A sudden incident opening to us in the midst of violence one of those beautiful glimpses of human affection which so often adorn and sanctify the darker pages of history, unexpectedly secured the Spartan triumph.

Hippias and his friends, fearing the safety of their children in the citadel, resolved to dismiss them privately to some place of greater security.
Unhappily, their care was frustrated, and the children fell into the hands of the enemy.

All the means of success within their reach (the foe wearied--the garrison faithful), the parents yet resigned themselves at once to the voluntary sacrifice of conquest and ambition.
Upon the sole condition of recovering their children, Hippias and his partisans consented to surrender the citadel, and quit the territories of Attica within five days.

Thus, in the fourth year from the death of Hipparchus (B.C.

510), and about fifty years after the first establishment of the tyranny under its brilliant founder, the dominion of Athens passed away from the house of Pisistratus.
V.