For in those days religion and
politics were associated with a closeness of intimacy unknown in
modern Europe, and sacrilege might well be regarded as a prelude to
treason. Active measures were at once taken to bring the offenders to
justice, and great rewards were offered to anyone, whether citizen,
slave, or resident foreigner, who gave information concerning this or
any similar crime. At first nothing was disclosed as to the mutilation
of the Hermae, but other recent acts of profanation were brought to
light, and among these was mentioned a derisive parody of the great
Eleusinian Mysteries, alleged to have been performed in the house of
Alcibiades, and elsewhere. The enemies of Alcibiades, who were both
numerous and powerful, eagerly seized this handle against him; but
when the matter was debated in the public assembly, it became evident
that, if he were brought to trial at once, his present popularity, as
chief promoter of the Sicilian expedition, would ensure his acquittal.
Seeing, therefore, that their attack had been premature, those who had
led the outcry against him now drew back, reserving themselves for a
more favourable occasion. Being known as the bitter opponents of
Alcibiades, they could not, without exciting grave suspicions, propose
the adjournment of his trial; but other speakers, prompted by them,
urged on grounds of public expediency that the charges against him
should be held in suspense, so as not to delay the departure of the
fleet.
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