Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/445

 CONCILIATING ADDRESS OF BRASIDAS. 423 gate, looking towards Cape Kanastraeum, as well as the great gate leading towards the agora. They then brought in the pel- tasts from without, who, impatient with the delay, had gradually stolen closely under the walls : some of these peltasts kept pos- session of the great gate, others were led round to the postern at the top, while the fire-signal was forthwith lighted to invite Bra- sidas himself. He and his men hastened forward towards the city at their utmost speed and with loud shouts, a terror-striking notice of his presence to the unprepared citizens. Admission was easy through the open gates, but some also clambered up by means of beams or a sort of scaffolding, which was lying close to the wall as a help to the workmen repairing it. And while the assailants were thus active in every direction, Brasidas himself conducted a portion of them, to assure himself of the high and commanding parts of the city. So completely were the Toronaeans surprised and thunder- struck, that hardly any attempt was made to resist. Even the fifty Athenian hoplites who occupied the agora, being found still asleep, were partly slain, and partly compelled to seek refuge in the separately-garrisoned cape of Lekythus, whither they were followed by a portion of the Toronasan population ; some from attachment to Athens, others from sheer terror. To these fugi- tives Brasidas addressed a proclamation, inviting them to return, and promising them perfect security, for person, property, and political rights ; while at the same time he sent a herald with a formal summons to the Athenians in Lekythus, requiring them to quit the place as belonging to the Chalkidians, but permitting them to carry away their property. They refused to evacuate the place, but solicited a truce of one day for the purpose of burying their slain. Brasidas granted them two days, which were employed both by them and by him in preparations for the defence and attack of Lekythus ; each party fortifying the houses on or near the connecting isthmus. In the mean time he convened a general assembly of the To- ronaBan population, whom he addressed in the same conciliating and equitable language as he had employed elsewhere. "He had not come to harm either the city, or any individual citizen. Those who had let him in, ought not to be regarded as bad men or traitors, for they had acted with a view to the benefit and the