Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/58

 50 MEGARA STILL HOLDS OUT [iV out of the ambuscade, wanting to get in before the gates were shut again and while the waggon was still in them, and prevented them from being closed. At the same instant their Megarian confederates cut down the guards stationed at the gates. First of all the Plataeans and the frontier guard under Demosthenes rushed in where the trophy now stands. No sooner were they within the gates than the Peloponnesians who were nearest and saw what was going on hastened to the rescue ; but they were over- powered by the Plataeans, who secured the gates for the entrance of the Athenian hoplites as they came running up. 68 Then the Athenians entered, and one after another _, o, , proceeded to mount the wall, A few The Felopotviestans, ^ sitfiposing the Mcgar- Peloponnesian guards at first resisted iaus to have gone over ^nd some of them Were killed ; but the 'N.Z"T;:f;,£sZ greater par. took to night ; they were tected by the oligarchical terrified at the night attack of the party in time to save enemy, and fancied, when they saw Megara itself. ^^^ Megarians who were in the con- spiracy fighting against them, that all the Megarians had betrayed them. It had occurred at the same time to the Athenian herald, without orders, to make procla- mation that any Megarian who pleased might join the ranks of the Athenians, When the Lacedaemonians heard the proclamation none of them remained any longer, but thinking that the Megarians were really fighting on the Athenian side they fled into Nisaea. When the morning dawned and the Long Walls were already captured, Megara was in a tumult, and those who had negotiated with the Athenians and a large number of others who were in the plot insisted upon opening the gates and going out to battle. Now they had agreed that the Athenians should immediately rush in ; and they were themselves to be anointed with oil ; this was the mark by which they were to be distinguished, that they might be spared in the attack. There was the less danger in opening the gates, since there had now arrived (our