Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/25

 20-23] PRETENDED VIOLATION OF THE TRUCE 17 them to reply that the men in the island must first of all give up themselves and their arms and be sent to Athens; the Lacedaemonians were then to restore Nisaea, Pegae, Troezen, and Achaia— places which had not been taken in war, but had been surrendered under a former treaty (* in a time of reverse, when the Athenians ^'were more anxious to obtain peace than they now were. On these conditions they might recover the men and make a treaty of such duration as both parties should approve. To this reply the Lacedaemonians said nothing, but 22 only requested that the Athenians would jhe proposal of the appoint commissioners to discuss with Lacedaemonians to dis- them the details of the agreement and "'^^ ""^'^^ °^ '^"'^, . 11- ^" private is scoy)ifidly quietly arrive at an understanding about rejected. They are com- them if they could. This proposal was pclM to break off nego- assailed by Cleon in unmeasured Ian- ""'"'"•^• guage : he had always known, he said, that they meant no good, and now their designs were unveiled ; for they were unwilling to speak a word before the people, but wanted to be closeted with a select few « ; if they had any honesty in them, let them say what they wanted to the whole city. But the Lacedaemonians knew that, although they might be willing to make concessions under the pressure of their calamities, they could not speak openly before the assembly (for if they spoke and did not succeed, the terms which they offered might injure them in the opinion of their allies) ; they saw too that the Athenians would not grant what was asked of them on any tolerable conditions. So, after a fruitless negotiation, they returned home. Upon their return the truce at Pylos instantly came to 23 an end, and the Lacedaemonians demanded back their ^ Or, 'were making and not receiving ofiers of peace.' Cp. V. 85.
 * Cp. i. 115 init.