Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/18

 il CONTENTS. out Greece by the surrender of Lacedsemonian hoplites diminished lustre of Spartan arras. Judgment pronounced by Thucydides himself reflections upon it. Prejudice of Thucydides in regard to Kleon. Kleon displayed sound judgment and decision, and was one of the ^ssential causes of the success. Effect produced at Athens by the ar- rival of the Lacedaemonian prisoners. The Athenians prosecute the war with increased hopefulness and vigor. The Lacedaemonians make new advances for peace without effect. Remarks upon the policy of Athens her chance was now universally believed to be most favorable in prosecuting the war. Fluctuations in Athenian feeling for or against the war: there were two occasions on which Kleon contributed to in- fluence them towards it. Expedition of Nikias against the Corinthian territory. He reembarks ravages Epidaurus establishes a post on the peninsula of Methana. Eurymedon with the Athenian fleet goes to Korkyra. Defeat and captivity of the Korkyraean exiles in the island. The captives are put to death cruelty and horrors in the proceeding. Capture of Anaktorium by the Athenians and Akarnanians. Pro- ceedings of the Athenians at Chios and Lesbos. The Athenians cap- ture Artaphernes, a Persian envoy, on his way to Sparta. Succession of Persian kings Xerxes, Artaxerxcs Longimanus, etc., Darius No- thns 313-363 CHAPTER LIII EIGHTH TEAR OF THE WAK. Important operations of the eighth year of the war. Capture of Ky thera by the Athenians. Nikias ravages the Laconian coast. Capture of Thyrea all the JEginetans resident there are either slain in the attack or put to death afterwards as prisoners. Alarm and depression among the Lacedaemonians their insecurity in regard to the Helots. They entrap, and cause to be assassinated, two thousand of the bravest Helots. Request from the Chalkidians and Perdikkas that Spartan aid may be sent to them under Brasidas. Brasidas is ordered to go thither, with Helot and Peloponncsian hoplites. Elate and enterprising dispositions preva- lent at Athens. Plan formed against Megara. Condition of Megara. The Athenians, under Hippokrates and Demosthenes, attempt to surprise Nisie and Megara. Conspirators within open the gate, and admit them into the Megarian Long Walls. They master the whole line of the Long Walls. The Athenians march to the gates of Megara failure of the scheme of the party within to open them. The Athenians attack ^Nisa-;'. the place surrenders to them. Dissension of parties in Megara intervention of Brasidas. Brasidas gets together an army, and relieves Megara no battle takes place the Athenians retire. Revolution at Megara return of the exiles from Pegse, under pledge of amnesty they violate their oaths, and effect a forcible oligarchical revolution. Combined plan by Hippokrates and Demosthenes for the invasion of Bceotiaon three sides at once. Demosthenes, with an Akarnanian force, makes a descent onBceotia at Sipha? in the Corinthian gulf his scheme fails and he retires. Disappointment of the Athenian plans no inter nal movements take place in Bceotia. Hippokrates marches with the ar:uy from Athens to Delium in Bceotia. Hippokratis fortifies Dclium.