Page:History of Greece Vol VIII.djvu/152

 130 fflSTORY OF GREECE. nian general of the same name, whom Thrasyllus caused to b set at liberty, while the others were sent to Athens. 1 After the delay caused by this pursuit, he brought back hia armament to the Hellespont and joined the force of Alkibiades at Sestos. Their joint force was conveyed over, seemingly about the commencement of autumn, to Lampsakus, on the Asiatic side of the strait-; which place they fortified and made their head- quarters for the autumn and winter, maintaining themselves by predatory excursions, throughout the neighboring satrapy of Pharnabazus. It is curious to learn, however, that when Alki- blades was proceeding to marshal them all together, the hoplites, according to Athenian custom, taking rank according to their tribes, his own soldiers, never yet beaten, refused to fraternize with those of Thrasyllus, who had been so recently worsted at Ephesus. Nor was this alienation removed until after a joint expedition against Abydos ; Pharnabazus presenting himself with a considerable force, especially cavalry, to relieve that place, was encountered and defeated in a battle wherein all the Athe- nians present took part. The honor of the hoplites of Thrasyllus was now held to be reestablished, so that the fusion of ranks was admitted without farther difficulty. 2 Even the entire army, how- ever, was not able to accomplish the conquest of Abydos ; which the Peloponnesians and Pharnabazus still maintained as their station on the Hellespont. Meanwhile Athens had so stripped herself of force, by the large armament recently sent with Thrasyllus, that her enemies near home were encouraged to active operations. The Spartans despatched an expedition, both of triremes and of land-force, to attack Pylos, which had remained as an Athenian post and a refuge for revolted Helots ever since its first fortification by De- mosthenes, in B.C. 425. The place was vigorously attacked, both by sea and by land, and soon became much pressed. Not unmind- ful of its distress, the Athenians sent to its relief thirty trireme? under Anytus, who, however, came back without even reaching the place, having been prevented by stormy weather or unfavor able winds from doubling Cape Malea. Pylos was soon after 1 Xenoph. Hcllen. i, 2, 8-15. f Xenoph. Hellen. i, 2, 13-17 ; Plutarch, Alkibiad. c. 29