Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/471

 BREACH BETWEEN BRASIDAS AND PEBDIKKAS. 449 required as a condition of the alliance, some manifest proof of the sincerity of his intentions ; and Perdikkas was soon enabled to afford a proof of considerable importance. 1 The relations between Athens and Peloponnesus, since the conclusion of the truce in the preceding March, had settled into a curious combination. In Thrace, war was prosecuted by mu- tual understanding, and with unabated vigor; but everywhere else the truce was observed. The main purpose of the truce, however, that of giving time for discussions preliminary to a definitive peace, was completely frustrated ; nor does the decree of the Athenian people, which stands included in their vote sanc- tioning the truce, for sending and receiving envoys to negotiate such a peace, ever seem to have been executed. Instead of this, the Lacedaemonians despatched a considerable reinforcement by land to join Brasidas ; probably at his own re- quest, and also instigated by hearing of the Athenian armament now under Nikias in Pallene. But Ischagoras, the commander of the reinforcement, on reaching the borders of Thessaly, found all farther progress impracticable, and was compelled to send back his troops. For Perdikkas, by whose powerful influence alone Brasidas had -been enabled to pass through Thessaly, now directed his Thessalian guests to keep the new-comers off; which was far more easily executed, and was gratifying to the feelings of Perdikkas himself, as well as an essential service to the Athe- nians. 2 Ischagoras, however, with a few companions, but without his army, made his way to Brasidas, having been particularly directed by the Lacedaemonians to inspect and report upon the state of affairs. He numbered among his companions a few select Spartans of the military age, intended to be placed as harmosts or governors in the cities reduced by Brasidas : this was among the first violations, apparently often repeated after- wards, of the ancient Spartan custom, that none except elderly 1 Thucyd. iv, 128-132. Some lines of the comic poet Hermippus arc preserved (in the $opp6<popoi, Meineke, Fragm. p. 407) respecting Sitalkes and Pordikkas. Among the presents brought home by Dionysus in his voyage, there is numbered " the itch from Sitalkes, intended for the Lace- daemonians, and many shiploads of lies from Perdikkas." Kai TTQOI* TleodiKKov ijitvdT] vavaiv TTUVV TroMatf. 2 Thncydriv, 13SJ. VOL. vi. 29oc