The Three Thousand, wherever their several divisions were posted, were
everywhere a prey to discord. Those who were implicated in deeds of
violence, and whose fears could not sleep, protested hotly that to
yield to the party in Piraeus were preposterous. Those on the other
hand who had faith in their own innocence, argued in their own minds,
and tried to convince their neighbours that they could well dispense
with most of their present evils. "Why yield obedience to these
Thirty?" they asked, "Why assign to them the privilege of destroying
the State?" In the end they voted a resolution to depose the
government, and to elect another. This was a board of ten, elected one
from each tribe.

B.C. 403. As to the Thirty, they retired to Eleusis; but the Ten,
assisted by the cavalry officers, had enough to do to keep watch over
the men in the city, whose anarchy and mutual distrust were rampant.
The Knights did not return to quarters at night, but slept out in the
Odeum, keeping their horses and shields close beside them; indeed the
distrust was so great that from evening onwards they patrolled the
walls on foot with their shields, and at break of day mounted their
horses, at every moment fearing some sudden attack upon them by the
men in Piraeus. These latter were now so numerous, and of so mixed a
company, that it was difficult to find arms for all. Some had to be
content with shields of wood, others of wicker-work, which they spent
their time in coating with whitening. Before ten days had elapsed
guarantees were given, securing full citizenship, with equality of
taxation and tribute to all, even foreigners, who would take part in
the fighting. Thus they were presently able to take the field, with
large detachments both of heavy infantry and light-armed troops,
besides a division of cavalry, about seventy in number. Their system
was to push forward foraging parties in quest of wood and fruits,