Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/48

 40 DESPONDENCY OF THE LACEDAEMONIANS [iV detachment of ten ships and two thousand Milesian hoplites The Athcians cap- took Scandca, one of the cities on the tnre Scandea. An sea-shore. The rest of their army disem- cngasoncit takes place barked on the sidc of the island looking tn ivhtch the Cvtheriaiis, ht , , i ^ ^i arc defeated,' aM the towards Malea, and moved on to the island capitulates. The lower city of the Cytherians, which is Athenians ravage the gjg^ q,^ ^^ie sea-coast ; there they found coast of Laconta. ,,, .,,•,. i • r all the inhabitants encamped in force. A battle was fought in which the Cytherians held their ground for some little time, and then, betaking them- selves to flight, retired to the upper city. They at length surrendered to Nicias and his colleagues, placing themselves at the disposal of the Athenians, but stipulating that their lives should be spared. Nicias had already contrived to enter into communication with some of them, and in consequence the negotiations were speedier, and lighter terms were imposed upon them both at the time and afterwards"^. Else the Athenians would have expelled them, because they were Lacedaemonians and their island was close to Laconia. After the capitulation they took into their own hands Scandea, the city near the harbour, and secured the island by a garrison. They then sailed away, made descents upon Asine, lielos, and most of the other maritime towns of Laconia, and, encamping wherever they found convenient, ravaged the country for about seven days. 55 The Lacedaemonians seeing that the Athenians had got The Lacedaemonians possession of Cythcra, and anticipating lose confidence in them- similar desccnts on their own shores, selves. Thevactonthe, j^, -^x ,. ■ -l j jf ■ {j ; , nowhere opposed them With their united defensive. Hesitation m rt" their counsels and panic forccs, but distributed a body of hoplites at their reverses. ^ garrisons through the country where their presence seemed to be needed. They kept strict watch, fearing lest some domestic revolution should break out. Already a great and unexpected blow had fallen " C|i. iv. 57 fin.