Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/447

 CAPTURE OF LEKYTHUS. 423 Athenian scaffolding, regarded this incident as a divine interposi tion, and presented the thirty minae, which he had promised as a reward to the first man who broke in, to the goddess Athene, for her temple at Lekythus. He moreover consecrated to her the entire cape of Lekythus ; not only demolishing the defences, but also dismantling the private residences which it contained, 1 so that nothing remained except the temple, with its ministers and appurtenances. What proportion of the Toronreans who had taken refuge at Lekythus had been induced to return by the proclamation of Brasidas, alike generous and politic, we are not informed. His language and conduct were admirably calculated to set this little community again in harmonious movement, and to obliterate the memory of past feuds. And above all, it inspired a strong sen- timent of attachment and gratitude towards himself personally ; a sentiment which gained strength with every successive incident in which he was engaged, and which enabled him to exercise a greater ascendency than could ever be acquired by Sparta, and in some respects greater than had ever been possessed by Athens. It is this remai'kable development of commanding individuality, animated throughout by straightforward public purposes, and binding together so many little communities who had few other feelings in common, which lends to the short career of this em- inent man a romantic and even an heroic interest. During the remainder of the winter Brasidas employed him- self in setting in order the acquisitions already made, and in laying plans for farther conquests in the spring. 2 But the begin- ning of spring or the close of the eighth year, and beginning of the ninth year of the war, as Thucydides reckons brought with it a new train of events, which will be recounted in the fol 'owing chapter. 1 Thucyd. iv. lit, 115. vou'.aag aAA^) Tivl Tpozy r/ uv&puneiif TTJV afatoa
 * idering that he owed his success to the sudden rupture of the