Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/379

 ITCRYMEDON AT KORKYRA. 357 The Corinthian detachment left at Kenchreae could not see the battle, in consequence of the interposing ridge of Mount Oneium : but it was at last made known to them by the dust of the fugi- tives, and they forthwith hastened to help. Reinforcements also came both from Corinth and from Kenchrece, and as it seemed, too, from the neighboring Peloponnesian cities, so that Nikias thought it prudent to retire aboard his ships, and halt upon some neighboring islands. It wa-. here first discovered that two of the Athenians slain had not been picked up for burial ; upon which he immediately sent a herald to solicit a truce, in order to procure these two missing bodies. We have here a remarkable proof of the sanctity attached to that duty ; for the mere sending of the herald was tantamount to confession of defeat. 1 From hence Nikias sailed to Krommyon, where he ravaged the neighborhood for a few hours and rested for the night. On the next day he reembarked, sailed along the coast of Epidaurus, upon which he inflicted some damage in passing, and stopped at last on the peninsula of Methana, between Epidaurus and Trce- zen. 2 On this peninsula he established a permanent garrison, drawing a fortification across the narrow neck of land which joined it to the Epidaurian peninsula. This was his last exploit, and he then sailed home : but the post at Methana long remained as a centre for pillaging the neighboring regions of Epidaurus, Troezen, and Halieis. While Nikias was engaged in this expedition, Eurymedon and Sophokles had sailed forward from Pylus with a considerable portion of that fleet which had been engaged in the capture of Sphakteria, to the island of Korkyra. It has been already stated that the democratical government at Korkyra had been suffering severe pressure and privation from the oligarchical fugi- tives, who had come back into the island with a body of barbaric auxiliaries, and established themselves upon Mount Istone, not far from the city. 3 Eurymedon and the Athenians joining the Korkyroeans in the city, attacked and stormed the post on Mount Istone ; while the vanquished, retiring first to a lofty and inac- cessible peak, were forced to surrender themselves on terms to 1 Plutarch, Nikias, c. 6. 2 Thucyd. iv, 45. 'Thucyd. i" Si-45.