[11] From that moment I have been reckless of both life and goods when

called upon for a perilous venture. In fact, I at once proceeded to supply

your forces in Samos with oar-spars -- this was after the Four Hundred had

seized power at Athens -- since Archelaus had hereditary connexions with my

family and offered me the right of cutting and exporting as many as I

wished. And not only did I supply the spars; I refused to charge more for

them than they had cost me, although I might have obtained a price of five

drachmae apiece. In addition, I supplied corn and bronze.

[12] Thus equipped, the forces in Samos went on to defeat the

Peloponnesians at sea; and it was they, and they alone who saved Athens at

the time. Now if those heroes rendered you true service by their deed, I

may fairly claim that that service was in no small degree due to me. Had

that army not been furnished with supplies just then, they would have been

fighting not so much to save Athens as to save their own lives.



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