Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/107

 131, 132] PER Dice AS REJOINS THE ATHENIANS 99 attack and dislodged those who were stationed there"; they then encamped, and after raising a trophy, prepared to invest the city. Soon afterwards, while they were engaged in the work, the Pcloponnesian auxiliaries who were besieged in the Acropolis of Mende, forcing their way out by the sea-shore, broke through the watch and came to Scione by night. Most of them eluded the Athenians who were encamped outside, and got into the town. While the circumvallation of Scione was proceeding, 132 Perdiccas, who, after what had oc- „ j- ' 1 eiaiccas makes an curred in the retreat from Lyncus, aliiaytce iviih the Athcn- hated Brasidas, sent heralds to the '^"^- ^'=' P*'^^'^ '"'« Athenian generals, and came to an ^'>^^fyJ'^P^<tsastop ., to the passage of Pclo- understanding with them, which with- ponnrsian rcinforce- out loss of time he took measures to """'"'^ through Thcs- carry out. It so happened that Ischa- ^^^'' goras the Lacedaemonian was then on the eve of marching with an army to reinforce Brasidas. Perdiccas was told by Nicias that, having now made friends with the Athen- ians, he should give them some evidence of his sincerity. He himself too no longer wished the Peloponnesians to find their way into his country. And so by his influence over the Thessalian chiefs, with whom he was always on good terms, he put a stop to the whole expedition ; indeed, the Lacedaemonians did not even attempt to obtain the consent of the Thessalians. Nevertheless, Ischagoras, Ameinias, and Aristeus, who had been sent by the Lace- daemonian gov^ernment to report on the state of affairs, found their way to Brasidas. They brought with them, though contrary to law, certain young Spartans, intending to make them governors of the cities, instead of leaving the care of them to chance persons. Accordingly Brasidas " Reading (ttoi to?. '' Or, ' having commenced negotiations immediately after the retreat' (cp. iv. 128 fin.) ; in which case, however, eCSi/j TO't ap^ayiivo'i and tiv^^xavt tuti must refer to different times.