Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/291

 28,29] TERRIBLE FATE OF MYCALESSUS 283 war as great as that in which they were already engaged — • how contrary was all this to the expectation of mankind ! Through the vast expense thus incurred, above all through the mischief done by Decelea, they were now greatly impoverished. It was at this time that they imposed upon their allies, instead of the tribute, a Nciv fommial mea- duty of five per cent, on all things st*>e- imported and exported by sea, thinking that this would be more productive. For their expenses became heavier and 29 heavier as the war grew in extent, and at the same time their sources of revenue were drjn'ng up. And so, being in extreme want of money, and desirous to economise, they at once sent away The Tlnadam are the Thracians who came too late for sent home by the Athm- Demosthenes, ordering Diitrephes to 'T', "'^'^ "'"""" ,, , , ^ afford to keep them. convey them home, but, as they must Being desired to doivhat needs sail through the EuripUS, to mischief they can by the employ them in any way which he T"^' ^^'^->'^f ^^ ^->«-, , . , •' TT , lesstis. The pathetic could agamst the enemy. He landed tah of its sufferings them at Tanagra and there made a rnoves Thucydides to hasty raid ; in the evening he sailed ^^' from Chalcis in Euboea across the Euripus, and disem- barking his troops in Boeotia led them against the town of Mycalessus. He passed the night unperceived at the temple of Hermes, which is distant from Mycalessus about two miles, and at the dawn of day he assaulted and captured the city, which is not large. The inhabitants were taken off their guard ; for they never imagined that an enemy would come and attack them at so great a distance from the sea. The walls were weak, and in some places had fallen down; in others they were built low; while the citizens, in their sense of security, had left their gates open. The Thracians dashed into the town, sacked the houses and temples, and slaughtered the inhabitants. They spared neither old nor young, but cut down, one after another, all whom they met, the women and children, the very beasts of burden, and every living thing which they