Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/59

 68,69] BUT NISAEA SURRENDERS 5 1 thousand Athenian hoplites and six hundred horse, who by a previous arrangement had come from Eleusis during the night. When they were anointed and had collected about the gates some one in the secret acquainted the other party, who instantly came upon them in a compact body and declared that there should be no going out ; even when they were stronger than at present they had not ventured to take the field ; the danger to the city was too palpable ; if any one opposed them the battle would have to be fought first within the walls. They did not betray their knowledge of the plot, but assumed the confident tone of men who were recommending the best course. At the same time they kept watch about the gates ; and thus the conspiracy was foiled. The Athenian generals became aware that some diffi- 69 culty had arisen, and that they could The Athenians cut not carry the city by storm. So they °ff ^isaca by a cross immediately set about the circum- -77. r ■, ■ -' llie toivn, which ts vallation of Nisaea, thinking that, if in danger 0/ starvation, they could take it before any assist- <^np't»lntes. ance arrived, Megara itself would be more likely to capitulate. Iron and other things needful, as well as masons, were quickly procured from Athens. Beginning from the wall which they already held they intercepted the approach from Megara by a cross wall, and from that drew another on either side of Nisaea down to the sea. The army divided among them the execution of the trench and walls, obtaining stones and bricks from the suburbs of the town. They also cut down timber and fruit-trees and made palisades where they were needed. The houses in the suburbs were of themselves a sufficient fortification, and only required battlements. All that day they continued working; on the following day, towards evening, the wall was nearly finished, and the terrified inhabitants of Nisaea having no food (for they depended for their daily supplies on the upper city and imagining that Megara had gone over to the enemy, despairing too