Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/313

 20-22] THE ESCAPE FROM PLATAEA ig-j to form one thick wall with battlements on both sides. At every tenth battlement there were large towers, filling up the space between the walls, and extending both to the inner and outer face ; there was no way at the side of the towers, but only through the middle of them. During the night, whenever there was storm and rain, the soldiers left the battlements and kept guard from the towers, which were not far from each other and were covered overhead. Such was the plan of the wall with which Plataea was invested. When the Plataeans had completed their preparations 22 they took advantage of a night on The Plataeans sally which there was a storm of wind and f'^*'^- "^O' «« dis- ram and no moon, and sallied forth, -r/ ■ /■ • ^ • // •, ' I lietrfneuds til the cily They were led by the authors of the make an attack from attempt. First of all they crossed the opposite side. the ditch which surrounded the town ; then they came right up to the wall of the enem}'. The guard did not discover them, for the night was so dark that they could not be seen, while the clatter of the storm drowned the noise of their approach. They marched a good way apart from each other, that the clashing of their arms might not betray them ; and they were lightly equipped, having the right foot bare that they might be less liable to slip in the mud. They now set about scaling the battle- ments, which they knew to be deserted, choosing a space between two of the towers. Those who carried the ladders went first and placed them against the wall ; they were followed by twelve others, armed only with sword and breastplate, under the command of Ammeas the son of Coroebus : he was the first to mount ; after him came the twelve, ascending the wall and proceeding to the towers on the right and left, six to each« To these succeeded more men lightly armed with short spears, others following who bore their shields, that they might have less difficulty in mounting the wall ; the shields were " See note on the passage.
 * „ „ J 1 n- 1 r .1 covered by an aceident.