that the ennemys had lately gayned all that whyche was bifore vs we determyned to leaue our cytie and to destroye our houses and to loose our particular goodes not for to habandonne and forsake our freÌ„des and allyes and to disperse ourselues into dyuers places which if we had done we had not done them any saruice but we went fourth to serche the dangers vpon the Sea wythoute hauinge regarde or shewinge any grudge againste you for that that ye came not to succoure vs in tyme of nede wherfore we may well say for trouth that we were as profitable than vnto you as you vnto vs. For youe that kepte stille the townes inhabyted and therin had your goodes and your wyues and childrenne fearing to lose them came to our ayde not somuche for vs as for yourselues For if you hadde mynded to haue done for vs youe shulde haue come thider bifore oure cytie had bene habandoned and destroyed but as touchynge vs in forsakyng our towne whiche nowe had no more fourme of a cytie for to succour yours than whan it had no great apparance to saue yt selfe we were well wyllinge to coÌ„myt and putt ourselues into the dangers of the sayd warres and by thys meane was cause for a greate parte of your saulftie and of ours where if we had bene mynded to submit ourselues vnto the kynge of Mede as many other countreis did fearynge to be destroyed or after that we had habandoned our cytie had not had the hardynes to take the seas but as people faynte harted had wythdrawen our ourselnes into sure places truly ye durst not haue comme bifore the ennemy with so smal nomber of shyppes as youe than hadde wherupon by that meane youe shulde haue bene constrayned to haue done as he wolde wythout any faightinge Nowe semeth it not vnto youe lordes Lacedemonyans that for thys our hardynes and prudence we be wel worthy to haue and obtaigne the principalitie seigniory whiche we nowe haue Whyche ought not to be enuyed nor molested by Grece for that that we gott yt not by force but partly by pursuyng the ennemyes whiche you woulde not do and partly at requeste of some of our allyes that came to praye vs that we wolde take them into oure protection and gouernance By meanes wherof we haue bene constrayned to consarue and encrease our principalitie from that tyme vntyll this presente furste for feare afterwardes for honnour and fynally for proffytt And seinge also that we we enuyed of many people and that some of our subiectes and confederates be lately rebelled againste vs whome we haue subdewed and chastised yea and that youe arne moued to departe from our amytie and haue some suspition againste vs we shulde not be well counsailled to desiste from our trauayle but we shulde putt ourselues into greate daungier Fo they that shulde departe from our obeysance shuld come vnder yours wherefore no man is to be blamed if in thynges wherin he parceyueth greate danger he prouydeth for his indempnyte And youe lordes Lacedemonyens do not you gouerne for your profitte the cyties of Peloponeâ—e And if youe had contynued in your Empyre from the warre of the Medes vntil this present youe shulde haue bene both enuyed as we be of strauÌ„gers and also molestuous and rigorous to youre subiectes And of force youe shulde aither haue bene blamed to haue bene to farre imperiall and rygorous to youre subiectes or ells haue bene constrayned to put your estate into dangier And therfore if that we haue taken and consarued the rule and superiorite that hath bene geuen vs we haue done no newe thynge nother that that ys contrary to humayne lawes and customes And also there be thre great thinges that defende vs to leue and forsake yt to wytt the honnor the feare and the proffytte And of the other parte we arne not the inuentours and authors of suche thinge for it was neuer otherwyse but that the more weake were constrayned to obey vnto the stronger And we be well woorthy and do merytt so to do in our iudgement and also by yours if you woll egally consider both proffit and reason For no man woll prefarre reason somuche bifore proffit that if any hoÌ„nest occasion be offred hym to obteigne aduantage by force that he woll lett yt slippe And they be to be praysed that in vsynge and administringe right be of nature more bening and gracious in thair gouernement than the rule ryght of gouerning requyreth lyke as we do And if our Empier came into other mens handes we thinke that they shulde better parceue yt Althoughe that for this oure bountie and gentlenes we gett more reproche than prayse whych is a thinge very vnresonable For for that that we vse the selfe lawes in our contractes and in oure iudgementes with our subiectes whyche we vse amonge our selues besides this that it is a thynge contumelious and shamefull for vs yet they repute vs to be playdors and contentious And there is not one among theÌ„ that consydereth that there ys not any people in the worlde that more geÌ„tly entreate thair subiectes thaÌ„ we do And also men do not obey to other that be playdours as men do vnto vs. For it is laufull for them to vse force against thair subiectes whyche be intierly thair obeissantes wherfore it is not for them to come therto by iudgement nor proces But concerninge ours for the libertye whyche they haue bene accustomed to haue with vs and to be egall wyth vs in iustice if a man do them wronge in any thinge by deede or by woorde be it for neuâ—r so small a matter for the opynion that they haue in the rightuousnes of oure gouernanceâ— and that it shulde not be taken from them they not only be not thankefull to vs for that the remanant was lefte vnto them that men might haue taken from them by force but also they take yt for more displeasure to lose that lytle of thair good than if at the begynnynge we had vtterly captyued them to our wille and vsed towardes them violence not iustyce And yet in this case they durste not ones haue murmured or grudged but being our subiectes by wylle they would haue thought it a great offence to disobey vs. For we see euydeÌ„tly that the people take it to be more greuous and are more angry whan they be wronged than whan they be forced Also whaÌ„ a maÌ„ speketh to defraude one or to do hym wrong it is sayde that the iustyceys comone but whan a man speaketh of constrayninge it is vnderstanded that there is a superiour vsinge wille Of this cometh yt that they whych presently be our subiectes whan they were in subiection of the Medes indured paciently thair Empyre and now ours semeth vnto theÌ„ to be harde But to a discrete parsone this is no maruaile For al subiectes do alwayes coÌ„playne of the seignyorie that is presente And if your selfe had changed our Empire and shuld rule our subiectes truly
and on the sea syde by the galleys of Phenycians In suche manner that the greater parte were drowned and the other saued themselfe with force of oores Suche ende and yssue toke the great armye and enterpryse of the Athenyans and of theyr allyes in the countreye of Egypte After the whiche Orestes sonne of Echratydes beyng chased from the countrey of Thessale by the kynge of the sayde lande named Phassalus had recours to the sayde Athenyans and perswaded them in suche wyse that they enterprysed to set hym agayne into the sayde countreye And so came with ayde of the Beocyans and Phocyans to lande in Thessale And toke that that was in fyrme lande nyghe the sea and kepte it so longe as they helde themself in battayle all togethers for the horsmen of the kynge withstood◠them to enter any further into the countrey By occasyon wherof seyng that they coulde take no stronge towne nor execute theyr enterpryse they retourned without doyng any other thynge but that they caryed Orestes wyth them Anone after a thousande Athenyans that were in the place of fountaynes named Pegase whiche they helde entered into theyr shyppes that they had there and came to arryue in Cycione vnder the conducte of Porydes sonne of Xantypus And beyng landed they descomfyted an armye of Syconiens that came to ouerrunne them This done they toke the Archers into theyr compaignye and passed through Acarnie for to comme to take the the cytye of Emade and so assieged it But seynge that they coulde not take it they retourned And thre yeares after they made truse for fyue yeares with the Peloponesians Duryng the whiche albeit that they kepte abstynence of warre in Grece yet they made an armye of two houndred shippes aswell of theyrs as of theyr compaygnyons wherof Cymon was chyef capytayne and they wente to aryue at Cypres being at which place they were called backe by Amyrteus king of the maryces and forestes of Egypte and so they sente to the sayde countreye of Egypte thre skore of theyr shyppes The reste remayned at the siege before the cytye of Cyrcye But beyng Cymon theyr capytayne there deade and they in greate necessitie of victuayles they departed from the sayd siege to haue retourned and sayllynge foranempste the cytye of Salamyne whiche is in Cypres they foughte aswell by sea as by lande agaynste the Phenycyans and agaynste the Ciliciens and had in bothe battaylles vyctorye and afterwardes they came againe into theyr countrey And also the other shippes of theyr bende whiche were gone into Egypte After thys the Lacedemonyans beganne the warre that was called consecrated and hauing taken the temple that is at Delphos dyd delyuer it agayne to the people of the towne But it taryed not longe that the Athenyans came thyder wyth a mightye armye whiche toke it agayne and delyuered it to kepe vnto the Phocians Anone after the bānyshed men that the Athenyans had chased from the countrey of Beoce hauyng occupyed Orcomenye Cheronee and some other townes of the sayde countreye the Athenians sente thyder a thousande men of theyrs with an other nomber of theyr allyes as they myghte redelye get them vnder the conducte of Tholmydas sonne of Tholmee And so toke agayne Cheronee and furnished it wyth theyr people And retournynge from thence they were encontred by the sayde bānyshed men Beotiens who had assembled the bānyshed of Eubee the Locres and some other takyng theyr partye who descomfyted them The more parte of them beyng slayne and the other taken prysoners By whose meane by deliuering of them the Athenyans made appointment with the sayde Beotiens restored them to theyr lybertie And by occasyon therof all the bannyshed and other that were gone from the sayd countrey retourned thyder incontinētly vnderstandynge to be set agayne into theyr former lybertye It taryed not longe after that the Islande of Eubee rebelled agaynste the Athenyans and so as Perycles whome the sayd Athenyans had sente with a greate armye for to brynge them into theyr obeysance was in hys iourneye for to go thyder he receyued newes that they of Megare were lykewyse rebelled and had slayne the garnysone of Athenyans that were wythin excepte a small nomber which saued them self at Nisee And those had gott one vnto theyr intelligence or confederation from the Corynthians the Sycionyans and the Epidauryens and moreouer that the Peloponesians shulde enter with great puissance into the lande of Athenes Understandyng the whiche thynges he lefte the Iourneye of Eubee and came agayne to Athenes but before that he arryued the Peloponosyans were nowe entred into the countreye Attique that is to say of Athenes and had fourraged and pylledall the lande from the cytye of Hellusyne vntyll the felde named Thrasius hauyng for theyr Duke and Capitaine Plistonactes sonne to Pausanias Kynge of Lacedemonyans And that done without passyng any further were retourned vnto theyr houses whiche seing the Athenyans dyd afresh sende Pericles with the armye into Eubee who subdued all the Islande by compositiō reserued the citie of Hescie which he toke by force And for that cause chased awaye from thence all the inhabitantes and inhabyted it with his people A◠retourne from that same cōqueste or very shortly after the appoinctment was made for thyrty yeares betwene the sayd Athenyans on the one partie and the Lacedemonians theyr allyes on the other partye through which those same Athenyans rendred Pysee les fountaynes Trezenie and Achaye whiche was all that which they dyd holde from Peloponese It chaunsed that the Sixt year after the sayde appointement great warre was moued agaynste the Samiās and the Mylesyans by reasone of the cytye of Pryene And seinge the Mylesyans that they were not myghtye or stronge ynough for theyr enemyes they sente to make theyr complaynctes towardes the Athenyans by consente and intellygence of some partyculer cytezeins of Samye that wente aboute to make an alteracyon or chaunge in theyr cytye At whose persuasyon the Athenyans wente wyth fourty shyppes agaynste the sayde cytye of Samye the sayd cytye of Samye And so brought it agayne to the gouernaūce of the cōmone estate and toke of them fyfty yonge infantes and fyftye men delyuered for hostages whome they lefte for paunde in the Islande of Lemne Afterwardes hauyng lefte theyr garnysone at Samye they retourned But anone after theyr departure some of the cytezeins whiche were not in the cytye whan the Athenyans had so oppressed it but perceyuyng theyr commynge were withdrawen into dyuers places in the mayne lande by consente and delyberatyon of the principall of the cytye made allyance with Pissuthnes sonne of Hiscapsis who than gouerned the cytye of Sardes And he sent them seuen houndred men of warre with whome they entred by nyght into the cytye of Samye dyd fighte agaynst the commons that had the gouernaunce In suche manner that they had the vpper hande
that they did knowynge that Pericles sonne of Xantippus was descended of the same rase or strayne by hys mother hopinge that if we were chased out of the cytie they might afterwardes more easely come to the ende of th aire warre agaynst the Athenyans And if that he were not chased fromthence at the leaste he shuld coÌ„ceyue an great hate towardes the people that had this opynyon that for beinge mynded to saue them that same warre was in parte commenced and bigonne against them Now he was in that same tyme the Chiefest man of the cytie and had most authoritie And also contraryed the enterpryses of the Lacedemonyens And anymated the Athenyans to defende them by force of armes To this requeste the Athenyans than answered the Lacedemoniens with the selfe same arte Sayinge that those Lacedemonyans oughte likewise to purge the sacrilege wherewith they were infected by meane of the violence that they had done in the temple of Neptunus in the place of Tenare For at a certayne tyme bifore passed at the instigation of Tynarus they had drawin out of the teÌ„ple of Neptunus and slayne certayn fugitiues that requyred mercy and by this meane violated the franchise and lybertie of the temple By occasion wherof the people had opynyon that therupon followed a great earth quake whyche anone after chaunced in the cytie of Sparte And furthermore the same Athenyans requyred the Lacedemonyans to purge an othere sacrylege wherwith they were lykewyse infected by cause of the teÌ„ple of Pallas whyche happened in this manner as folowethe Here thauthor shewith incidently the trahisone that Pausanias mynded to do agaynst the Grekes and howe he was slayne The .xv. Chapter AFter that Pausanias beinge by the Lacedemonyans exempte frome the charge of thair armye that he had in Hellespontâ— for to come to answere to charges that were layd vpon him was absolued or clered of the same charges yet was he restored to this former charge which parceyuinge he departed frome the cytie fayninge to be wyllinge to goo to the sayd couÌ„trey of Hellespont for to sarue in the warre as a symple souldyour But the truith was for to appoyncte with the kynge of Medes touchinge that same warre whyche he hymselfe had bigonne And afterwardes by meane of the sayd kynge to vsurpe the rule and principalitie ouer all Grece For to come to whiche conclusions he had nowe duringe his charge bifore his accusation wonne the fauor of the kynge by a singuler plaisir and benefitte whiche he did him That is that hauinge in his retourne fro Cipres taking the cytie of Bizance togither with the people that the king had left there in garnyâ—one amoÌ„gest whoÌ„ ther were many his pareÌ„tes domesticals or housholdes That same Pausanias sente theym again secretly wtoute knowlaige of his coÌ„panions collegues or felâ—owes in comission fayning that they were escaped And this he did by the meane of Congilus who had charge to kepe theÌ„ by whoÌ„ also he sente letters to the kinge of tâ—is substance Pausanias Duke of Spartains to the kinge Xerxes gretinge I sende vnto the thies prisoners that I haue taken by good warre for to wynne thy good grace And also I am desirous to espouse and mary thy doughter iâ— it pleaâ—e the in this doing to bringe al Grece into thy obeissance which thing I perswade my self that I may easely do hauing good intelligeÌ„ce or confederatioÌ„ with the. wherfore if the thinge be agreable vnto the sende aloÌ„gest by sea some right faithful man of thyne to whom I wil coÌ„municate make priuey the whole matter Xerres was râ—ght ioyful of this Epistle And so sent incontynently Artabasus sonne of Pharnaces by sea vnder coulour of geuinge him charge of the prouince of Scilite the which Mogabata did holde for the kinge And he gaue him letters for to sende to Pausanias who was in ByzaÌ„ce whych were sealed with the kinges seale furthermore gaue him charge to trauaile with the said Pausanias in all that that he wolde commaunde hym the beste waye and moste secretely that he coulde Who after that he was arryued in the saide prouince executed his charge right discretely And among other thinges sent the said letters vnto Pausanias which were of this tenour The king Xerres vnto Pausanias greting I thanke the for that plaisir benefit that thou haste done for me by sending vnto me againe the prisonners which thou diddest take at BizaÌ„ce which thing shal neuer by me nor by myne be put in oblyâ—â—e also I take in good parte that which thou hast done me to vnderstand Therfore I pray that thou wilt trauaile day night for to execute that whiche thou hast promysed me For I will not spare golde nor siluer nor also army wher it shal be required Of which matter thou maist suerly treate trauaile with Artabasus whom I sende vnto the expresly for this matter For he is a maâ— discrete and veray faithfull In doing whiche thinges myne affaires thyne shall procede right well to our honnour prouffitt After that Pausanias had receyued the said lettres notwithstanding that he was in great reuerence with all the Grekes for the charge authoritie that he had he toke much more great hart greater audacytie In such sort that he was not coÌ„tent to liue after the maÌ„ner accustomed of the Grekes but went fourth of Bizance apparailled after the facyoÌ„ of Medes in going through the couÌ„trey of Thrace he had souldiars Medes EgiptiaÌ„s in his coÌ„paigny And also caused himselfe to be sarued at the table pleÌ„tefully after the maner of Medes And for effect he could not coÌ„ceyle his hart nor enterprises but gaue to vnderstaÌ„d by yâ— that he did that which in his courage he coÌ„spired to do He was also dauÌ„gerous to geue audyeÌ„ce was easely angred with euery maÌ„ In such sort that ther was not he that feared not to aboorde him which was the principall cause for which the coÌ„federates of Grece departed from the Lacedemonyens did allye theÌ„selfe with the AthenyaÌ„s By occasyon wherof the LacedemonieÌ„s reuoked him from his charge as it hath bene shewed Afterwards being departed by the sea of Harimond wtout liceÌ„ce of the lordeship it was suspected that he wold resume the authorite For reasoÌ„ wherof being arryued at Bizance where the Athenyans kepte the assiege he was chased away by the Lacedemonyens and after he came not againe to Sparte but withdrew himself into certayne villages of Troade And being there it was signefied vnto the Lacedemonyens that he treated with the Barbarous or strangers some euille matter so they thought it good no more to dissymule And sent a sargeant with his mace from one of the Tribuns of the people whome they calle Ephores whoe gaue hym in commaundemente that he shulde incontynently come to Sparte as faste as he and not to departe from his company vpon payne to be reputed rebelle ennemy of the cytie
whiche Enesius was Ephore in Sparte and Pythodorus gouerned than at Athenes for one moneth Sixe monethes after the battayle which was made at Potyde in the begynnyng of the furst spring tyde At whiche tyme certayne Thebayns to the nomber of thre houndred vnder conducte of two the chefest men of the countreye of Beoce to wyt Pythangelus sonne of Phylide and Dyemporus sonne of Onetorydes entred secretely by nyght after the furst sleepe into the cytye of Platee whiche is in the countrey of Beoce but than it was confederated wyth the Athenyans by meane and intelligence of some of the cytye that opened for them the gates to wytt Nauclides and hys accomplices who wolde haue delyuered the sayde cytye vnto the Thebayns hopynge by that meane to destroye some of the cytezeins theyr ennemys and moreouer to make theyr partycular proffit the which had treated that practique by the meane of Eurymachus sonne of Leontiades that was the princypall and rychest man of Thebes Also the Thebains who well perceyued that in all euentes warre shulde be begonne agaynst the Athenyans wolde gladlye before that it were declared haue taken that towne which alwayes had bene theyr ennemye For by that meane the thyng was more easy to doo Also they entred without y◠any parsone parceyued it for that there was nayther watche nor warde in the cytye and they came wythoute makynge any noyce vpon the market place of the cytye Beyng in whiche place they were not of opynyon to execute that whiche they had graunted to them of the towne that had brought them in to wytt to go to fourrage the houses of theyr ennemys but they deuysed to cause to be proclaymed through the towne wyth sounde of trompet that they that wolde be allyes of the Beotiens and lyue accordinge to theyr lawes shulde cōme thyder bringe their harnoies trustinge by this meane to reduce thē without any difficultie y◠were citezeins to their intente Who vnderstāding that the Thebaynes were in their citie thinking that they had ben in greater nōber for that that they dyd not see thē bycause of the nyght they accepted their party came to parlamēt with them seyng that they wold innouate no thing with thē they retourned into their houses in good agremēt But incontynently after perceyuinge that they were so fewe people they deuysed that they might easelye defeate and ouercome them yf they set vpon them So they determined to assay it For they departed agaynste theyr wyll from the allyance of the Athenyans And to thintent that theyr banquett shulde not be parceyued by theyr assemblye in the stretes they persed incontynently the walles whiche parted theyr houses and passynge from the one to the other wythin a shorte tyme they were all togeders Afterwardes they tourned theyr charettes ouerthwart the stretes for to serue them for rampartes and made all other prouysyons suche as they thought reasonable and conuenyent according to the tyme. And after that they had ordeyned theyr case accordyng as they had hadde leasure and made moreouer watche all that nyght aboutes one houre before daye they yssued oute of theyr houses and came to sett vpon the Thebayns altogeders that yet were in the sayde market Fearyng that yf they assayled them in the day that they wold haue defended themself better and more hardly than they wolde do in the night beyng in a place wherof they had not well the practyse lyke as it happened For seyng that they were deceyued of theyr thoughte and that they were assaulted they dyd furste ioygne themself all together and parforced ones or twies themselues all with one strength for to passe through some strete but they were alwayes dryuen backe And than parceyuing the bruyte that men made vpō thē aswell they that assayled them as also the women the chyldren and other people vnmete to fyghte who casted stones and tyles from the houses vpon them they were so astonyed together with that that it rained very sharply that night that they fledde through the stretes so as they coulde wythout knowynge the more parte whyder they wente aswell by meane of the nyght as also that they had not practyse of the towne And so they were empesched for to saue them by those that pursued them whereby many were slayne By this chiefly that one of the citezeins came to the gate wherein they were entred whiche onely was open and dyd shut it castynge the shalte of a dart ouerthwarte the locke in stede of a barre So that they coulde not passe fourth that waye and so some mounted vpon the walles and threwe themselfe from a hyghe downe to the grounde the more parte of whome dyed Some other came to haue passed at an other gate wherat there was no warde and with a hatchet that a woman deliuered them brake the locke and yssued fourthe But there coulde not passe any greate nōber for that that the thynge was incontynently knowen The other were beaten donne in the stretes But the greater parte and chyefly those that were wygned togeders came to rushe into a greate edifyce or house which was wignyng to the walles of the towne wherof they founde by chaunse of aduenture the dore opē Thynkyng that it was one of the gates of the towne and that they myght saue themself by the same And than the cytezeins seing that they al were closed with in were in dyfference whyther they shulde set it in fyer for to burne them all together or that they shulde cause them to dye of an other sorte But fynally they there and all the other that were yet wythin the towne rendred themself wyth theyr armure to the wille of the cytezeins Durynge that these thynges were done in the cytye of Platee the other Thebayns that shulde with a greate bende haue folowed all the nyght those that were furste entred for to succour them yf it were nede had in theyr waye newes how they were assayled So they hasted them the most that they myght for to cōme to theyr succoure But they coulde not aryue sone ynough For there is frome Thebes to Platee .lxx. stades and the great rayne that was fallen that nyght had greately kepte them backe For the ryuer of Asopus which they must passe was by cause of the sayd rayne not easy to be gaged In suche sorte that whan they were passed they were aduertysed howe theyr people that taryed within were all deade or taken So they deuysed amonge them to take the paysans of Platee that were without the cytie wherof there was a great nomber together with a great quantyte of beastes and of moueables for that that there were yet no newes of warre to thintent to buy agayne by meane of those there that they shulde take them of theyr people that were yet within the towne and that were lyuynge And they being in thys delyberation the Plateans which greatly doubted the selfe thynge sente with dylygence a herault vnto them Shewynge that they had done nought to
vs in oure countrey For youe knowe welle that thynges be somuche in greater admiration of men as they be further frome theyme and somuche they haue the lesser esteminge and reputacion as they be the more approued and knowin lyke as may be sene of our selues for that that hauing victorye agaynste the Lacedemonyans and the other Peloponesians where as we were in great feare to resist their power we nowe already esteme them so litle that we presume to go to coÌ„quere Sycille though that they be our ennemyes Which is not wisely done for no man ought to extole himself nor to take tomuche courage for the aduersitie of hys ennemy but rather refrayning his courage and his glorye to trust in hys puissance And also ye ought to consyder that the Lacedemonians for the shame which they haue receiued of vs do study no other thing but how they may cause vs to comytt some folly by meane wherof they myght reuenge their shame recouer their honor somuche the more as they be more couetouse of glory and of vertue than any other people Lykewyse Lordes we ought to consider that this questioÌ„ is not here moued for the Egestains which be strangers and Sycilians but howe we shall kepe our self from a cytie whiche for that that it gouerneth it self by a small nomber of people is ennemy to ours that is gouerned by the generaltie And also we ought to thynke that we haue a smalle respite for one so great a warre and greuous malady whiche maye brynge vs into greate sorowe And if we be encreased with nomber of people and wyth ryches we shoulde kepe and employe them for ourselues and not for thies bannysshed men which repare vnto vs to haue succours who haue spokenne fayer and haue lyed to the danger of their neyghbours consideredde that they do geue vs nothynge but wordes For if they through our ayde haue the victory they maye if it seme good vnto them mocke vs and euill acknowlaige the saruice that we shall haue done them And if it chaunce otherwyse they shall brynge vs with them into ruyne destruction And if thereâ—be any one of them that hath bene by you chosene with their consent for to haue charge of this armye which parswadeth you this enterpryse for hys particuler proffytt paraduenture through youth desyreth to haue this glory for to be in more estimatioÌ„ and for to shewe a great nomber of horse that he nouryssheth ye ought not to wylle to satisfie the desyre prouffytt of one particuler to the great danger peril of the cytie but rather to consider that by suche people the comon welth is dimynysshed the particulers be destroyed And moreouer this matter is so waightie of so great importaÌ„ce that it ought not to be treated and consulted by a yonge man so soubdainly And for the feare that I haue seing many in this assemblie that do assist him be come at his request for this cause I pray erhorte the most auncient that they suffer not theÌ„ specially to perswade their yonge people that it shulde be shame for to disswade breake of the warre and that it shoulde be imputed vnto them for pusyllanymitie cowardenes and lacke of couraige and that it shoulde be an euylle thynge not to haue regarde of his frendes beinge absent for the same shoulde chance to them that perswade to make the warre if that it shoulde take effecte for that that ye well knowe those thynges whiche be done for affeccion happene not oftentymes so welle as those same doo whyche be done by good and mere delyberation wherefore and to theintente that we putt not oure estate in the danger wherein it lately hath bene we oughte to aunswere to the Sycilyans that they abuse not their Empire concernynge vs beyonde the lymyttes whiche it presentlye conteigneth to wytt not to passe or ercede the goulphe of the sea of Ionia frome the coaste of the lande nor of the other coaste that same goulphe of Sycille and furthermore that they gouerne their lande and seigniory amongest themself as they shall thynke good And on the other syde that the Egestians shulde be aunswered that inasmuche as they haue begonne to warre againste the Selynuntyns wythout vs that they also make an ende therof without vs. And for the reste that we ought not to make newe allyaunces of the sorte that we haue accustomedde For we alwayes do ayde the vnhappy and those which be in necessytie and whan we require succours and ayde in oure owne affayres we cannot haue it And thowe Threasourer if thou reputest thy selfe worthy to haue admynistration of the affayres of the cytie and wilt be a good cytezein thou oughtest to put this matter agayne into deliberatyon and to demande the opynions of men therin and oughtest not nother to haue shame nor feare for to reuoke the lawe and deliberation already made For there be so many good wytnesses in thys so greate an assemblie that thou shuldeste not feare to be reprehended for hauinge agayne demanded the opynyons herin insomuche as it is the medecyne of a cytie euill counsailled And the manner of a good offycier for to rule and gouerne well ys to do for his couÌ„trey all the beste that he may or at the leaste to hys knowlaige not to do the thinge that may be preiudicial vnto it Thus spake Nycias and after him many othere Athenyans dyd speake wherof the more parte were of opynyon that the enterprise of the warre shulde be executed ensuinge the furste deliberation some were of the contrary opynyone but aboue all Alcibiades perswaded the sayd expedytion aswel for to contrary and inuey agaynste Nycias whome he hated as for other reasons whyche mouedde hym concernynge the admynistration of the comon welth and specially for that the same Nycias had made mention of him in an euill sorte though that he had not named hym vnto theym by name But principally for the desire that he had to be chief of that same armye hopynge by meane therof to subdue furste Sycille and afterwardes Carthage and also to acquyre glory and rychesse in that same conqueste if it chaunced well accordinge to thys expectation For beyng in greate estymation and fauour of the people by hys ambition wyllyng to kepe a greater trayne than hys reuenue myght supporte he nouryshed horses whyche was afterwardes in parte cause of the euersion of the empire of the Athenyans For many cytezeins seing hys superfluytie aswell in hys fedynge as also in hys appareille and garmentes and moreouere hys arrogancye and highnes of his harte in all thynges that he admynistredde became hys ennemyes estemynge that he woolde make hymselfe lorde and tyrant And although that he conducted the affayres of warre valyantlye yett for that that the particulers were the more parte contrary to hys woorkes and particuler enterpryses they wente aboute to coÌ„mytt the admynistration of the common affayres into the handes of an othere whereupon did followe
shoulde be greate honnoure vnto theym to be parttakers of the victory And as touchynge those that were declaredde to be wyth the Lacedemonyans they offred theymself more readely than they hadde bifore tyme done hopynge that the victorye shoulde brynge theyme oute of all necessities and oute of all dangers And also those whiche were subiectes of the Athenyans were the more determynedde for to rebelle and for to doo agaynâ—â—e them further than their power extended for a greate hatred and euyll wil whiche they hadde agaynste theym and also for thys that for any reasone that men coulde alleage they woulde not vnderstande that those Athenyans myghte eskape to be destroyed and ouerthrowen the somer followinge For all the â—hiche thynges the cytie of Lacedemonie dyd conceyue greate hope to obteigne victorye agaynste the sayd Athenyans And specially for that that it was to bileue that the Sycilians being their allyes and hauynge so greate nomber of shipps aswell of theirs as of those whiche they hadde gottene fro the Athenyans shulde come in the sprynge tyme vnto their ayde And so hauyng hope on all sydes they determyned not to make anny delay in the warre makynge their accompte that if they had the victory at that same time they shulde be alwayes in suertie out of the danger wherein they shoulde haue bene if the Athenyans hadde gottone Sycille For it is fully clere that if they had subdewed it they would haue made themself Lordes of all Grece Followynge than this determynation Agis king of the Lacedemonyans departed that same wynter out of Decelea and sailled by sea through the cyties of the allyes for to cause them to contrybute monney for to make newe shyppes And passynge through the greate Goulphe of Oetes named Melinee he toke there a greate prize of theyme by cause of the auncyente ennemytie that the Lacedemonyans hadde wyth theym whyche prize he tourned into monney And that done he constreyned the Achees the Pththiotes and the other nygh borderyng people subiectes to the Thessaliens to delyuer a good some of monney and also certaine nomber of hostages for that that he suspected theym agaynste the wyll of the sayed Thessaliens Whiche hostages he sente into Corynthe and for effecte the Lacedemonyans ordeyned one houndred galleys to be made by theym and their allyes and taxedde vnto euery one for hys rate a portion to wytte to theym xxv and to the Beotians asmanye to the Phociens Locriens and Corynthyans xxx to the Arcadians Peloponesians Sycioniens Megarens Trezeniens Epidauriens and Hermioniens xx and moreouer they made prouisioâ— of all other thinges to the intente to begynne warre incontinentlye as the sprynge time shoulde come On the other syde the Athenyans that self same wynter ensuynge that whiche they had determynedde vsed all diligence to make and tacle shyppes and those that had matter or stuffe dyd furnyshe yt wythoute difficultie They moreouer enclosedde their poarte of Sunium wyth walles to the ende that the shyppes that shulde brynge them victuallles might come in suertie And they habandonedde and left the rampars and fortes whiche they hadde made in Laconique whan they went into Sycille destitute and voyde And in the rest they deuysed to refrayne expences in all that wherin it shulde semâ— vnto theÌ„ that they might excede But aboue all thynges they were myndeful to kepe and defende that their subiectes allyes shulde not rebell Howe the Lacedemonians were required and instanced by those of Chio of Lesbos and of Hellesponte to sende vnto them an army by sea for to resist the Athenyans against whom they were wylling to rebell the order that therupon was geuen ☞ The .ii. Chapter IN the meane tyme that thies thynges were done on the one syde and on the other and that they were attentife and diligent in their prepation asmuche as if the warre shulde begyn at the self houre specially the Eubeens bifore all the other allyes of the Athenyens sent messengers vnto Agis for to iogine with the Lacedemonians who receyued them gentlely and comanded two pryncipall men of Lacedemonie to come vnto him for to sende theym into Eubee that is to wytt Alcamenes sone of Stenclaide and Melanthus who came with foore houndredde freemen The Lesbyans also whiche desired to rebell fro theÌ„ sent likewise vnto Agis to demauÌ„de men of hym for to sende into their towne who at the perswatioÌ„ of the Beotians agrede vnto them in the meane time suspended the enterprise of Eubee And he sent Alcamenes who shuld go thider vnto Lesbos with xx ships wherof Agis furnished tenne and the Beotians tenne And Agis did al this without causinge the Lacedemonyans to knowe any thyng therof For he had auctoritie to sende people to what place that he woulde and to assemble and leuie lykewyse for to recouer monney and employ yt so as he shulde thinke expediente so longe as he shulde be at Decelea During whiche time all the allyes dyd obey him somewhat more than the cytie of Lacedemonie for that that hauing the army at his will he caused it to go whider he would And so he agrede with the Lesbyans as it is abouesayd On the other syde those of Chio and those of Erithree whiche were mynded likewise to rebell from the Athenians made their treatie with the officers and counsaillours of the cytie of Lacedemonie withoute knowlaige of Agis with whome was come into the sayd cytie Thissaphernes that was prouoste of the inferiour prouynce for the kynge Dareus sonne of Artaxarxes who solycited the Peloponesians to make warrre against the Atheniens and promysed to fournishe theÌ„ with monney wherof he had the comoditie for that that by the comandement of the king his maister he had a lytle bâ—fore exacted a tribute of his prouynce to the intent for to employ the monney against the Athenyans Whome he hated much for that that those were they that had empesched him to make Grece trybutairie vnto hym and it semedde to the sayed Thissaphernes that more easely he shulde recouer the sayd trybute insomuche as he was mynded to employe ytt against the Athenyans and also by that meane that he shoulde make allyance bitwene the Lacedemonians and the kynge Dareus besydes this that he shulde haue in his power Amorges bastarde sonne of Pyssuthnes Who beyng prouost of the countrey of Carie for the kynge was rebelled againste him and he hadde comanded the sayd Thissaphernes that he shulde take paine to haue him lyuing or deade And thereupon Thissaphernes agrede with theym of Chio. In the selfe season Calligetus sonne of Leophon of Megare Tymagoras sonne of Athenagoras of Cizine who were both chased out of their countrey came vnto Lacedemonie vnto Pharnabasus sonne of Pharnacus who had withdrawin theÌ„ thider to demauÌ„de of the Lacedemonyans ships for to carye theÌ„ into Hellesponte offring them to make all his power to get the cyties of his prouynce which
it sythens that youe may see the one brought into the seruitude by the Athenians the other sharply assaulted specyally they that be your allyes whom of a long saisone they haue imagyned to wtdrawe vnto them for to serue ayde theÌ„ agaynst vs in time of warre Truly if warre were made agaynst theÌ„ Certaynly they haue for none other purpose occupyed Corcyre nor now do holde potyde assiged wherof the one to witt Corcyre shulde fournyshe the Peloponesians with greate nomber of shyppes the other ys very propice for the affayres of Thrace For the whych thinges you arne to be blamed For that that from the begynnynge whan the warre of the Medes was fynyshed you suffred them to make thair cytie agayne And afterwardes moreouer to increase yt wyth greate walles And successiuely from that tyme vnto this presente daye haue tolerated and suffred them to depriue from lybertye and putt into bondage not thair allyes onely but also ours How beyt it may well be sayde that it is youe that haue done it For the mysdeede is more attrybuted vnto him that suffreth it to be donne where as he may lett or withstande yt than to hym that doth yt And pryncypally to youe that beare the praise and the tytle to be defendours of the lybertie of Grece And yet neuerthelas with great payne youe haue nowe caused the assemblye to be made And wol not take the thynges to be certayne that be holy not orious But youe wolle that we shal declare by what meanes we be iniuried where as it is necessary to deliberate but only howe weâ— shulde reuenge vs of the wronges whyche hath be donne vnto vs. For in this that the Athenyans dyd not comme agaynste vs to oultrage vs atoones but by lytle and lytle although they yet knowe not of thys assemblie they do it not wythout cause But we perceue very welle that it is for that that they thynke that so doynge that youe shulde not parceue yt through the slackenes and for bearyng whyche they knowe to be in youe whyche thynge you shuld easely do if they executed al at ones that whych they haue enterprysed But whaÌ„ they shall see that you vnderstande and passe not on yt they wol execute yt much more boldely and wyth greater force Nowe lordes Lacedemonians youe arne they only that be in reste and woll not resiste violeÌ„ces by force but by leÌ„gth of tyme. nor abate the strengthe of your enemys whaÌ„ they begynne to increase but tary vntyll they be dowbled And thys ys not only now that youe haue had this custome For we all do knowe that the Medes that came frome the worldes ende agaynste you werein your lande bifore youe had made prouisions that you might onght to haue done bifore for your honnour suertie And now you lett at nought the Athenyans whyche be not farre from youe but euene youre neyghbours and youe loue better that they shuld come to assayle youe thaÌ„ furst to inuade them and by thys meane to put your selfe in hazart of the warre whaÌ„ they shal be much more stronger than they were Truly youe ought well to consyder that the victory whyche we had agaynst the stranger kynge of Medes was in a great parte through hys faulte And chiefly the Athenyans whan they had warre agaynst vs were vaynquyshed more by thair errours that they committed than by our valyantnes And also youe ought to remeÌ„ber that some of ours trustynge to your ayde and fauour were taken and destroyed and thynke not that we speake thies thinges for hatred that we haue agaynste the sayd Athenyans by manner of quarellinge For it is the parte of a freÌ„de to his frende that he sheweth hys quarell or playncte whan one doth that to an othere whyche he ought not to do but it is by manner of accusation that we complayne of the iniuries that our ennemys hath donne to vs. And truly if there be any people in the worlde to whome it is laufull to complayne themselues and to sorowe for thair allyes and confederates we arne they as we thinke marked specially that we do fyght for so greate quarelles and for thynges of so greate ymportance wherof as it semeth to vs you haue no regarde and woll not consyder that we haue to do agaynste the Athenyans whyche be your ennemys and people that seke alwayes nouuelties and also be subtyll to studye oute meanes to increase themselues and diligent to execute them but as touchynge you you thinke that it is suffycient to kepe togider that that you haue wythoute to enterpryse any thynge and also be negligent to execute though that necessitie requyre it And by thys meane we see that they haue greater audacyte than force so that they put themselues into many greate daungers againste opynion of the people and neuertheles whatsoeuer harde thinge that they enterpryse they haue good hope to execute yt but your harte ys much lessar to enterpryse than your force for to execute yt wherby it chaunceth that in enterpryses that be wythout daÌ„ger you put doubte you neuer thinke that you arne longe inough out of busynes furthermore they be diligente and you neglygence They go contynually fourth of thair countrey and you arne restfull in yours for they thinke that thair voyages do welrecompense thair absence but whan you go out of your countrey you thinke that that whyche you leâ—e behynd youe ys loste They whan they haue vainquished thair enemy do poursue thair victories at lengthe and whan they are ouercomed they lose not one iote of couraige And furthermore in prouiding for thinges whyche coÌ„cerne the weale of thair cytie they vse thair wytts counsayle as it were for thair owne cause but as for thair bodyes they sett them of haband onne them as if they were of strange people whome they knewe not And whan they fayle to execute any enterpryse they thinke that they haue loste somuche of thair owne And also whan they haue gotten any thynge it semeth to them to be very lytle in regarde of that that they thought it to be And if they alsayed to do any thinge wherof they had bene frustrated of thair hope they parforced themselfe to recouer suche losse by some newe enterpryse And I thynke in effecte that they and none other haue and hope togiders the thinge that they enterpryse so diligent be they to execute thair enterprises Also in all thies thinges they vse thair lyfe and all thair age in labours and in daungers withoute muche enioyinge the thynges that they haue gottonne for the contynual desire that they haue to gett other And they thinke that there was no feaste nor other thynge so playsante as that in whiche they executed the thynge whiche they enterprysed and that the repose that men take through necligence ys more dammageable to the parsone than laborious exercise in such sort that it may be wel said to coÌ„prehend all in fewe wordes that they be borne with such
of Chio haue bene by the sayde Athenyans subdued and brought into theyr subiection obeissance And though that we haue sente of oure people to theyr assemblyes and commaundementes as theyr allyes and confederates and be takenne and named for suche yet for truthe we neuer dyd take them for oure laufull dukes and headdes For that it was not to be beleued sytheÌ„s that they had reduced into seruytude the other that were comprysed in the selfe allyaunce that we haue wyth them but that they wolde do the lyke vnto vs whan they shulde see theyr oportunytie For yf we had bene all yet in oure lybertye we myght haue had more faythe in them But hauynge subdued the more parte it is to beleue that they wolde take it more dyspleasauntlye that we woulde repute oure selfe egall to them in common affayres and that we alone wolde accompanye our selfe wyth them where all the other obeye them CoÌ„sydered chiefly that howe muche they arne become more myghtye we do remayne so muche the worse accompaignyed Nother there is anye thynge that maketh so muche the allyaunce to be faythfull and pardurable as doth the mutuell feare that one of the allyes hath of the other For he that wolde vyolate and breake it on hys partie whan he consydereth that the other is as puyssant as he he feareth to assayle it And that they haue permitted and suffred vs vnto thys presente to lyue in libertye it hath not bene for any other reasonne but for that they wente aboute to establyshe theyr princyyalitie rather vnder couloure of some reasone and of counsaylle than by manifest force And also to the ende that yf they made warre agaynste any of them that they had subdued for any faulte which they had done agaynste theÌ„ they myghte iustifye them selfe sayinge that yf the same warre had not bene reasonable we and the other that were yet in lybertye and hadde lyke auctorytie as they wolde not haue gone thyder For thys cause they haue many tymes assembled a great puissance agaynste people very weake To thyntente that hauynge by a lytle lytle reduced the one after the other they that remayned shulde be so muche more weake There where yf they had begonne wyth vs the other stylle beynge in theyr entier and not subdewed they coulde not haue done it so easelye Also they wolde haue had some feare of oure shyppes and wolde haue doubted that yâ— we had assembled them all togeder and wolde haue drawen vnto you or anye other that it shulde haue bene to theyr dommayge And on the other parte we be saulfe from them by flaterynge and enterteygnynge theyr seigniorye by swete meanes And so endure all theyr gouernementes vntyll thys presente But yf that thys warre had not bene begonne that coulde not longe haue endured as it maye appeare by thexample of other What amytye coulde thys than be or what confydence coulde we haue had of true lybertyeâ— where the one do gratefye the other agaynste theyr opynyon to wytt they by flatterynge vs in tyme of warre for feare that they haue to dysplease vs to prouoke oure anger and we do the lyke to them in tyme of peace for the selfe consyderatyon And so that whiche amytie and beneuolence hath made stable and faythfull amonge other allyes causeth feare betwene vs. And for effecte we haue parseuered and contynued in thys allyaunce and socyete for feare and not for loue In suche manner that the same of vs that sonnest had founde meane to breake it wythout feare of daungier was readye to declare hymselfe to be the furst And yf any iudge vs to haue done euyll to preuent and comme before and that we shulde haue taryed vntyl they had declared theyr yll wylle whiche we thought that they had had consyderynge that yet they had not shewed it he taketh it not welle â—or that myght haue had apparaunce yf we had had the facultye and power to espye and tarye our tourne as they and that in that case there had bene no daunger to be vnder them beynge as puyssant as they be But consydered that they had alwayes the meane and power to enterpryse vpon vs whan they shulde haue wylled it was reasonable that we shulde furste take it whan we dyd see oportunyte Thies be than the causes Lordes Lacedemonyans and confederates for the whiche we depart our selues froÌ„ the AthenyaÌ„s which we thinke clere raysonable to al meÌ„ that vnderstande theÌ„ sufficient on our behalfe for to put vs in dreade feare And to geue vs occasyon to seke some succoure which thinge we had nowe determyned to do before the warre begaÌ„ne and for that cause dyd sende our messengers towardes youe for to demaunde youre allyance But beynge by youe reiected denyed we coulde not obteygne nor execute it Whereunto nowe hauynge bene moued by the Beotians we haue done it readely and wythoute delaye Persuadynge oure selues that oure reuolte and tournynge from them is iustyfyed by two great reasons The one to the intente that not perseuering on the partye of the Athenyans we shulde not be aydynge to subdue Grece but rather wyth youe the other we shuld helpe to defende hys lybertye the other for to defeÌ„de our lyberty specyally that in tyme to comme we be not subdued as the other And yet neuertheles we be declared to be to swyfte or to hasty Wherfore it is nedefulle that youe vse the more dylygence to succoure vs and that youe shewe in effecte at thys poyncte that youe wyll both defende theÌ„ that youe oughte also that youe wylle noye youre ennemyes in all sortes that youe can whiche thynge to do youe haue nowe greater oportunyte than euer men had For that that the Athenyans be vnprouyded of men by meanes of the pestylence and of monneye by meanes of the warre And also theyr shyppes be dysparsed some of them into youre quarter of Peloponese and the other into ours for to watche vs. In such manner that it is not to beleue that they can rayse anye greate nomber yf youe go to assayle them presently at begynnynge of thys sommer by seaâ— and by laÌ„de But rather it is to beleue that ayther youe shalâ—e more myghtye thaÌ„ they by sea or at the leaste that they cannot resiste youre puyssance ioynned wyth ours And yf there be any that woll saye that youe shulde not put youre lande in daunger for to defende ours that is farre frome you I saye vnto youe that the same maÌ„ that estemeth the Isle of Lesbos to be farre of shall knowe by effecte that the proffyt that he shall haue thereby shal be nyghe For the warre shal be made by thys meane not after the sorte that they thynke for But it shal be made in the place from whence Athens it selfe taketh rayseth the monney and proffit For theyr reuenues is taken vpon theyr allies which yet wolbe greater whaÌ„ they shal haue brought vs to theyr subiectyon For none of the other shall thaÌ„ be bolde
wherof we shall be egall to oure ennemyes Truly we ought not to procede here to the punyshment of offenses as iudges to oure oune dommage but we ought to remember for the tyme to comme howe we maye drawe and recouer the reuenue and trybute of oure cytyes in mulctynge them moderatly and to kepe and conserue them more by gentlenes and good intreatinge than by rygoure of lawes Whereunto we do nowe intende to do the clene contrary For yf any people that were franke and free hath bene by force brought into our seruytude and subiectyon and myndynge to recouer their lybertye do rebelle as reasonably they maye do and afterwardes hath bene recouered and brought agayne youe woll that all seuerytye be vsed agaynste him Certaynely I am of contrary opynyon and thynke that the free people that do rebell shulde not be sharpelye punyshed but be well kepte by good meanes that they do not rebelle and to intreate them in suche sorte that they maye haue no occasyon to haue suche wille And consyder moreouer what faulte youe shall commyt in followynge the opynyon of Cleon. youe parceyue that the people of all the confederate cyties be affectyoned to youre estate and that they tourne not to youre ennemies although they be puyssante Or yf any of the sayde cytyes do tourne frome youe the comoÌ„ people hateth them that haue bene the cause therof And wyth thys confydence of the loue of the people youe go aboute to make your warre Nowe yf you kyll all the people of Mytylene whiche haue not consented vnto the rebellyon but whan they myghte haue taken armure and founde theÌ„selfe most stronge haue receyued you into theyr towne furste you shal be in greatefull and oultragious vnto them that haue well acquyted themselfe towardes youe and afterwardes youe shall do that that youre ennemyes desyre For whan they shall haue drawen one cytye of ours vnto theyr partye all the people shal be theyrs vnderstaÌ„dynge that yf they come into youre handes asmuch shall they be punyshed that shall not haue offeÌ„ded as they that shall haue done the worste that they might Where thoughe they had offended youe shulde haue dissymuled and wynked at it to the intent that that which we yet reteigne vnder the forme oâ— a fellowlike lyuynge shulde not be tourned into host ylytie and enmytie And in my opynyon it shulde be more proffytable for vs for the conseruatyon of oure empyre to indure to be oultraged and iniuryed with our knowlaige than to cause oure people to dye whan it is not expedyent Althoughe we myght do it by iustice And it shall not be founde verytable and true that Cleon hath sayde that one self veÌ„geaunce maye be bothe iniuste and proffytable And sythens that ye percâ—yue that that which I have spokenne is for the beste I am of aduyse that wythout groundyng youe vpon any swetenes or benignyte where vnto I woll not that ye haue regarde for the thynge that I perswaded youe but for the weale of the â—ytye onely that ye kepe yet this people here that Paches hath sent prysonners for to ordeyne hereafter therevpon all at leasure And touchynge the other that youe suffre them to inhabyte the cytye of Mytylene For that shall serue youe in tyme to comme and nowe feare youre ennemyes Forsomuche as he that geueth raysonable counsaylle is more feared and more estemed of hys ennemyes than he that by a rashe crueltye dothe and commytteth insolente and oultragyous thynges Thus spake Diodotus Howe the citie of Mitilene was in daunger to be vtterlye destroyed and the punyshment which it receyued for hys rebellyon And howe the Plateans rendred them selfe to the wylle of the Lacedemonyans wyth some other exploict of warre that was done in that same yeare ☞ The .viii. Chapter AFter these contrary opynyons there were many altercatyons among the Athenyans so that whan it came to geue theyr voyces they were founde equall and parted asmuche as th one syde as on the other but yet at the ende that same of Diodotus was alowed And so they dispatched incontinently one other galley for to go wyth all dylygence to Mytylene doubtyng that yf she vsed not dyligence the other that was departed a daye and a nyght before thys shulde preuente it In suche manner that whan thys last arryued she shulde fynde nowe the cytye eâ—tinguished For which feare thys latter galley was wayged and victuaylled by the Ambassadours Mytylenyens Who made greate promyses to the maronners yf they arryued soner thaÌ„ the furste Which by thys meane for to make extreme dylygence ceased not daye nor nyght to sayle And in theyr saylyng they dyd eate theyr breade sopped in wyne and in oyle and also they slepte by course so that the shyyp wente wythout cessynge And it chaunced them so well that they neuer had one onely contrarye wynde which was a greate fortune By meane whereof ioynned also that the fâ—rste yâ— caryed the euyll newes dyd not make very greate dylygence that same galley arryued very sone after that the other was aryued And euen at the houre whan Paches redde the furst coÌ„maundement prepared hymself for to execute it the later was presented which empesched the executioÌ„ In this manner the cytie of Mytylene was very nyghe to vtter destruction And as touching theÌ„ the Paches had sente as chief offendours which where more than a thousande they were all iudged to deathe according to the opynioÌ„ of Cleon. And also the walles of the citie of Mytylene were beateÌ„ doune all their shippes were takeÌ„ froÌ„ theÌ„ moreouer there was no trybute imposed or set through al the Isle of Lesbos but it was all except the citie of Methymne deuided into thre M. partes Whereof they dyd geue and dedicate to the temples of the Goddes thre houndred for the tenth and to other they sent of theyr cytezeins by Lott for to inhabyte there And dyd ordeyne that the Lesbiens shulde paye them for euery of the sayde partyes two pounde wayght of syluer And for that some they were permytted to labour the sayde lande Moreouer ther was taken from the sayde Mytylenyans all the townes and landes that they had in the mayne lande Which afterwarde remained in obedyence of the Athenyans Suche was the yssue of the rebellion of Lesbos In that same soÌ„mer Nycyas sonne of Nyceratus wente by sea wyth a good bende of Athenyens into the Isle of Mynouer Whiche is ryght agaynste and harde by Megare And there was a castell that the Megaryens dyd kepe for a forte whiche Nicias mynded to take for to haue there a defence and recourse more nyghe than that whiche they had at Budore and at Salamyne and to the intent that whan the Peloponesyans shulde yssue into the sea they shulde not hyde theyr galeys there as the Corsaireens had many tymes done And also to the ende that the Megaryens shulde haue no more any meane to enter into the sea And so he came furste departynge from Niseus to sett
space of time To wit in breakyng your promes and apoynctement afterwardes in kyllynge them with whom you had made it thirdly by promising vs deceitefully not to slay them seinge that we did no dammage in your land And yet neuerthelesse you haue audacytie to saye that we do you wronge and that men wold punyshe you agaynst reasone Truely ye shal be declaredde innocentes and absolued of payne if these iudges here woll iudge vniustlye But if they be good Iudges youe shall receiue punyshment for your mysdedes which thyngs we haue called to remembraūce Lordes Lacedemonyans aswell for your interestes as for ours to wytte for yours to the ende that condempnynge theyme youe vnderstande to haue done iustyce And for ours to the intente that men maye knowe that demandinge requiringe that they be punished we haue in nothing cōspyred nor done any thynge worthye of reprehensyon And youe oughte not to be moued vnto pytie for the vertues and ancyēt glories of thies people here if they haue hadde any For suche thinges ought to helpe them to whome men woulde do wronge But vnto them that haue done any vyllaynous thyng that same shuld double their payne as to thies here whyche nowe haue offended wythout any reasonable occasion Also the lamentations and pytefull rehersalles that they make in requiringe to their ayde the sepoulcres of your ancestors and bewaylinge the lacke of their frendes ought not to moue youe to pytie For we do youe to vnderstande that our yonge citezeins were muche more cruelly intreated by these here that slewe them The fathers of whom were partly slaine in Coronie bringinge vnto youe succour from Beoce And the other that remayne in their age depryuedde of theire childrenne desolate in their howses requyre thereof muche more reasonably vengeaunce than thies here requyre grace For they be aboue all othere worthye of mercye that haue sufferedde wronge agaynste reasonne But they that haue done yt do merytt that they whyche haue suffredde yt shuld reioyce themselfe by seynge theire calamyties Lyke as thies be here whoe for their faulte be thus habandōned they beynge wyllyngly departedde frome theire beste frendes and allyes And hauynge iniuriedde vs more throughe hatredde and euylle wylle than by reasonne wythoute hauynge bene by vs in anny thynge offendedde And yette they shall nott suffre all the payne that they desarue thoughe they shal be at the presente punyshedde ryghte sharpely And thys ys not true that they allege that they yeldedde them selues wyth theire good wylles holdynge vp their handes againste vs in fayghtynge butt they be by expresse couenaunte remyttedde to your iudgemente wherefore the matters beynge suche as we haue sayde wee requyre youe lordes Lacedemonians that youe woulde susteigne and helpe the lawe which thies here haue offended and to render vnto vs that haue bene vniustlye wroungedde grace and reward accordynge to oure demerytte for the saruyces that wee haue done throughe oure industrie and trauaille In suche manner that it be not sayde that wee haue hadde the repulse of youe throughe the woordes of thys people here And to shewe example vnto al Grece that you grounde not youreselfe vpon wordes but vpon dedes For truly whan matters be good of themself there nedethe not manye woordes But to coloure and mytigate a mysdede it is very requysitt to vse artificiall and sturrynge woordes And if those that haue the authorytie to iudge as it is wyth youe at thys presente hauynge somarely knowin the difficulties and doubtfull causes woulde thereupon ordeyne at ones wythoute puttynge agayne the matters into disputatyon men shulde not study somuche to forge fayre woordes in villaynous thynges Thus spake the Thebayns After that the iudges Lacedemonyans hadde hearde bothe the parties they determynedde to persyste in theire interrogation to wytte if they hadde merytedde any grace of the sayde Lacedemonyans durynge the warre Forsomuche as yt semedde vnto theyme that in the tyme passedde they were gouernedde reasonablye after the lawes and conuentyons of Pausanyas vntyll they refusedde the parte to remayne newter afore they were assiegedde And that sence they hadde refused yt the same Lacedemonyans were not bounde by the sayde conuenauntes And also the sayde Plateens hadde by that meane yll acquytedde themselfe towardes theym So they causedde them all to comme one after the other And demaūded of them as aboue And seing that they answered nothing they caused thē to be caried frōthēs into an other place where they al were slaine wythout that any one eskaped whiche were found of Plateens more than twoo houndred and of Athenyans that were come to their ayde twenty and fyue and the women caryed awaye prysonners As touchinge the cytie the Thebains dyd geue it to the Megaryans who were dryuene from their cytie through the deuisions amonge them and vnto other Plateēs that had taken their parte for to inhabitt there But the yeare gone about they plucked it downe from the bottome vp by the foundations and buylded it newe agayne nighe vnto the temple of Iuno nexte the whyche they made a palais the largenes whereof was twoo houndred fote of all sides in forme of a cloister hauinge houses and habytations of all sydes aboue and benethe wherin they dyd bestowe all the plākes the portes and the other faire ornamentes of the houses that they had plucked downe And also furnished them wyth couches and beddes and did dedicate all vnto the said goddesse to whome moreouer they edyfied a newe temple all of stone entailled or karued conteigninge an houndred foote of lengthe Touchinge the terrytorie of the said cytie of Platee yt was lett to farme to laboure for tenne yeres to wytt to the Thebains one small portione to the Lacedemonyans the greateste parte whiche they did take for to doo pleasure to the saide Thebayns For also by this same cause they were so contrary to the sayd Plateens Thinkinge that the sayd Thebains mighte helpe them greatly and do thē greate seruyce in that warre whiche they hadde bigonne agaynst the Athenyans Such ende toke the siege of Platee foore skoore and thirtene yeares after that the Plateens had made allyance wyth the Athenyans Howe the Peloponesians had an victory by sea against the Athenyans and Corcyrians that toke their parte by meanes of the deuysion that was moued amonge the sayd Corciriens ☞ The .xi. Chapter IN thies enterfeates and busynes the forty ships that the Peloponesians had sente vnto the succours of Lesbos parceyuinge the comming of the armye by sea of the Athenyans that came againste them they enforsed themselfe to retire with the most diligence that they coulde Being chased by fortune of the sea into Creta fromthens withoute order making towards Peloponese they encountred in their way nighe vnto Cyremus thirtene galleys which were of the Leucadyans and Ambrasyans wherof Brasidas sonne of Tallides was Capytaine and for his counseillour he had Alcidas who was comme thider to hym For the Lacedemonyans hauing failled
â—ykewyse many of those that came out of the mayne land to the succours of the principal Citezenis returned priuely into theyr houses The morowe after Nicostratus Duke of the Athenyans aryued in the porte of Corcyâ—e wyth twelue shyppes and fyue hundreth meÌ„ Messenians coming frome Naupacâ—e who for to reduce all the Citie into coâ—corde entreated and trauaylled amonge them that they shulde agree and be freÌ„des and that tenne only of them that had bene the principallest of the sedition shulde be punysshed and that they neuerthelas shulde not abyde IudgemeÌ„te but saue themselfe And as for the rest that al the othere shulde tary in the Citye as before and that all wyth one accorde shulde confirme agayne the allyance wyth the Athenyans to wyt to be frendes of frendes and ennemyes of ennemyes After that this appoinctement was so concluded and agrede the principallest and chiefest of the people treated wyth Nicostratus that he shulde leue them fyue of the shyppes to defende that the other partye shulde not ryse nor sturre And moreouer that he shulde charge and take into hys other shippes those that they shulde aduertise to be of the contrarye parte and cary them awaye wyth hym to thintente that they myght not make anye mutyne and insurrection whyche thynge he graunted them But so as they made the rolle of theyme whome they wolde haue charged vpon the sayde shippes they fearinge to be caryed into Athenes wythdrewe themselfe into franchise and sanctuarye into the temple of Castor and Pullur And though that Nicostratus dyd put them in comforce and exhorted them to come with hym yet coulde he not perswade theÌ„ By occasioÌ„ wherof the people wente into there houses toke all the harnes that they had and had slayne some that they encountred yf that Nicostratus had not empesched letted them whiche perseaued by the other that were of that bende they wythdrewe them selues into the temple of Iuno to the noumber of foore houndred whereby the people fearynge lest they wolde make some innouation and noueltie he perswaded theÌ„ so that they were contente to be sent into a Isle that was foranempste the sayde temple in the whiche they shulde be furnisshed of that that was necessarye for their lyuinge The thinges being in suche estate foure or fyue dayes after that the sayde Citezenis were caryed into the sayde Islande the shypps of the Peloponesians that remayned in Cyllene after theyr retourne from IouiuÌ„ whereof Alcidos was Capytanie and his counsaillor Brasidas whiche were in noumber Liii arryued in the porte of Sybota whiche is a Citie in the mayne land and at the breake of the daye they tooke theyr waye towardes Corcyre whiche parceyued by the Citezenis they were much astonyed aswel through cause of theyr Ciuylle dessencions as also for the comynge of the ennemys And so they armed thre skoore shippes wyth theyr people and sente them the one after the other to mete wyth the ennemys so as they were charged Howe be it the Athenyans prayed them that they wolde suffre them to go for moste in the Battaille that they wolde come afteral togider Nowe the Corcirians saillinge thus despersed and oute of ordre after that they bygonne to approche and drawe nyghe vnto the Peloponesians two of the same Corcyrians shipps came to Ioigne wyth them and they that were wythin the other dyd fight togithers amonge themselfes wythout anye order whiche parceyâ—ed by the Peloponesians they sente twentye of theyr shippes againste them and the other made towarde the twelue of the Athenyans amonge whome there was one of Salamyne and an other of Parale The Corcyrians through the dysorder that was amonge them caste themselfe into a whele or rouâ—denes But the Athenyans fearyng to bee enclosed by the multytude of thennemys shippes came not directly againste the mayne â—lete but charged vpon one of the Corners and so dyd sincke one of theyr shyppes and afterwardes they dyd caste them selfe into a roundenes and sailled tourninge aboute the ennemyes trusting to put them in disorder whiche parceyued by the .xx. shippes that were gone against the Corcyriens fearinge lest yt shulde happene lyke as it chaunced vnto them at Naupacte they came to the succours of theyr compaignyons and all Ioignned togiders they made directly against the Athenyans who retired faire and easely But as the peloponesyans charged lyuely vpon them the Corcirians dyd put them selues in flyght after that the conflict and battaile had contynued vntyll nyght the Peloponesians had the victoryâ— Than the Corcirians fearynge that the ennemys hauinge the victory wolde come to assayle them in the Citie or that they wolde take with them the Citizens that were sente into the Isle or do some other enterpryse with them they did charge and take in the sayde Citezenis and caryed them agayne fro the Isle into the temple of Iuno and afterwardes they dyd sett watches in the towne Neuerthelas the enemies thoughe they hade the victorye durst not come againste the towne but wyth thirtene shippes whiche they had takeÌ„ with Corcyriens they retired into the porte fromewhence they were departed nor also the daye folowinge they durste remoue although the Cytie was in greate trouble and that Brasidas was of opynyon that they shulde haue gone thyder For Alcidâ—s that was of greater auctorytie was of a contrarye mynde and they wente fromethence to lande at the promontorye of Leucynne at whiche place beynge landed they dyd many euylles in the lande of Corcyre Durynge this tyme the Corcyrians fearinge theyr cumminge had a parliamente wyth them that were retyred into the temple of Iuno howe they myght defende the Citye and wyth some of them they had so muche perswaded that they had caused theÌ„ to enter into the shyppes whereof they had armed thirtye the best that they might haueâ— for to wythstonde thennemyes if they had come But they after that they had pyllaged wasted the territorye vnto the south returned into the shyppes and so sayled awaye And the nyght folowynge signe was made vnto them by his lyghts that ther was departed thre skoore shypps Athenyans from Leucade whiche made against them lyke as it for trouth was For the Athenyans vnderstandinge the dessencion and mutyne that was in the cytye of Corcyre and the aryuall of the shyppes that Alcydas coÌ„ducted they sent Eurymedone sonne of Thucleas wyth the sayde .lx shyppes iâ—to that partye wherof Alcidas the Peloponesians beynge aduertised they toke theyr waye costyng the lande for to go into theyr countrey wyth the moste diligence that they coulde And to thintente that it shulde not be perceyued that they toke theyr course by the mayne sea trauessed by the distreate of Leucade directly vpoÌ„ the other syde The Corcyrians beyng aduertysed as well of the departure of the Peloponesians as of the commynge of the Athenyans set agayne wythin the cytie of Myssena the citezenis that were dryuene fromthence And afterwarde caused theyr shyppes to departe whiche they had charged wyth
coulde enter returned towardes the other people of his army And the same day bifore that it was clere the Beotians arryued who bifore that they hadde receyued the letters from Brasidas vnderstandyng the commynge of the Athenians were come fourth with all their strength for to succoure the Megarians For that that they estemed the danger to bee common vnto them But whan they were in the lande of Platee hauyng there receyued the letters from Brasidas they were muche more assured And so dyd sende twelue houndred foote menne and sixe houndred horsemenne vnto Brasidas and the other retourned euey man vnto his house After that they were all ioigned togider with Brasidas they were aboute sixe thousande On the other syde the Athenians kepte themselfe in battaille aboutes Nisee resarued the fotemen lightly armed who being disparsed skattered abrode in the fieldes were assailled and repoulsed by the horsemen Beotians euen vnto the sea bifore that the Athenians did knowe the coming of the said Beotians For they came neuer bifore to the succours of Megare Wherefore they doubted them not But anon as they sawe them they issued agaynst them and there was a veray longe fight among the horsemen so that it coulde not be well iudged who hadde the better thereof And although that on the Beotians parte the Capitaine some other were slaine whiche aduentured themfelf euen vnto the walles of Nisee by occasion whereof the Athenians hauing rendred the carkasses by appoinâ—â—mente did sette vp a Trophee in signe of victorie yet the battaille was not pursued by the one parte nor the other So and in suche wyse that one coulde not attrybute the victory more to the one than to the other And so the Beotians retyred to their compaignie and the Athenians to Nysee After that Brasidas hauyng chosen a comodious place by the sea syde and nigh inough to Megare lodged there his campe and remoued not attending that the Athenians shoulde come to assaille theÌ„ For he thought that they of the citie would regarde and marke who should haue the better and that beyng there ready to fight without assailling the ennemyes or putting any thing in hazarte he should haue the victorye And as touchyng the citie he thought to haue done ynough Forsomuche as if he hadde not come the Citezens durst not haue assayed the fortune of the battaille agaynste the Athenians and by the meane shuld haue lost the citie But seyng the succours to become that those Athenians durst not fight it semed vnto hym that they would accept him and his bende into the citie and by that meane without effusion of bloud without daunger he shuld haue that that he was come for Lyke as it happened afterwardes For the Athenians did rancke themself in battaille nyghe to the longe walles hauing the selfe opinion that the Athenians had to witte not to fyght except he came to assaulte them for that that they thought that there was greater apparance and raisonne for them not to begyn the battaill than for the other considered that they had had already manye victories Wherefore if at that houre being in lesser nomber they had hazarded it and the other had had the victory he would so haue followed it that the citie shuld haue been lost thorugh theÌ„ or that they shuld lose one great parte of their army And also they persuaded theÌ„self that the other shuld rather begyn For that that they were of dyuers cities whereby they presumed that they shuld not haue pacience to refrayne as they that were all Athenians In this manner hauing longe attended on the one syde and on the other they retyred and did withdrawe themself to wytte the Athenians to Nisee and the Peloponesians to the place from whence they were departed Than the Magarians those that were frendes of the exiles parceyuyng that the Athenians durst not assaille thoder they dyd take courage and with the pryncipallest of the towne openned the gates vnto Brasidas and receyued hym into the towne as hauyng the victorye And came to parlamente with hym whereby those of the other bende were in greate feare And anone after the people that were come at commandement of Brasidas retourded euery man into his quarter And he wente fromthence vnto Corinthe fromwhence he departed for to assemble his army in Thrace The AtheniaÌ„s also retourned froÌ„ethence into their countrey By occasion whereof those that had been of the coniuracion and conspiracie and of the treatie for to cause them to come parceiuing that they were discouered withdrewe themself secretly out of the citie And the other hauing spoken with the parentes of the exiles called agayne those that were at Pegne with greate othes neuer more to remember the innuries passed But rather to geue themself with one accorde to the common weale of the citie But within a certaine tyme after they being chosene to offices and gouernance of the towne whan the musters of the people were made knowyng the armure of them that had bene the chief of thintelligence with the AtheniaÌ„s they apprehended of theÌ„ to the nomber of a houndred whom they caused to dye by iudgement of the sayed people Whome they induced to condempe them And by this meane the gouernance of the citie was reduced brought to the will of a small nomber of Citizens hauing the fauour of the people whiche state though it begonne by sedicion and mutynerye yet afterwardes it endured a longe â—asone Of a losse that the Athenians had of their shippes And how Brasidas passed through the countrey of Thrace by the helpe of Perdicas kyng of Macedonie and of certen his frendes of the sayd countrey for to come to the ayde of the Chalcidians ☞ The .x. Chapter THat self same somer the Mytylenians hauing purposed for to fortefye and repayer the citie of Antandre the two capitayns of the three whiche the Athenians had sent to receue and gather money through the landes of their party Demedocus and Aristides who were than in Hellesponte in thabsence of Lamachus which was the thirde and was gone into the sea of Pontus with tenne shippes had consultacion bitwene them of that matter And it semed vnto them a daungerous matter to suffer Fearyng leste it shuld happene as it had bifore tyme in the citie of Sanmie whether the exiles that had bene dryuen fromthence had retyred and ioyned themselfes altogiders And with the ayde of the Peloponesians who had sent them maroners they dyd grete hurt to them of the cytie grete saruices to the sayd Peloponesians For this cause they wente with their shippes and men of warre agaynst the sayd cytie of Antandre And hauing repoulsed and ouercome those whiche were come agayne and retourned thider who yssued fourth against them in battaille they dyd take it Sonne after Lamachus whiche was goane into the countrey of Pontus beeing there arryued with his shyppes within the floude of Calece whiche passeth through out the lande of
assailled had required succours of the Peloponesians principally those of Chalcide forsomuche as they feared that the Athenians would come first vpon them And also for that they did vnderstande that the other cities their neighbours that were not rebelled did coniure conspire already againste them for to ouercome them And as touchinge Perdiccas albeit that he was not their ennemye declared yet he feared the ennemyties that he had had with them in tymes passed for that cause demanded ayde of the Lacedemonians against theÌ„ And also against the king of Lyncesters whome he had determyned wholy to subdue An other occasion there was for the which that armye came out of the countrey of Peloponese Whiche was that the Lacedemonians parceiuing the euyl chances that were happened to them and that the Athenians had done many enterprises in their countrey they thought that there was nothyng more expediente to diuerte and tourne them than to make some alarme to their allyes And somuche the more that there were people that furnished to the charges of the army and of other that attended but their coming for to rebelle against the AtheniaÌ„s And also it moued theÌ„ muche the losse that they had at Pylus For they feared lest the Esklaues would make somme mutyne or sedicion Wherefore they were welle eased to sende them fourth vnder this coloure For through the feare that those Lacedemonians had to wytt those that had conducted and had charge of the affaries aswell of the yonge as of the comon people and aboue all of the esklaues on whome they layde most watche they had in times pastâ— caused a cry to be made that those that had done most vailliantly shulde stande aparte geuing them hope to enfranchise and sett them at lybertie But it was to vnderstande their courage Whereby being chosen out of al them to the nomber of two thousande and those brought with procession crowned with flowers vnto the temples so as the custome was of theÌ„ to whome lybertie was geuen sone after they were lost and no man knewe where they were become Of whome also they for the selfe feare dyd than delyuer to Brasidas the nomber of two thousande And the other he hadde caryed out of the countrey of Peloponese for soulde and wages For he desyred greatly to haue that charge for which cause the Lacedemonians dyd sende hym and also the Chalcides desired hym greatly for that that amonges all them of Sparte he was reputed to be a diligence and industrious parsone Also he obteigned a great bruyte by that charge For he shewed himselâ— so honest a man and so good a iusticer and pollitique in all thinges that manye townes and cyties by reason thereof came to render themself to hym And some he toke by diligence and treason whereby that chaunced to the Lacedemonians that they hoped of to wytt that they recouered many of their landes and caused some of those of the Athenians thereby to reuolte and rebelle And for a certayne tyme dyd putt and absente the warre out of their quarter of Peloponese And afterwardes in the warre that was bitwene the Athenians the PeloponesiaÌ„s in Sicille his vertue was so knowen estemed aswell by experience as by relacioÌ„ of other that by that reason many of those that toke the partie of the AtheniaÌ„s desired to take that same of the Peloponesians For seing the vertue goodnes that was in hym they persumed iudged that the other Lacedemonians shuld be all lyke And for to come againe to the purpose whereof we speake after that the Athenians vnderstode the comyng of that same Brasidas into Pelâ—ponese they declared Perdiccas for their ennemy For somuche as it semed vnto them that he had bene cause of his comyng And they were more diligente to watche the people of that same quarter than they had bene bifore Perdiccas than hauyug the succors of the Peloponesians with Brasidas brought them with his army against Archibeus sonne of Bromerus king of Lyncesters Macedoniane who was his neyghboure and his greate enemye Wyllyng to chase and vtterlye destroye hym But whan he was at the entryng of his câ—untrey Brasidas sayed to hym That bifore that he beganne the warre agaynste the sayd Archibeus he woulde firste speake with hym For to knowe if by woordes and declaracions he myght bryng hym to the deuocion and amytie of the Lacedemonians For the same Archibeus hadde caused to be signefyed by sounde of trompette that for the differences that were bitwene hym and Perdiccas he woulde be and stande to the iudgemente and saying of Brasidas Also the Chalcydes that desired to bryng the sayd Brasidas to their affaire shewed and perswaded hym that he shoulde not busye hymself with a longe and difficille warre at the appetite and desyre of Perdiccas Consideryng specially that those men that Perdiccas had sent to Lacedemonie for to haue succous had proponed declared that he would cause that many of his neyghbours should be reduced to the amitie of the sayd Lacedemonians And therefore with good cause prayed him that he would be content to appoinet the same differeÌ„ce for the publique weale of the Peloponesians and of hymself Whereunto Perdiccas woulde not consente saying that he hadde not called Brasidas for to be iudge of his questions but for to ayde him to discounfyte his ennemyes suche as he shuld declare and that the same Brasidas dydde hym great wronge to beare Archibeus agaynst hym Considered that he susteigned half charges of all that armye This notwithstaÌ„ding Brasidas against his wille came to parlement with Archibeus Whome he perswaded so by woordes and declaracions that he retourned with his armye By reasone whereof Perdiccas fromthence forwarde in stede that he payd the moytie of the charges of that same armye payd no more but the thirde parte perswadyng hymself that Brasidas had done hym wronge thereof Howe the Athenians at the persuatioÌ„ of Brasidas lefte the partie of the Athenians And did take the same of the Peloponesians The .xi. Chapter SOone after that a lytle bifore the vintage that selfe somer Brasidas hauing the Chalcydes with him came to make warre against the cytie of Acanthe which was a colonie of the Andrians And the citizens were in great controuersie whider they shuld receyue him into the cytie or not To wirt those that toke parte with the Chalcides on the one syde and the comon people on the other partie But bicause of this that the fruytes were yet in the feldes the comon people vpon the perswation was content that he shulde enter into the towne alone speake what he would And afterwardes they would determyne what they had to do Who being entred and come to the assemblie of the people he spake veray sagely as he welle coulde do For that that he was a Lacedemonian and sayd vnto them in this manner The oracion of Brasidas to the Acanthyans THis that I haue been here sent with this armye by the Lacedemonians
of the cytie assuredde themselfe in suche manner that he durste not pursue hys enterpryse chiefly parceyuynge that they of hys intelligence did not discouer theymselfe in the towne whyche thinge they coulde not do forsomuche as the Cytezeins who where in the greater nomber empesched and dyd lett that the gates were not opened And sent wyth all diligence by the counsell of Eucles who than was Capytayne of the Athenyans vnto Thucydides sonne of Olerus the same that hath writtone thys historie whyche at that tyme had charge for the Athenyans in the sayde countrey of Thrace wyth the sayde Eucles beinge nyghe the towne of Thase whyche was a colonie of the Paryans distante frome Amphipolis aboute one iourney by sea that he shuld come to succour them whyche thynge he readelye dyd and came fromthence wyth seuene shypps whyche he founde by aduenture all ready in that parte to succour Amphipolis if it were not than takene or if it were takene for to take Eione In thys meane tyme Brasidas who greatly fearedde the succours of Thase by sea and also leaste Thucydides who kept in that quarter many mynes of golde and of syluer by meane wherof he hadde greate frendeshypp and authorytie wyth the principallest of the couÌ„trey shuld assemble a great nomber of people by land he determyned to do hys beste to gett the said cytie by practyse coÌ„posytion bifore that the cytezeins mighte haue the sayde succour And for that cause he made it to be cryed and published wyth the sounde of a trompett that all they that were in the towne beinge citezeins or Athenyans myghte if they thought good abyde in their estate and lybertie Euen so as the Peloponesyans And those that wolde not might departe wyth their baguaige wythin fyue dayes whyche crye beinge harde many of the pryncipall Cytezeins changed their opynyon vnderstandyng to be by that meane in lybertie whereas the cytie at the presente tyme was gouerned the moste parte by the Athenyans And also they whose parentes and frendes were takene in the suburbs whyche were in greate nomber all meane people fearynge that if they dyd it not their sayd parentes and frendes shulde be yll intreated chyâ—fly the Athenyans whyche parceyued that wythout daunger they myghte departe wyth their baguage loked for to haue no succours redelye and the reste of the people seynge that by thys appoynctement they shulde brynge and delyuer themself oute of danger shulde remayne in lybertie all wyth one accorde dyd accepte the partye at perswation of them that had intellygence wyth Brasidas although that the gouernours whyche were for the Athenyans wolde haue perswaded them to the contrary And by thys meane the cytie was rendred That self same day aboute the euenynge tyde Thucidides arryued wyth hys ships at Eione Brasidas beinge already wythin Amphipolis who had taken the sayd cytie of Eione yf the night had not come vpon hym And also at the breake of the day he had taken yt if the succours wyth the sayd shypps had not arryued But the same Thucydides beinge there arryued as is afore sayd ordeyned hys case for to defende the towne if Brasidas wold haue come to assaylle yt also that he myght wythdrawe and receyue those of the mayne lande that were mynded to comme to ioygne wyth hym wherby yt chaunced that Brasidas who was descended a longe the ryuer wyth a good nomber of shypps hauynge made hys strength to gett a rocke that was at the mouth of the same nighe the towne and after to take yt by the land syde was repoulsed from both sides and was constraigned to retourne into the cytie of Amphipolis for to geue order to the affayres therof And sone after the cytie of Myrtine in the countrey of the Edonians dyd render itselfe to hys allyaunce For that that Pittacus kinge of the sayd Edonians was slayne by the wyfe and children of Groaâ—esâ— and wythin fewe dayes Gopselle and Esyne whyche were two Colonies of the Thasiens dyd lykewyse render themself and that by the practique of Perdiccas who arryued in the cytie of Amphipolis incontineÌ„tly after that it was takene whan the Athenyans vnderstode the losse of that same cytie they were therfore very sorowfull For that that it hadde bene muche propice and profytable to them aswell by reasone of the monney that they there leuyed and of the woode that they dyd take fromthence for to make shipps as also for that the Lacedemonyans hauinge bifore facultie and power to comme to inuade the allyes of the sayde Athenyans vnto the ryuer of Strymone by the conducte of the Thracyans who dyd take their parte coulde not passe ouer the water at the vpper parte therof for that that it was depe nor also wyth boatts so longe as the Athenyans dyd kepe their watche vpon the water at Eyone But the Lacedemonyans hauinge gottene the cytie and consequently the passage of the ryuer myght passe at their wylle and pleasure whereby the Athenyans were in greate feare that their frendes and allyes woolde tourne to take parte wyth the sayd Lacedemonyans Chyefly for thys that Brasidas beside that that he declared and shewed hymself to be a man curtoys and reasonable dyd also publishe generally euery where that he had no charge but to restoore all Grece into lybertie By meane wherof the other townes and cyties that dyd take parte wyth the Athenyans vnderstandynge the good entreatynge whyche the sayde Brasidas vsedde and practysedde towards the Amphilochiens and that he presented lyberte vnto euery man they were all enclyned to reuolte and tourne vnto hym and to wythdrawe themself from the obeissaunce of the Athenians And thereupon dydde secretely sende their heraultes and messengers towardes hym for to make their appoynctement euery man desyring to be the furste thynking that there was none daunger of the Athenyans who of longe tyme hadde nott any greate garnysons in that countrey and thought not that their puissance had bene so greate as they parceyuedde it afterwardes to be by experyence â—or also thies be people that haue accustomed to conduct their affayres more by an disordered affectyon rather than by reason and prouydence and puttynge their esperaunce in that whyche they wylled they followed yt wythoute annye greate purpose to effecte And that thynge whyche they wylledde not they reprouedde vnder coloure of reasone Also they grounded themself greately vpon the losse whyche the Athenyans had made frankly in Beoce through occasyon whereof it semedde to them that they coulde not soo soone sende succours into that quarter and the more by the perswasyons of Brasidas who dydde theym to vnderstande that the sayd Athenyans durste not fyghte againste hym nygh to Nysee though that he hadde but thys aâ—mie that was there Through thies reasons and vpon thies ymagynations they were all ioyous for the presente to be in lybertie vnder the protection of the Lacedemonyans whome they thoughte hauynge newely made the enterpryse in that same
knowlayge durynge the tyme that I was bannyshed in the countrey of Peloponesyans but I hadde better leasure to haue vnderstandynge and to wryte the trouthe thereof wherefore I woll declare the questyoâ—s and controuersyes that happened after the sayd tenne yeares and also the disturbance of the trefues and so vnto the ende alle that was done in the sayd warre After than that the peace was made for fyftie yeares and the allyance bitwene the Athenians and the Lacedemonians that the Ambassadours of the cyties of Peloponese which were come to Lacedemonie were retourned into their houses like as hath bene aboue sayde the Corynthyans practised to reallye themself with the Argiues And at the begynnynge they dyd speake wyth some of the pryncipalleste of the cytie of Argos shewyng them that insomuche as the Lacedemonyans had made allyance wyth the Athenyans their mortall ennemys not for to defende the lybertie of the Peloponesians but for to brynge them agayne into seruytude it was very expedyente that the Argyues shulde deuise theron for to defende the common lybertie and to perswade vnto all the fre cyties of Grece that wold lyue in their lybertie and occordinge to their lawes that they shulde make allyance with theÌ„ for to geue ayde the one to the other whan yt shulde be nedefull and for to chose people and capytaynes that shulde haue authorytie for to prouyde in all affayres to the entente that the enterpryses shulde be secrette and that the commons specyallye shulde not be aduertysedde of the affayres whereunto yt shulde be thoughte that they woolde not consente for there were manye of theyme sayde the sâ—yde practisans of Corynthe whyche for the hatredde that they haue agaynste the Lacedemonyans woulde reallye themselfe wyth the sayde Argiues Whiche thynges hauynge bene reaportedde by the sayde partitulers of Argos to the offycers of the cytie and by those offycers vnto the commynaltie a decree was made whereby they dydde geue vnto twelfe men whyche they didde chose of theirs full power and puissance for to contracte and conclude amytie and allyance in name of the Argyues wyth all the free cyties of Grece resarued the Athenyans and Lacedemonyans wyth whome they myghte treate nothyng excepte they furste aduertysed the commynaltie therof And thys the said Argiues dyd aswell for that that they perceyued that warre shulde be by them made w e the Lacedemonyans forsomuche as the ende of the trefues approched as also that they hoped by that meane to make themself Capitains and Prynces of Peloponese for that that the pryncypallytie and the gouernemente of the Lacedemonyans was already hated and desplaisant to the more parte of the sayd Pelopenesyans and they begaâ—â—â— to contempne and despyse theyme for the losses whyche they hadde hadde and for the dammaiges that they hadde receyued in the warre And on the other syde the Argyues were amonge alle the Grekes the rycheste for that that they had not medled wyth the warre precedinge by cause of thys that they had allyance wyth bothe parties By meane wherof duryng the sayde warre they were enryched and encreased greately By suche manner than wente the Argyues drawynge to their allyance all the other Grekes that wold allye themselfe vnto them wyth their good wylle Amonge whome the Mantynyans were the furste and their adherentes for that that they had the warre endurynge wyth the Athenyans subtrahed one partie of the countreye of Arcadie from the obeyssance and amytie of the Lacedemonyans and hadde tournedde it vnto them wherof they doubted greately leste the sayd Lacedemonyans wold haue remembrance though that for that tyme they made no semblante therof wherefore byfore that anny other inconuenyent happened vnto them they were ryght wyllynge to ioygne themself wyth the sayde Argiues considerynge that it was a greate and a puissaunte Cytie aswelle of people as of ryches suffyciente inoughe for to resiste the Lacedemonyans and alsoo was gouernedde by the estate of the commynaltye aswelle as that same of the sayde Mantynyans At whose example manye other cyties of Pelopenese dydde the lyke For they assuredly thoughte that those Mantynyans woolde not haue done yt but that they hadde vnderstoode some thynge therin more than comonly was knowin and also in despyte of the Lacedemonyans agaynste whome they were dyspleased for manye causes But pryncypallye for thys that in one artycle of the peace made bytwene the Athenyans and the sayde Peloponesyans yt was spokene and confyrmedde by othe that yt there were annye thynge whyche semed for the beste to be takenne awaye or changedde those of the two cyties to wytte of Athenes and of Lacedemonye myghte doo yt wythoute therein makynge anny mention of the other confedered Cyties of Peloponese whyche thynge dydde putt al the Peloponesyans into greate suspytion leste the sayde twoo Cyties hadde accordedde and agrede for to subdewe theym For they verelye thoughte that if they hadde estemedde theyme as theire allyes and confederates they shulde haue couched and comprehended in the sayde artycle the othere cyties of Peloponese aswelle as those twoo whyche was the pryncipall cause that inducedde them to make allyaunce wyth the Argyues The Lacedemonyans vnderstandynge that by lytle and lytle the sayde cyties dydde confederate themselfe wythe the Argyues and that the Corinthiens hadde bene promoters and causers of that same matter they sente certayne ambassadours vnto them for to shewe vnto them as to the chiefe of that coniuration and acte that if they departed from theire amytie allyance for to ioygne themself wyth the Argyues they shuld do against their othe and moreouer shulde doo agaynste reasonne for that they woold not approue the treatie of peace made wyth the Athenyans consideredde that the more parte of the confederated cyties had allowed it and that by their allyaunces it was ordaynedde that the same whyche was donne by the moore parte shulde be holden by the othere yf there were none empeschemente of the goddes or of the saynctes Upon thys declaration the Corynthyans bifore makynge answere to the sayde Ambassadours had caused all their allyes to assemble to wyt those that hadde not yet accepted the treatie of peace by comon deliberation sayed vnto the sayde Lacedemonyans that they woolde confederate theymself agaynste them and shewedde them certayne thynges wherein those Lacedemonyans hadde done theyme wronge by concludynge the sayde treatie of peace specially for thys that by the same it was not prouydedde that the Athenyans shulde restore vnto them Sellie Anactorium nor annye other places whyche they pretended to be takenne from them by the sayde Lacedemonyens And on the other parte that they were not determyned for to habandone theÌ„ of Thrace who at their desyre and perswatyon had rebelled from the Athenyans for that that they hadde promysed them particularly by theire othe not to forsake them aswell at begynninge whan they rebelled wyth those of Potydea as also at manye tymes afterwardes wherfore they reputed not themself to be infractors or brekers of the allyance
and made their sacrifices in their cytie And all the other Grekes came assisted were present at the playesâ— resarued those of Lepreum And yet notwithstanding the Elyans fearing lâ—ste the Lacedemoans shoulde come to the temple would sacrifice by force they caused a good noÌ„ber of their people to come in armure for to kepe watche in the teÌ„ple And with them were sent from Argos from Mantinia two thousande men in armure to wytt from aither cytie a thousande besydes that the Athenians sent thider the horsemen that they had at Argos attending there the festyuall day The which neuerthelas had great feare to be assailled and beaten by the Lacedemonians And specially after that one LacedemonyaÌ„ named Lychas sonne of Arceselaus had bene skourged with roddes by the sargeantes vpon the place of the combate for that that his wagone hauing bene confiscated to the Beotians for that that it had ronne in the sayd place with the other which thing was not liefull the play the combate being forbyden to the Lacedemonians in despraysing and coÌ„tempning the sayd iudgement for to geue it the better to be vnderstaÌ„de that he would wel that euery one shulde knowe that the sayed charett was his he had openly vpon the place crowned his wagoner Whereof the other had great feare thinking that he durst not haue done it if that he had not perceyued some enterprise of the Lacedemonyans Who neuerthelas sturred not for that same time and in suche sorte passed the feast After the whiche the Argiues and their allyes dyd come to Corynthe to praye the Corynthians that they shulde be wylling to sende vnto them for to enter into their allyance In whiche place metinge lykewyse the ambassadours of the Lacedemonyans they hadde very muche talke of the treaties togiders but fynally hearinge a thonder as they were assembled for to entreate therof they departedde without any conclusion and euery man retournedde into his cytie and no other thynge was done for that same somer In the begynnynge of of the wynter followynge the Heraâ—lyans that be in Trachine had a battaille againste the Enyens the Dolopes the Melyans some other people of Thessale who all were their voysins and their ennemyes For that that the said cytie was foundedâ— peopled and builded for none other ende but agaynste theym And for that cause frome begynnynge that yt was buyldedde they neuer ceassedde to ymagyne for to destroye it Of whiche battaille the Heraclians had the worse and therein dyed manye of their people and amonge othere Xenares of Gnide Lacedemonyan who was their leader and capytayne generall And so passed the wynter whiche was the twelfe yeare of the warre In the begynnynge of somer the Beotians didde take the cytie of Heraclea into their handes and dyd chase fromthence Hegesippidas the Lacedemonyan who had the gouernance thereofâ— saying that they gouerned it not wel that they feared that the LacedemonyaÌ„s beinge occupied in Peloponese leste the Athenyans shoulde take it Wherewith the Lacedemonyans were ryght euylle contentedde towardes those Beotians In the same somer Alcibiades Duke of the Athenyans wyth the ayde of the Argiues and other their allyes wente into Peloponese hauing a small nomber aswel of men at armes as archers and of the confederates suche nomber as he founde in readines and trauersynge the sayed countrey of Peloponese he gaue order for that which semed necessary for the season And among other thinges he perswaded those Patras that they shulde make walles from their towne to the sea he was mynded for to haue made one on the syde that was towardes the coste of Achaia but the Corynthians the Sycynians whiche parceyued that the same shulde make against them did empesche it In the same somer was great warre bitwene the EpidauriaÌ„s and the Argiues vndercouleur of this that Thepidaurians hadde not sent an offeringe to the temple of Apollo Pythius as they were bounde to do the whiche temple was in the iurisdiction and power of the Argiues But in trouthe it was for this that the sayed Argiues and Alciabiades dyd searche some occasion for to take and occupie the sayed towne if they myghte aswelle for to be more sure agaynste the Corynthyans as also for this that frome oute of the porte of Egyne they myght trauerse thider more easely and more directly than for to go frome Athenes to enuyrone the promontorye of Scellea And so the Argiues preparedde theymself for to go into armure and with force to recouer the sayed offrynge of the Epydauryans In that same tyme the Lacedemonyans yssuedde fourthe into camps wyth all their puissance And assembledde themselfe at Leutra whiche is a towne in their territorye vnder the conducte of Agis sonne of Archidamus their kynge who was wyllynge to conducte theym agaynste Lycee although he hadde not discoueredde his intente to anny parsone in the worlde But in sacrefyinge for their voiage they coulde not fynde that the goddes woulde be propice or fauorable to theym therein By reasone whereof they retournedde fromethence euery man into his house And neuerthelas bifore their departure they concludedde amonge themself that they shoulde assemble togiders agayne in the moneth followynge whiche was the moneth of Iune And after that they were disassembledde or disseuered the Argiues yssued with all their power aboute the ende of May. And hauynge iourneyedde all that same day they entred into the lande of Epidaure and so didde piliage and waste it Whiche parceiued the Epidauriens sent vnto the Lacedemonyans and their oother allyes for to haue succours Of whome some excusedde themselfes that the moneth whiche was to them assigned for to reasseÌ„ble themself was not yet come The other came to the confynes of the EpidaurieÌ„s and there rested without passing any further And in the meane time that the Argiues were in the lande of the EpidauriaÌ„s there came to Mantinea the ambassadours of the other cyties their confederates at the instigacion of the Athenians And after that they were al assembled Euphanidas the CorinthiaÌ„ proponed shewed howe that the effectes were not lyke to the woordes insomuche as they obserued the woordes of peace and yett neuerthelas in the meane tyme the Epidaurians and their allyes were assemblâ—d in armure against the Argiues Wherfore it was reasonable that the men of warre shulde retyre on bothe sydes and after that the treatie of peace shulde be renewed Wherunto the ambassadours of the Athenians did accorde by that meane caused their people which were in the lande of the EpidauriaÌ„s to retyre And afterwardes they reassembled themself altogiders for to create of the peace But being departed without conclusion the Argiues marched afreshe in armure to ouerrone pillage the countrey of Epidauriens And in the self time the LacedemoniaÌ„s yssued for to go against the CaryaÌ„s but not hauing the sacrifices propice or fauourable for the voiage they retourned froÌ„thence As touching the Argiues
allyance wyth them Whiche offres the saide two Argyues dyd make of their pryuate authoryte wythout knowlayge or coÌ„sente of the othere wherunto Agis made them aunswere likewise without therevnto calling anny other parsone but only one of the iudges or threasurers of the armye who was appoynctedde to hym for a compaignyon in that same warre amongest them four they concluded a trefues for foure moneths Duryng the which tyme the causes aboue sayd shuld haue bene treated vpon And that done Agis retyred wyth hys people wtout speaking otherwise to any of the allyes nor also wyth the Lacedemonyans All the whyche dyd followe him for that that he was generall of the armye and for to obsarue the souldarly lawe and disciplyne But that not wythstandynge they blamed hym greatly for thys that hauynge one so greate and apparante occasyon of victoire consydered that the ennemyes were enclosed on all sydes aswell wyth footemen as also wyth horsmen he departed fromthence wythout doynge there annye thynge worthye of so fayre an armye whyche was one of the greatest that the Grekes had yet made in all that warre and retyredde all vnto Nemea where they soiournedde certayne dayes Beynge in whyche place yt was iudged by all the Capytayns and chief of warre that they were puyssaunte ynough for to defeate not only the Argiues and their allyes but also muche more people if they had bene there and fromthence they retourned all throughly angred euery one vnto hys quarter But yet the Argyues were more displeased agaynste the twooâ— whyche hadde accordedde the appoynctmeÌ„t for their partie saying that the LacedemoniaÌ„s shuld neuer haue had so honneste occasion for to wythdrawe themself to their aduauntaige for they thoughte that hauinge so fayer an armye aswell of their owne people as of their allyes and moreouer beynge wythin the viewe of their cytie they shulde easelye haue defeated the sayde Lacedemonyans Beinge than departedde fromthence they went altogyders into the towne of Charadrus in the whyche before that they entred into their cytie wold leue of their armure they were willyng both to knowe of the warre and to determyne of the questyons of the warre and of the mylytary souldearly causes And so they concluded amonge other for to stoane Thrasylus But he saued hymself wythin the temple and yet neuerthelas they confiskated all his monney that he had there In thies enterfaictes and they beynge yet there aryued a thousand fotemen fyue houÌ„dred horsmen whom Lachetes and Nicostratus brought vnto them from Athens vnto whom they said that they shulde retourne for it greuedde theym to breake the appoinctemente that hadde bene concludedde wythe the Lacedemonyans in whatsoeuere manner that it hadde bene made And although that the sayde Capytaynes of the Athenyans demaunded to be presentedde wyth their people vnto the comynaltie of Argos yet the sayde Capytaynes of the armye woolde not agree vnto yt vntill that the Mantynyans and the Elyans wythe greate requeste hadde obteignedde yt of the Argyues Beynge than broughte in bifore the commons of Argos and byfore the allyes that were yett there Alcibiades who was generall of all the bende shewedde theym that they hadde no power to make peace nothere treatye wythe the ennemyes wythoute their consente and sithens that he was there acyuedde at the terme that he hadde promysed wythe hys bende that they oughte to begynne the warre agayne And in suche manner he perswaded theym by hys oratyon that they departed all at that presente for to goo agaynste Orchomenia whyche is in the countrey of Arcadie excepte the Argiues who albeit that they hadde bene of the same opynyone were neuerthelas slacke but soone afterwardes they dydde followe the othere and all togyders dydde laye siege to Orchomenia and vsedde all the force that they myghte for to take yt aswelle wyth Engynes of artillerye as otherewyse for they hadde greate desyre to take the same towne for manye reasons but pryncypallye for thys that the Lacedemonyans hadde bestowedde there wythin yt all the hostages that they hadde takenne of the Arcadyans The Orchomenyans fearynge to be takenne by force byfore that the succoures myghte comme vnto theyme for that that theire walles were not stronge and that the ennemyes were in ryghte greate nomber they made appoynctemente wyth theym by meane whereof they became theire allyes in rendrynge the hoostages that were wythin the towne and in delyuerynge some for theymselfe vnto the Mantynyans Aftere that the Athenyans and othere allyes hadde takenne Orchomenia they deuysedde whider they shoulde goo at theire departure fromethence For the Elyans woolde that they shulde haue gone into Lepreum the Manâ—ynians into Tegea vnto whose opynion the Athenyans and Argiues dyd agree wherupon the Elyans despised theÌ„ and retournedde fromthence into their houses The other abodde at Mantinea and preparedde them selfe for to go to Tegea where they had some coÌ„federation wyth certaine of the people of the towne who shulde haue brought them into it The Lacedemonyans after that they were retourned from Argos blaymedde greatly Agis for the trefues that he had made and that he had not brought the sayde cytie into their obeissance hauynge the fairest occasion and the beste meane that euer they myghte haue hadde nothere wythoute greate payne coulde haue For yt semed vnto them very difficille and harde for to assemble agayne at an other tyme one so fayere an armye of theire allyes as that same was there But whan the newes came of the takynge of Orchomenus they were muche moore angry and anymated agaynst hym In such sorte that they determyned to beate and battre downe hys howse whyche thynge had not bene sene in the cytie and for to condempne hym in a houndred thousande drachmes so greate was their anger against him Yet notwythstandinge he so excused hymself and made vnto them so many requestes thereby promysinge to recompense â—hat same â—aulte by some other greate saruyce if they woulde lett hym haue the charge of the army wythoute doynge that whyche they hadde determyned agaynste hym that they were contente to leaue to hym the sayde charge wythout doyng hym other euil But neuerthelas they made a newe lawe whych neuer bifore hadde bene made wâ—ereby they created twelue counsaillours of the said cytie of Sparte for to assiste hym wythout whome he might nother conducte an armye out of the cytie nor make peace trefues nor treatie wyth the ennemyes Howe the Lacedemonyans and their allyes dyd wynne one battaille againste the Athenyans the Argiues and their other allyes in the lande of Mantynyans ☞ The .ix. Chaptre IN thys meane tyme dyd come a messenger froÌ„ Tegea who broughte theym newes frome those in the towne that if they were not ryghte shortely succoured they shulde be constraynedde for to render themâ—elfe vnto the Argiues and to their allyes wherof the LacedemonyaÌ„s were greatly astonyed and thereupon dyd all arme themself aswel fre as bonde wyth greater diligence than euer they had done and wente fromthence to
neuerthelas euery order was of the thicknes of eight men and the fronte of al the former seueral bendes was ioygned and locked egally in lengthe and there were foure houndred forty and eyght men in the furste poyncte besydes the sayd Scyrites After that they were thus all sett into battaille araye aswell of the one syde as of the other euery capytayne exhorted encouraiged hys souldears the beste wyse that they coulde to wytt the Mantinians declared to their people that the questyon was o◠losinge their seignyory and lybertie and of their comynge into seruytude The Argyues shewed vnto theirs that the questyon was to defende their princypalitie whyche was egall to the same of the other cyties of Peloponese and also for to reuenge the oultrages and iniuryes that their voysins ennemys had oftene tymes done vnto them The Athenyans proponed vnto theirs that it shulde be their honnour sithens they dyd fyght wyth so greate nomber of their allyes to shewe that they were no worse warryours thā the other and also if they coulde at the selfe instante vainquyshe and destroye the Lacedemonyans in the countrey of Peloponesa their estate and seignyorye shulde foreuer be in the greatter suertie for there shulde neuer be any people that durste comme to assaylle them in their landes Such were the sayinges and perswations that were made to the Argiues and their allyes As touchynge the Lacedemonyans they were all assured people and experte in warre werefore they hadde no nede of exhortatyon For the memory and recordynge of their many and cheualerour feates dyd geue thē more hardynes than a shorte declaratyon though yt hadde bene welle garnysshed wyth wordes coulde haue done Thys passed they beganne to marche the one agaynste the other to wytt the Argyues and theyr allyes wyth greate impetuosytie or fiercenes and wyth greate wrathe and anger And the Lacedemonyans all at leasure and pace by pace after the sounde of the trompets wherof they had greate nomber dispersed into many places of their battaille for suche was their custome and ordenance to cary many of them not for any relygyon or deuotyon as many other doo but for to marche in better order at the sounde of the sayd trompettes and also to the ende that they shulde not be putt into disorder at the encountrynge of the ennemyes as it chauncethe oftentymes whan twoo greate armyes do encounter the one the othere But before that they dyd come to the encountrynge or metinge Agis kynge of the Lacedemonyans deuysedde wyth hymselfe for to do a thynge for to empesche and wythstande that whyche hadde alwayes bene vsed whan twoo battailles dyd encounter For those that be in the righte poyncte of ayther syde whan they comme to encounter the ennemyes that be in the apposytte or directly agaynst the lefte poyncte they spreade themself in lenghe for to enuyrone and enclose thē For that that ayther partie fearinge to abyde in discouert of the ryght syde whych the shield doth not couer he wardeth hymself wyth hys shielde that is nexte hym on the right hande and they thinke that whan they be most locked togiders they shulde be moste in couert and in suertie and he that is formost in the ende of that same ryght poynct sheweth to the other the way to do yt for insomuch as he hath none at his right hande for to warde hym he taketh the moste payne that he maye to exchue the ennemyes on that syde that is openne or discouered and for that cause doth the beste that he canne for to auaunce the ende of the contrarye poyncte that was opposit or dyrecte againste hym and for to enclose and enuyronne it for that he woolde not be assailled on the syde whyche ys discoueredde and the othere for the selfe feare dyd followe hym Nowe the Mantynians who kepte the ryghte poynct of their syde were in much greater nōber than the Scirites Also the Lacedemonyans and the Tegetes who kepte the ryghte poyncte of their syde were in muche greater nōber than the Athenyans that kepte the lefte poynct of theirs For thys cause Agis fearyng leste the lefte poincte of his people shulde susteigne dammage by the Mantynyans who were in muche greater nomber he made a signe to the Scirites and to the Brasidians that they shulde retyre oute of their order and ioigne themselfe to the Mantynians and fourthwyth he commaunded two Trybuns that were in the ryghte poyncte to wytte Hipponoides and Aristocles that they shulde departe oute of the place wherein they were in theire bendes and that they shuld readely bestow thēself in rome of the said Scirites Brasidians thynkinge that by that meane hys ryghte poyncte shulde remayne yet well prouyded for and the lefte shulde be greatly strengthened for to resiste the Mantynyans Neuertheles they woolde not do it aswell for that that they were already nighe hande to hande wyth the ennemyes as also the tyme was very shorte for to do that whyche they were commaundedde through occasyon wherof they were afterwardes bannyshed oute of Sparte as nyce and slouthfull The Scirites and the Brasidians beinge than separated and retyred out of their order accordinge to the commaundemente of the kyng Agis and the same kyng seing that the other two bedes dyd not come into their place he comaūded them againe that they shulde putt themself into their former order But it was not possyble for them so to do nother for those of that poynct fromwhence they were departed to receue them beinge alredy all locked togider and nigh vnto the ennemyes And yet neuerthelas the Lacedemonyans shewedde themselfe in all thynges the better warryours and more experimented in warre than the other For whan it came to fighting hande to hande the Mantynyans that hadde the ryght poincte at the arryuall dyd put the Scirites and the Brasidians to flight and wyth their allyes and the thousande souldiars of the Argiues they charged vpon the lefte poincte of the Lacedemonyans whych they founde naked voide with the sayd two bendes and so repoulsed it and constraigned the Lacedemonyans that were after them there to take flight and chased them into the maresses that were nyghe vnto them wherein there were some of the mooste aged slayne And so in that parte the Lacedemonians were vainquished but as for the remenante and chiefly the middell of the battaill wherin the kinge Agis was hauing aboute him three houndred chosen men whyche were named the knightes the thynges wente whooly otherwyse for they chargedde wyth suche foorce vpon the pryncipall and mooste auncyent of the Argiues and vpon the thousand souldears whyche were named the fyue Cohertes or bendes and lykewyse vpon the Cleontyns and vpon the Orneates and vpō some Athenyans that were in their bendes that they caused them to lose the place and trulye manye wythoute makyng◠resystence seynge the ympetuosytye or fiercenes of the Lacedemonyans dyd flye whereby a nomber of them were oppressed and strangled in the prease The Argiues and their
insomuche as it â—s the thyng that the Athenyans do most feare And yet neuerthelas it is the onely towne wherof no parte hath bene touched durynge all this warre And truly a man cannot endomage hys ennemye more greatly than to doo that vnto hym whiche he perceyueth that he feareth most for it is to be bileued that euerye man knoweth and feareth those thinges which may be most preiudiciall hurtfull vnto hym And therfore I wolle geue you to vnderstande the proffytt that shal be yours by enclosyng the sayd towne with walles and the dommage that it shall bryng vnto your ennemyes And also I will shewe onely the most waighty therof sommarely or in fewe woordes That is that whan ye shall haue fortefied that same place wtin our lande many of our townes shall rendre both themself vnto you also ye shall take the other more easely And moreouer the reuenue whiche we perceyue of the mynes of syluer at Laurium the other reuenues that are taken aswell of the laÌ„de as of the IurisdictioÌ„ shall ceasse and specially those which we do leuie of our frendes who perceiuing you to come againste vs with all youre strength wille praise vs very smally All which thinges be in your power for to cause to come readely to effect yf you woll for that that I thinke not to erre in this matter but that they may be easely done And none of you ought to blame me nother to repute me euill if hauyng bene hertofore your great ennemy and chief or capytaine of oure people I come and speake nowe bitterly against the comon weale of my countrey nother also to suspect me nor to preseume that the same whiche I say is for to acquire and gett your fauour bicause of my bannishment And I am exiled for trouth it is through the malice and naughtynes of theym that hate me but it shall not be to your domage if ye woll bileue me And I ought not to repute youe at thys present somuche my ennemyes who sometime being our ennemyes haue endomaged vs as those which haue constrayned my frendes to be my ennemyes not nowe as I am oultraged wronged but than whan I had auctorytie ouer the people wherfore being by them chased out of my couÌ„trey I recoen that I do no longer against it as mine but rather I thinke yâ— I laboure rather to recouer that whiche no more is mine For he ought to be more truly reputed the louer of his countrey whiche for the desire that he hath to recouer yt doth all that he canne for to retourne thider than he that beinge vniustly chased fromethence dare not goo for to inuade yt For the whyche reasons I repute my selfe suche Lordes Lacedemonyans as with whomeâ— ye ought to sarue yourselues in all dangers and in all trauailes For you knowe that it ys a comon prouerbe that he which beinge ennemye doth endomage if it becometh frendeâ— may also proffyt And somuche the more for that I knowe the affaires of Athens and also do well nygh vnderstande yours by coniecture Therefore I requyre youe insomuche as there is question of thinges which be of so great importance that it greue you not for to enterpryse to reyse and leuye twoo armyes the one by sea for to go into Sycille and the other by lande for to go into the countrey of Athens By which doyng ye may with a small puissance atteigne great thynges in Sycille and clerely subuerte the puissance of the Athenyans aswell present as for to come whereby your estate shal be herafter bothe in whole and all suertie and also ye shall haue the superyorytie ouer all Grece not by constraincte but wyllyngly After that Alcibiades hadde thus spokene the Lacedemonyans who wythout that had already purposed to make warre agaynst the Athenyans though that they wente about delayingly were not fully resolued were by the sayd declarations greatly establyshed in that same opynion presupposing that they had bene aduertised of all thynges accordynge to the trouthe by hym that knewe yt welle And so fromthensforth they conceyued in their fantasie for to take and fortefie Decelea and for to sende incontynently some succours into Sycile and dydde chose Gylippus sonne of Cleander for chief of that same enterpryse to whome they commanded that he shulde treate with the ambassadours of the Syracusayns and with the Corinthians And by their aduise he launched sailled fourth with the best and most soubdaine and ready succours that he coulde gett and didde geue order to the Corynthyans that they shoulde sende theyme twoo galleys fourhwith vnto Asine and moreouer that they shulde putt the other whiche they had appoyncted to sende in estate to make saille as sone as they coulde so that they myght be ready whan that it shulde be tyme to saille And vpon this determynation the ambassadours departed from Lacedemonie In thies enterfaictes the galley whiche the Dukes Athenyans had sente frome Sycille vnto Athens for to demande renforte or newe succours of victuailes of men and of monney aryued And they that were come hauynge expounded and declared their charge yt was ordeyned that the said newe succours shulde be sent and in that meane time drewe nere the ende of the wynter whiche was the .xvii. yeare oâ— this warre that Thucydides hath wryttone Howe the Athenians hauing furst made certene preparations they came to assiege the cytie of Sarragosse And of many victories whiche they had agaynst the Syracusayns by makynge and assailling the rampars and fortefyinges on both sydes and howe the succours of the Peloponesians came into Sycille and some other matters and affaires ☞ The .xvii. Chapter AT begynnyge of the sprynge tyme the Dukes Athenyans that were at Catana departed and sailled to Megare that is in Sycille which the Syracusayns dydde holde But after that the cytizeins were chasedde fromethence vnder Selon the tyrante as I haue aboue rehersed it was not peopled agayne And so the Athenyans landed there and pillaged the countrey and wente fromethence to assawlte a castelle whiche was there by thynkynge to haue rasedde it downe But seynge that they coulde not they retyred to the ryuer of Tyrea whiche they passed and pillaged lykewyse of the platt countrey that was on the other syde of that same ryuerâ— and dydde sley a certene small nomber of Syracusayns whiche they encoâ—tredde in their waye and afterwardes they reysedde vp their Trophe in signe of victory And that done they embarquedde theymself agayne and retournedde fromethence to Catane where they made prouision of victuailles and afterwardes they departed fromethence agaynst a towne of Sycille named Centoripia wherinto they were receyued by appoynctmente and at their yssuynge fourthe fromethence burned the corne of the Teynessians and Hybleans and retournedde agayne to Catane where they founde two houndred men at Armes without that that they hadde any horses but onely the harnnes accoustremetes or apparell for horse thinking that the countrey of Sytille shulde
They loste morouer almoste all their beastes aswel great as lytle And also their horses were in a small tyme so trauailled that they coulde not sarue longe For their horsemen were contynually in the feldes aswel for to resiste the ennemyes that were at Decelea as also for to warde all the regyon of Athens from pillage wherby some of the sayd horses were morefounded the other lamed and tyred wyth ronninge so oftene into that same laÌ„de whych was drye and harde and also many of them were hurt aswell with stroakes of dartes as also with other stroaks And in the remenaÌ„t the victuails that were brought into the cytie oute of the quarter of Eubea of Oroppe whiche were wonte to passe by Decelea that was the next way were forced to come by an other coaste more further of so that they compassed about the lande of Sunium by sea whiche was a thynge of great charge and expence by occasyon wherof the cytie was in greate necessytie of all thynges that were requisitt to be brought thyder frâ—m wythout And on the other parte the Cytezeins who were all retyred into the cytie were greatly trauailled by meane of watche that was conuenyent for them to make wythout cessynge aswell by day as by nighte For by daye there was a certen nomber incessantly vpon the heighte of the walles who were contynually changed and in the nyght all the watche was in harnes resarued the horsmen the one vpon the walles and the other in and through the towne aswell in tyme of sommer as also of wynter whyche was vnto them a payne intollerable And so muche the moore that at one selfe tyme they susteigned twoo greate warrs And yet neuertheles they were so obstynate that no man yâ— had not sene it could haue beleued it For albeit that they were assieged euen vnto the wals by the Peloponesyans yet for all that they woolde not forsake nor leaue of the enterprise of Sycille but euene so as they were assyegedde they woolde stylle holde the Cytie of Sarragosse assiegedde the whyche was for a Cytie nothynge lesse thaÌ„ Athenes wyllynge by that meane to declare theire puyssance and theire audacytie muche moore greate than the othere Grekes hadde opynyon therof from begynnynge of the warre Of whome some iudged that those Athenyans shuld susteigne the warre for twoo yeares the other for three yeares at the furtheste and that than it shulde haue cessed But no man thought that it shulde haue endured longer if it chancedde that the Peloponesyans woolde haue entred into their lande And yet neuerthelas frome the furste tyme that they were entredde therin vntill that they sente into Sycille were seuentene whole yeares And that notwythstandinge they were not so decayed by the sayde warre of .xvii. yeares but that they enterprysed yet the other whyche was not lesse in the opynyon of men than the furste And the sayde cytie of Athens being troubled aswell for the towne of Deceleaâ— as by the other meanes here aboue declared yt was come into greate indigence and lacke of monney through occasyon whereof they exacted and leuyedde that same yeare of theire subiectes in places nyghe the sea in stede of trybute whyche they toke by Anticipation the twentith parte of their valeur thinkynge that the same shulde render vnto them more monney than the ordenary trybute So was it nedefullâ— for the expeÌ„ces were somuche the greater as the warre was more greate and also their rente failled them or was decayedde For thys cause incontynently as the Thracyens that were comme to their succours were arryued as hath bene sayde they retourned or sente them awaye for lacke of monney and gaue the charge to Dytrepus for to conducte them by sea to whome they comaunded that in retournynge them he shulde fynde the manner that they shulde do some damaige in Eubea and in othere places by the sea side of thennemys alongest by whome they shulde passe for it was conuenyente for them to passe the distraict of Eubea which is called Euripus The whiche Dytrepus beinge landed wyth the sayd Thracyens at Tanagra he pillaiged somewhat ryght soubdainely after caused them incontynently to mounte again caryed them into Chalcyde in the countrey of Eubea and towardes night passed the distraict and sailled for to lande in the countrey of Beoce In the whyche beinge landed he caused all hys men all the nyght to marche towardes the Cytie of Mycale and caused therin to hyde themselfe wythin the temple of Mercuryusâ— whyche is distant out of the sayd cytie abou ts .xvi. stades And after that it was day he caused them to marche strayght towardes the sayde cytie The whicheâ— though that it was greate yet neuerthelas he fourthwyth did take for that yt was not warded And also the Cytezeins had no doubte of annythynge For they neuer thought that passengers by sea wolde haue come so farre into the laÌ„de For this cause they had yll walles aboute their towne also they were fallene in some parts in other very lowe And morouer for that that they feared none enterprise they locked not in their gates The Thracians than being entred into the towne did pillage it vtterly aswell the teÌ„ples holly places as the pryuate houses prophane places this which yet was worst they dyd slay al that they fouÌ„de lyuinge aswell the people of all secâ—es ages as also the beastes For it is the nature and facyon of the Thracyans whyche be people amonge all other moste Barbarous to do all sorte of crueltie in whatsoeuer place that they be wythout feare And amonge the othere they committed and perpetrated one righte great myschiefe For beinge entred into the place where the chyldren of the towne were at skoole in ryghte greate nomber they dyd slaye theym all And that mischiefe was so greate and so soubdaynely and vnlokedde for chancedde that there was neuer in one Cytie a greater Whereof the Thebayns beinge aduertysed they all yssuedde fourthe incontynently vpon them and founde them yet nyghe vnto the towne and dydde putte theym into greatte feare and in suche sorte that at begynnynge they forsoke all their bowtye and afterwardes were chasedde fromethence vntill the distraicte and there many of them were slayne that coulde not sone ynoughe enter into their shippesâ— by cause of this chiefly that those whych were wythin the sayde shippesâ— parceyuynge the enemyes to approcheâ— had withdrawin them into the sea out of danger of shott whereby those that myght not enter and that knewe not or coulde not swimme were all slayne and there was the greateste slaughter For vntille that they were arryuedde at the shoore of the sea they retyredde all togider and in good order after their custome so that they defended themself well against the horsemen of the Thebains which were the furst that assailled them in suche sorte that they lost not manye of their people But after that they were arryued at the sea syde in the sight of
that all Sycille was thereby afrayde yet neuerthelas for that that at the arryuall he came not bifore Sarragosse but consumedde many dayes at Catana he bothe loste hys reputacion and also Gylippus by meane of his retardance slackenes had had time for to bring to Sarragosse the succours of Peloponese bifore his aryual Which succours those same Syracusains shuld not haue had nother yet demanded if Nicias had assieged theÌ„ at the aryual repucing theÌ„ not to be puissaÌ„te ynough for to defende their towne against the force of the said Nycias though neuerthelas they afterwardes did knowe the contrary but that shulde haue bene to late whan they shulde haue bene enclosedde on all sydes in suche sorte that the succours coulde no more haue comme vnto theym in tyme. Demosthenes consideryng whyche thynges and also that thennemyes shoulde be greatly afrayedde of hys commynge he woulde that selfe daye that he arryuedde doo some feate And seynge that the walle whyche the Syracusayns hadde made ouerthwarte that same of the Athenyans for to empesche and lett that men shoulde not fynyshe yt was all syngle and that one myghte easely beate it downe after that he had gottene Epipole and the rampares that were there made wherin were noe people that might resist his strength he hasted for to assaulte it trustynge in a small tyme to see an ende of the warre for he purposed aither to take Sarragosse by force orelles to leade and carye agayne all that same armye into hys countrey wythoute any more trauaillynge all the Athenyans aswelle those that were there as the other that remayned In this enterprise the Athenyans entred into the lande of the Syracusayns and furst did go for to ouercome the quarter of Anapus which they pillaged and wasted and also kept yt at their wyll as they had done bifore tyme for that that no men warre yssued fourhe agaynste theyme nother by sea nor by lande excepte the horsemen and darte casters whiche were in Olympus Afterwardes it semed good to Demosthenes for to assaille the rampares of the ennemyes wyth engynes of artillerye but the Syracusayns fourthwyth after that the sayd engynes were nyghe vnto the rampares dyd sett fyer therein and those that were deputedde for to assaâ—â—le them in dyuers places were repoulsed by occasion whereof he caused his people to retyre and it semed not expediente vnto hym to lose any more time there but rather to assault Epipole which thyng he perswaded Nycyas and hys other collegues to do but. he coulde not do it in suche time but that the ennemyes shulde parceyueyt For this cause they comanded that euery souldyar shulde make prouysion of victuailles for fyue dayes for hymselfe and moreouer they caused all the masons and carpenters that were in the hoste to asseÌ„ble togider and a greate nomber of people for to gather and carye stoanes togiders with all thinges that were necessarye for to buylde and reyse vp walles and rampares and a greate quantitie of darres shaftes and of all thynges to caste wyth the hande to the intente to beate downe incontinently a fortresse in the sayd place of Epipole if they coulde take it That done in begynnynge of the nyght he Eurymedon and Menander marched with the greatest partie of the armye agaynst the sayd place of Epipole and lefte Nycyas for to warde the walles and so they came verye nigh frome the rocke vnto the place that is calledde Euricleus bifore that the watche of the Syracusayns whiche was at the furste walle parceyued theyme and toke the furste walle of the ennemyes and dydde slaye one parte of theyme that wardedde yt The othere and the more parte sauedde theymeself and certefyed the comyng of the ennemyes vnto three wardes that were there to wytt that same of the Syracusayns that same of the other Sycillians and that same of their othere allyes but pryncipally and furste the sixe houndredde Syracusains that warded that same quarter who though that they defended themself valyantly were yet neuerthelas repoulsedde by Demosthenes and by the Athenyans and all with one power chasing them they followed theym to the other wardes that they shulde not haue space to locke themself togider againe nother to the othere for to defende themself with suche diligence that they toke all the said rampares and bullwerkes and immediatly began to rase them downe frome the heighe of them Than the Syracusayns and Gylippus seynge the audacytie of the Athenyans to be so comme for to assaulte their rampares in the night they yssuedde fourth of their quarters whiche they warded came to geue charge vpon them but at the beginning they were repoulsed Neuerthelas afterwardes the Athenians marching further without order as people whiche had the victory and also for that that they feared that onles they vsed diligeÌ„ce to execute their enterprise and to beate downe the rampares the ennemys shulde haue leasure to assemble themself againe they hasted the most that they might for to breake and grinde down the sayd rampares But afore that they had fully repoulsed the ennemys they were repoulsed furst by the Thebayns who furst susteyned their force and afterwardes by the othere so that they were putt to flyght wherein there was greate disorder and losse and manye dangers and difficultes whyche myght not welle be sene for that that yt was nyght For euene of thynges whiche be done in the day tyme men cannot knowe for trouth the certaintie of the whole by those that were thereat for that that skarcely any one man can declare what was done where he was and moste nyghe vnto hym wherefore it ys impossible to knowe distinctly what hathe bene done in a conflicte by night bitwene twoo greate hoastes And althoughe that the moone dydde shyne that same nyght yet the clerenes was not so greate that one myght welle knowe twoo men thoughe that he dyd see the parsones nother iudge whiche was frende or ennemye And somuche the lesse that they were manye and in greate nomber locked togiders in a smalle place aswelle of the one syde as of the other But in effecte the Athenyans beinge in one quarter repoulsedde by the othere that followedde their furste victory the one mountedde vpon the rampares of the Syracusayns the othere came to the succours of their people and knewe not whider that they shoulde goo for that that beyng the furst in flyght and the cry greate a man coulde not vnderstande nor see by annye tokene by cause of the nyght and moreouere in repoulsynge the ennemyes whome they encountredde made lykewyse greate cryes On the other syde the Athenyans dydde searche and woulde haue chosene oute their people and for that that they were in flyght all those whiche they encountredde they suspectedde to be their ennemyes and hauyng none other meane to knowe the one the othere but by the crye of the nyght in demaundynge the one after the othere they made greate bruytt whereby greate trouble dydde lykewyse ensue and also they
and also landedde one parte of their men who fearedde theyme greatly and crusshed manye of their shyppes and dyd slay manany men among whome was Alcamenes also a certene nomber of their people dyed bifore that they departed but fynally the Athenyans retyredde And for to kepe the ennemyes assiegedde they lefte suche nomber as they thoughte good in a lytle Islande there adioignynge wherein they lodgeddde theymeselfe and sente wyt h dilygence by a brigantyne to the Athenyans that they shoulde sende theyme newe succours durynge this tyme and the daye followynge the Corinthians did comme to the ayde of the Peloponesians and sone after those of the other allyes who seinge that it shulde be veray harde for them for to kepâ— that same desarte place were in greate perplexitie and at the furste brunte did speake of burning their ships But fynally they determyned to wythdraw them towards the lande to cause their men to lande for to warde them vntill that they shulde see oportunytie for to saue them Agis beinge aduertysed of the whiche thynges sente vnto them a cytezeine of Sparte named Thermon Nowe the Lacedemonyans hadde bene aduertysed of the departure of the shipps out of the destreate for that that the Trybuns of the people had coÌ„manded Alcamenes that he shulde aduertyse them immediatly whan he departed For this cause they sence wyth all dylygence fyue ships after vnder the conducte of Chalcideus and of Alcibiades But afterwardes beinge aduertysed howe their men and shippes were fledde they were all astonyed and daâ—shedde oute of countenance that their furst enterpryse of warre in the sea Ionium had myshappened in suche sorte that they were determyned not to sende any more an army by sea out of their lande and to reuoke or calle backe the same whiche they had already sente thider Whyche perceyued Alcibiades perswaded eftsones to Endius that he shulde not suftre the enterpryse of Chio to be brokene of nother to waxe colde For it mighte arryue there before that the Chiens were aduertysed of the inconuenyence of the other shyppes And if he himselfe saylled into Ionum he was hable to cause ryght easely the cyties whyche toke parte wyth the Athenyans to rebelle sygnefyinge vnto them the debilitie and lowe estate of the Athenyans and the puissance togyders with the enterpryses of the Lacedemonyans for somuche as he had greate creditt with them And besydes this Alcibiades shewed to Endius perticulerly that it shulde be greate honnor and greate glorye vnto hym that by hys meane the contrey of Ionum shulde rebelle from the Athenyans to the confederatyon wyth the Lacedemonyens and that by that meane he shulde be compaignyon wyth Agys kinge and so haue done yt wythoute the sayde Agis vnto whom the same Endius was aduersary and Alcibiades so perswaded Endius and the other Trybuns that the charge of fyue shippes wyth Chalcideus the Lacedemonyan was delyuered vnto hym for to go in that same partie whiche they did in a ryght small tyme. Nowe chauÌ„ced it in that self time that Gylippus after the victorie comynge agayne oute of Sycille into Grece with xvi Peloponesians shipps he encountred nighe to Leucade .xxvii. shippes of the Athenyans wherof Hippocles sonne of Menippus was chief who was sente thider to thys ende to wytt for to encounter and spoylle the shippes whych came oute of Sycille and though that he did them greate displeasure and greatly feared them yet neuerthelas they eskaped all resarued one and sailled to lande at Corinthe In the meane tyme Chalcideus Alcibiades in making their voiage did take all the shippes whyche they encountred of whatsoeuer sorte that they were to the intente that their passage shulde not be knowin the whyche neuerthelas they dyd afterwardes suffer to departe byfore they arryued at the place of Coricque whyche is in mayne lande and hauinge treated wyth certene of the Chiens that ministred to the treatie they were aduertysed not to speke therof to any whatsoeuer parsone whiche thinge they dyd in suche sorte that they arriued at the Cytie of Chio byfore that any parson knewe any thinge therof The Cytezeins beyng much astonyed therof they were perswaded by some for to assemble the counsaille of the towne for to heare what they whyche were arryued wold say And the same beinge assembled Chalcideus and Alcibiades declaredde vnto them how many of the Peloponesians ships did come after vnto them wtoute makyng mention of those that were assieged in Pyreus The Chiens vnderstanding whichch thinge made allyance wyth the Lacedemonians departing them self from the same of the Athenians the lyke they caused incontynently after to be made by the Erethriens and consequently by the Clazomeniens who wout any further delay passed fourthwith into the mayne lande and builded there a small towne to the ende that if any shulde come to ouerroÌ„ne them in the Island they might haue some place for to witdraw theÌ„self into And for effecte all those that rebelled were attentiue diligente for to fortefie their walls to prouyde theÌ„self with all thinges for to resiste the Athenians if they did come to assaill them Whan the AthenyaÌ„s were aduertised of the rebellyoÌ„ of the ChieÌ„s they were in great sorow doubt that their allyes perceyuing that same great cytie rebelled wold do the like For this cause albeit that they had layd a part a thousande talentes had made a decree that no man shuld speke or purpose vnder the great paynes to touche or to take therof during all the warre yet neuerthelas for the feare that they had of that same case they reuoked their decre ordeyned that men shulde take a great part therof wherwith that they might make and tacle a great noÌ„ber of ships moreouer caused eyghte of those that were in Pyreus to dislodge vnder the conduict of StroÌ„bichides sone of Diotimus for to follow those which Chalcideus and Alcibiades did conducte but they coulde not ouertake them for they were already come agayne fromthence And sone after they sent for the same effecte twelue other ships vnder the conducte of Thraâ—ides which likewise were departed froÌ„ the Siege of those that were in Pireus For vnderstanding the rebellioÌ„ of the Chiens they seased the .xvii. ships which they had of theÌ„ at the said Pyreus restored to libertie the esklaues that were wtin them but they did take the cytezeins prisoners And in stede of the other which had geueÌ„ vp forsaken that same siege there were other fourth with sent thider at great charges also they had determyned to arme .xxx. vpwards of them which to do they vsed so great dyligence that it semed that they estemed nothing to be sufficient inough for to recouer Chio. During this time Stronbichides with .viii. ships sailled to SamuÌ„ hauing there taken also one shippe which he founde there he sailled to Tea and prayed the cytezeins that they wolde be firme and constant not to
make any nouelty Unto which place Chalcideus dyd come froÌ„ Chio with .xxiii ships in the whiche he had charged a great nomber of fotemen aswell of Erythree as also of Clazomenie Stronbichides being aduertysed therof he departed incontynently from Tea whan he had taken the mayne sea seing afarre of so great noÌ„ber of ships he retired into Samie where he saued himself although that the other did geue him the chase Which perceyued the Theriens although that at beginning they had refused to receyue garnyson into their cytie receyued it after Stronbichides was fledde fromthence And there were lefte the fotemen Erithryens and Clazomeniens who hauynge certen dayes attended the retourne of Chalcideus that followed Stronbichides and seynge that he came not they dyd rase downe the walles of the towne whiche the Athenyans had made frome of the coaste of the mayne lande And that did they wyth the ayde and perswation of certaine strangers that came thider in the meane time vnder conducte of Stages lieutenaÌ„t of Cissaphernes In this meane time Chalcideus Alcibiades hauing chased StroÌ„â—bychides into the porte of Samie they retourned fromthence to Chio there left their maroners in garnisoÌ„ whoÌ„ they armed as souldears And hauing in their stede put into their ships men of the countrey moreouer armed .xx. other shipps they sailled fromthence to Mylet trusting to cause the towne to rebelle For Alcibiades who had great amytie with many of the pryncipall cytezeins therof wolde gladly do that acte byfore that the shyps of the Peloponesians shulde be sente thyder for that same cause and to haue that same honnour aswell for him as for Chalcydeus and also for those of Chio whome they hadde in their compaignie and moreouer for Endius who was author of hys voiage that by their meane many Cyties whyche toke parte wyth the Athenyans shulde rebelle Hauynge than made greate dyligence by sea the moste secretly that they myght they arryued at the said Milet a lytle before Stronbichides and Thrasicleas who were sente thider by the Athenyans wyth .xii. shippes and caused the towne incontynently to tourne to their confederatie Sone after arryued other nynetene ships of the Athenyans whyche followed those here the whyche not beinge receyued by the Mylesians they retyred into an Islande there adioygning named Lada Sone after the rebellyon of Mylet the furst alliance was made betwene the king Dareus the Lacedemonyans by Tyssaphernes Chalcideus in this manner The tenour of the allyaunce betwene the kinge Dareus and the Lacedemonians IN thies enterfaictes the Lacedemonyens and their allyes made allyaunce wyth the kynge Dareus and Tyssaphernes hys prouoste in this manner That the cyties landes countreys and seigniories that the Athenyans helde those same whyche the kynge or hys predecessours had holdene shulde remayne vnto hym and that all the reuenue that those Athenyans dyd take therof shulde be enioyed by the kynge and the Lacedemonyans togiders and that they shulde defende that no parte thereof shulde cometo the proffitt of the Athenyans That the kynge and the Lacedemonyans wyth their allyes shulde make warre commonlye agaynste the Athenyans and that the one shulde not conclude peace with them wythoute the othere And that if any of the kynges subiectes rebelledde agaynste hym the Lacedemonyans and their allyes shulde holde them for their ennemyes and of the subiectes of the Lacedemonyans and allyes if they rebelled the kynge shulde take theym for hys Such was the somme of the allyaunce bytwene them Howe those of Chio or Chiens after that they were rebelledde agaynst the Athenyans caused Mytilene and all the Isle of Lesbos to rebell And howe the Athenyans dyd alterwardes recouer it wyth certen other cyties whych were also rebelled And howe hauing vainquishedde the Chiens in three battailles they pillaged and wasted all their lande and of some other thynges ☞ The .iiii. Chapter AT the selfe tyme the Chiens armed tenne othere shyppes wyth the whyche they toke their waye for to saille to the cytie of Anea aswelle for to lerne what the Cytie of Milet hadde done as for to sollycitte the othere Cyties whyche toke parte wyth the Athenyans for to habaâ—done them But beinge aduertysed by Chalcideus howe Amorges did come agaynste their cytie wyth a great hoste by lande they retourned fromthence vnto the temple of Jupiter oute of whyche place they mighte see commynge .xvi. Athenyans shippes whyche Diomedon conducted who was sente from Athens after Thrasicles And knowing that they were shippes of Athenes one parte of the Chiens wente vnto Ephesus and the other to Tea of the whiche foore were taken by the Athenyans But that was after that those that were within them were landed The other saued themself in the porte of Tea and the AthenyaÌ„s departed fromthence against SamuÌ„ And yet neuerthelas the Chiens hauing assembled the other ships that were eskaped and also a certen nomber of fotemen they perswaded the cytie of Lebedus to forsake the partie of the Athenyans and afterwards that same of Eras. And that done they retired with their ships fotemeÌ„ into their houses Abouts the same tyme the .xvi. ships of the Peloponesians the whiche did holde a like noÌ„ber of the Athenyans shipps assieged at Pireus issued soubdainly vnloked for vpon those Athenyans and defyed repoulsed them in such sort that they did take foure of them and that done they sailled to the port of Cenchree where they repaired and tacled their ships for to saille afterwardes to Chio and into JonuÌ„ vnder the conducte of Astyochus whom the Lacedemonyans sente vnto them vnto whom they had geuene charge of all the armye by sea After that the fotemen that were at Tea were departed fromthence Tyssaphernes arryued there Who hauing caused the reste of the walles to be beatene downe sailled froÌ„thence incontynently And sone after Diomedon arryued there with .xx. Athenyans ships who did somuch with them of the towne that they were coÌ„tent to receue him but he taried not there so sailled to Eras thinking to take it by force which thing he coulde not do and for that cause departed In that same tyme the meane people of SamiuÌ„ did rebelle against the greater hauing with them the ayde of the Athenyans which were come to arriue there wyth thre ships And they did slay two houndred of the principall of the same greater occupiers and they bannished other two houndred and forfeyted their goodes aswel of the dead as of the bannished the whiche they departed amongest them And by consente of the Athenyans after that they had promysed them to perseuer in their amytie they sett themself into lybertie gouerned themself of theÌ„self without geuing to the bannished whose goods they did wythhold any thing for their lyuinge but rather made a great defence and prohibition that none shulde take any land or house of them nor also deliuer theÌ„ any In thies enterfaicts the Chiens that had determyned to declare themself
smalle nomber were wythoute hurte rebuke or offence depryued of the gouernance and to those that toke partie wyth the Athenyans and vnto whome Diotrephes had betaken the gouernement yt chaunced whole contrary to their thinkinges And the lyke was done in many other of the cyties subiected to the Athenyans which consyderynge as it semeth to me that they shulde haue no more feare of the Athenyans and that the same fourme of lyuing in their obeissance vnder the coulour of pollecie was for trouth but a couloured seruitude or bondage they attended al for a true lybertie As touching Pisander and hys compaignions that were gone with hym they comytted the gouernance of the cyties through whyche they passed into the hande of a small nombere at their pleasuer and oute of some of the same they dyd take souldyars whyche they caryed wyth them to Athenes where they founde that their complices and frendes hadde already done many thynges redoundinge to their intente for to abolishe the comons estate For one Androcles who had greate authoritie wyth the comon people and that had bene one of the chiefest that were cause of the bannishmente of Alcibiades was slayne by a secrett conspiratie of some yonge compaignyons of the cytie for twoo purposes The one for that that he had tomuche authoritie wyth the comon people the other for to acquire and gette the good wille of Alcibiades who as they thoughte shulde haue comme agayne into authorie trustinge that he wold make Tyssaphernes their frende And for the selfe purposes they had by lyke meanes caused some other to be slayne whyche semed vnto them to be contrary vnto that practique also they had shewed vnto the comons by studyed and apparante narrations and reasons that there shulde be no more wages payde but to those that sarued in the warrre and that in the admynistration of the comoÌ„ affayres no greater nomber shulde entermeddle than of fyue houndred men and chieflye of those that were hable to sarue the comone weale both wyth bodyes and wyth goodes whyche thynge semed honnorable to the comon people and those same whiche were cause of the brynging downe of the comon estate thought yet by that change to haue authorytie For also the auncyent facyon of assemblynge the people and the counseille in alle affaires of hearynge the opynyons of all men and of followynge the greater nomber didde stylle remayne But nothing might be proponed or declared wythout deliberation of the small nomber whyche hadde the authorytie Amongest whom there were that conferred a parte of all that shulde be proponed and sette fourthe for their intente and whan they had said their opynyon no man durst speake against yt for feare seinge the great nomber and authorytie of the said gouernours For also whan any dyd speake against yt meanes were founde for to cause him to dye also they dyd no iustice nothere make inquyrie for manquellers or murtherers wherof the people were so afrayed and abashed that they durste not saye a worde and they thought that they dyd gett very muche by holdyng their peace or kepynge sylence in that they receyued no other incomodytie and violence And somuche the more they were in greater feare that they doubted leaste there had bene a much greater noÌ„ber of people in that same conspiracie for it was not very easye to vnderstand who were the coniuratours and accomplices or parttakers in that same secte aswell for greatnes of the cytie and multytude of people as also that the one dyd not knowe the intent of the other and also dyd not complaine the one to the other nother to discouer his secret vnto hym nor to treate to take secrete vengeance therof For the suspition and mystruste was so great through oute the people that a man durste not truste no not hys acquaintance and frendes doubting leaste they had bene of the same coÌ„spiratie for that that there was in yt suche thynges as neuer were doubted By reason whereof a man coulde no more knowe to whyche of the comons he might truste wherby the estate of the coniurators or parttakers was greatly assured pryncypally bycause of the said diffidence or mistruste Pysander and his compaignions than being come in the tyme of that same trouble they brought to passe right easly in a small season their enterpryse And furst hauyng assembled the people they caused theÌ„ to consent to chose tenne grephiers and secretayries the which shulde haue full power and auctorytie to pronounce to the people that whyche shulde be deuysed to be putt in consultation for the welthe of the cytie at a daye which was named The whiche day beynge come and the assemblie made in a great felde wherin was situâ—ted the temple of Neptunus aboutes tenne stades out of the cytie there was no other thinge recyted by the grephiers but that it was lawfull for to declare and publishe the decree of the Athenyans in whatsoeuer parte a man wold And who soeuer shulde wryte that the pronouncer did againste the lawes or otherewyse did him oultrage or empeshemente shuld be greuously punished Afterwardes the saide decree was published whiche was of this substance that all the officers whiche were than in authoritie by the chosynge of the comons shulde be abolisshed and sett of and that no wages shuld be payde vnto them that they shuld electe fyue presedentes who shuld afterwards name an houndred men and euery of those shuld choise three other which shuld be in the whole foore houndred who whan they shuld come vnto the court shuld haue full power ample auctorytie to execute that which shulde be determyned to be for the welth of the comon weale and moreouer to assemble fyue thousand cytezeins at all and asmany tymes as they shuld thinke good Pysander dyd pronouÌ„ce that same decre who in the same in other things did willingly al that which he learned to sâ—â—ue for the extinguishinge and abrogation of the comons estate But the said decree had already of longe tyme bifore bene made by Antiphon who was in great reputation For truly there was not at the same tyme in the cytie any man that exceaded him in vertue and also he was very well aduysed and prudente for to fynde counsaill in good expedient comon affayres moreouer he had a great grace to speke and declare them and albeit that he neuer wolde come to the assemblie of the people nother to any other coÌ„tentious coÌ„gregation except that he were required yet the comon people had him in suspition for the effycacitie elegancie of his speakinge And though that he wolde not entermedle in causes yet euerye man that had any matter were it iudiciall or touchinge the comons he reputed that he had great fauour yf he might haue hym for counsaillor And aftere that the estate of foore houndred was abragated that men proceded against those whiche were the pryncipall authors therof being accused as the other he defended his case and answered
that same countrey one parte of the shyps came to aboorde at Rhetee where Hellesponte begynneth aboutes mydnight and the other parte aboorded at Sigea and in othere poartes and hauons adioignynge The Athenyans that were at Seste to the nomber of xviii shyppes seynge the signes and tokens of their watches whyche were made by fyers and also lykewyse a greate nomber of othere fyers that were made alongeste the sea coaste knewe that the Peloponesians were entred into the goulphe of Hellesponte And so embarqued theymselfe incontinently and the selfe nyghte dyd comme byneth Cheronese for to aboorde in Eleunte thynkynge by that meane to auoyde and exchue the armye of ennemyes by the mayne sea and for effecte they dydde passe so diligently that the xvi shyppes whiche were in Abyde parceyued them not althoughe that they were aduertised by the Peloponesians that they shoulde take good hede or watche welle that the Athenyans shyps shulde not passe wythoute their knowlaige But after that the breake of the daye appered they dyd sone see the shyps of Myndarus So they incontinently fledde but they did not all take the mayn sea for one partie retyredde into the mayne lande and some other to Lenmus there were foore of theym that remayned the laste whyche were takene nyghe to Eleunte with the people that were within them for they came to crosse a thwarte theyme foranempste the chapelle of Protesilaus twoo were takene emptye or voyde whereof the people was saued and one was burned whiche hadde bene lykewyse takene emptye And that done hauynge assembled the same day aswell of Abyde as of other places the nomber of foore skoore and syxe shyps they dyd comme straight to Eleunte thynkynge to take it by force but seynge that there was noo hope therin they sailled to Abyde In this meane time the Athenians thynkyng that the armye by sea of the ennemyes coulde not passe but that they shoulde knowe yt they were styll bifore Erese and made there preparations for to assaulte the walle But whan they were aduertised that the othere had passed they leafte fourthwyth their sâ—ege and saylled wyth all diligence towardes Hellesponte for to succoure their people So they encountredde or mette two of the Peloponesians shypps whiche had ouer aigerly followed the other Athenyans and dyd take theym and the morowe after they arryued at Eleunte beyng locked in the whyche place they receyued the othere shyppes that were eskaped frome the encountryng at Imbre and by the space of fyue dayes they made their preparations for the battaylle after the whyche they dyd comme to the combate whiche was in the manner that foloweth ¶ Howe the Athenians hadde a victorye agaynste the Peloponesians in the sea of Hellesponte ☞ The .xv. Chapter THe armye of the Athenyans was locked at both poynctes and extended from of the coaste of Sesâ—e towardes the mayne lande On the other syde that same of the Peloponesians perceyuynge the other to come forwardes departed from Abyde for to encounter it And whaÌ„ both parties did see that it was nedefull to fight they extended themself into the sea to wytt the Lacedemonyans who had xlviii shypps enlarged themself froÌ„ Abyde to Dardane in the ryght poyncte whereof were the Syracusayns and Myndarus helde the lefte wherin the lightest shyps were The Athenyans extended themself towardes Cheronese froÌ„ Idaque to Archiane whiche were in al foore skoore and sixtene shyps in the left poyncte whereof was Thrasyllus and Thrasybulus in the ryght and the other capytaynes euery one in the place that was appoyncted for hym So the Peloponesians auaunced theymself to fyghte and furst to geue the assault to the ende to haue enclosed with their left poyncte the ryght poynct of the Athenians if they myght in suche sorte that they shulde not haue bene hable to enlarge theymselfe in the sea and that the other shyppes whyche were in the myddeste shoulde be constrayned to retyre to the lande whiche was not verye farre of Whereupon the Athenyans perceyuynge frome the coaste that the ennemyes woulde comme to enclose them they assaulted theyme lyuely and hauynge takene their charge of the sea they saylled and gouernedde their shyppes more galiardly than the othere On the otheresyde their leafte poyncte had bene passed already the rockye place whyche is called the sepulchre of the dogge by meane whereof the shyppes that were in the myddeste of their battaylle remayned nakedde and disseparated frome those of the two poynctes somuche in the greater danger that the ennemyes hadde the more nombere of shypps and farre better fournysshed wyth men And moreouer that same rockye place of the sepulchre of the dogge extendeth alongest into the sea of suche sorte that those that were wythin the goulphe and retreatte therof coulde see nothing of that whyche was done wythoute For thys cause the Peloponesians seynge those same separated and feobled in suche sorte came to geue charge vpon theyme and repoulsed theyme vnto the lande and those same Peloponesians seynge theymeselfe to haue the vyctorye a greate nomber of theyme landed for to followe the Athenyans whyche coulde not be succouredde by their people to wytte by those that were in the ryght poyncte wyth Thrasibulus for that they were oppressed wyth greater nomber of shyppes than they had Nothere wyth those whyche were in the left poynct wyth Thrasillus for that that they coulde not see what those same dyd there by cause of the rockye place or promontorye that was bitwene both and moreouer they hadde muche to do for to resiste the shyps of the Syracusains and a greate nomber of other whyche oppressed them greatly vntill that the Peloponesians perceiuing themself to haue the victorye bigonne to putt themself into disorder for to followe the ennemyes shipps so as they skattered themself abroade For Thrasybulus which perceiued it wythout more contending to saille with those that were bifore him russhed wyth all his ships and with all his strength vpon them so that he put them to flight And fyndynge those whiche had brokene the myddeste of hys battaylle into disorder he brought them in such feare that many of them without tarying did put themself into flyght Whiche parceyued the Siracusains and the othere that were wyth them whyche had bene already greatlye oppressed by Thrasillus dyd lykewyse putt themselfe in flighte in suche sorte that all the armye of the Peloponesians fledde straight towardes the ryuer of Pydia and fromethence towardes Abyde And albeit that the Athenyans dyd not take a greate nomber of the ennemyes shippes yet that same vyctorie dyd come very wel to their purpose for that that they were bifore tyme in greate feare of the Peloponesians by sea by cause of many losses whiche they had made in many places wyth them but aboue all for the same of Sicille Wherby after the victorie the feare cessed whiche they had of the said Peloponesyans by sea and also the murmuration that was amongest their people by
whereby albeit that it were not very greate yet neuerthelas they that intermedled acquyred and gotte greate riches greate reuenues and greate lorde shyppes by meanes that in saylinge they subdued many Islandes chiefly those that were in the barayne contrey and lackynge many thynges necessary Also they made not than anye warre by lande wherby myght be gott one anny greate puissance for insomuche as the warres were betwene neyghbour and neyghbour there was no greate gettynge vntyll they beganne to go fourth by sea to conquere without thair countreys for they coulde not agre togithers to obey vnto the great and principall cyties of the countrey And when they were assembled to counsell vpon warre they coulde not agre of the ayde that euery countrey shulde make and contrybute but wythoute commune assembles they warred the one neyghboure agaynste the other so as occasyons sarued theÌ„ Untyll the warre whych in tyme past was bitwene the Calcides Eretriens in the whyche all Grece was deuyded toke part with the one with the other After that many empeshementes happened vnto euery of the sayd people of Grece which wtholded theÌ„ froÌ„ encreasyng theÌ„selues For as the Ioniens beganne to augmeÌ„te themselues Cyrus wyth the myght of Perse came vpoÌ„ them after that the same Cyrus had vaynquyshed Cresus he toke by force and subdued all the countâ—ey whyche is betwene the ryuer of Halis the sea As touchyng the other cyties of Grece the gouernours that had dominatioÌ„ ouer theÌ„ toke no care but onely to kepe thair persones thair auctorytie to enryche enlarge thair particuler howses And for that cause went not much fourth of the sayd cyties for to go to conquerre a farre of Also it is not founde that they dyd any thynge worthy of memory but onely a certayne smal warre amoÌ„gest theÌ„ bitwene neyghbour neyghbour resarued theÌ„ that occupyed Sycille who were most puyssant After yâ— saison it chauÌ„ced that the rulers aswell of Athenes as of the other cyties were chased away by yâ— LacedemoniaÌ„s excepted theÌ„ of Sycille For the cytie of Lacedemonie after that it was encreased by the Doryens who at this present dothe inhabite there albeit that very long tyme it was troubled by cyuile sedytions dissentions as we haue vnderstand yet alwayes lyuyng both in the tyme also of auncyentie in good manners by good lawes yt preserued it selfe fro tyrannye maynteygned his libertie For we fynde that there were passed more than foure houndred yeares from the ende of the warre wherof we speake yâ— the LacedemonyaÌ„s had hadde the same fourme of lyuing oâ— gouernance of publique wealth as they presently nowe haue and also were so puyssante by meane therof that they amended the gouernaunce of other cyties An one after the tyrantes were dryuen out of Grece the Medes warred against the Athenyens and vainquyshed them at Marathonica and tenne yeares after the kynge Xerxes came with an iâ—estymable puyssance for to subdue hole Grece For to resiste whose puyssance by a common accord of all Grece the Lacedemonyans as most myghtie were made chief of the sayd warre And the AthenyaÌ„s parceyuinge the commyng of the strangers determyned to forsake thair cytie and to bestowe themselues in thair shippes whiche they had caused to be made and apparailled for that purpose and by thys meane they became people of the Sea And certayne tyme after that yâ— by one accorde and by one comon assemble they had dryuen away the straungers all the Grekes that were rebelled froÌ„ the obedyence of the Persyans and lykewyse they that were vnyted to resiste them deuyded them selues into two factions the one vnder the LacedemoniaÌ„s and the other vnder the Athenyansâ— for that that those two cyties were moste myghthie of all the other to wytt Lacedemonye by lande and Athens by Sea and yet neuerthelas they abodde by a certayne smal space of tyme in good amytie makynge warre and takynge parte together But anonne after warre began bitwene the same two cyties and thair allyes and there was no nacioÌ„ of Grekes in any parte of the worlde that folowed not the one parte or other In such sort that froÌ„ the warres of the Medes vntill thys here wherof we speake they haue bene alwayes in warre or in respyte of warre to wytte the sayd cyties the one agaynst the other or ells agaynst thair subiectes that rebelled agaynst them By meanes wherof they be by longe experyence greatly exercysed in armes and also be well prouyded of all thynges necessary for warre Nowe the sayd two cyties had dyuers manner of lyuynge with thair subiectes and allyes For the Lacedemonyens made not thairs trybutoires but wolde alonely that they shulde gouerne themselues as they dyd to wytt by a certayne small nomber of the moste honest people amongest them for thair profitt and vtilitie But the AthenieÌ„s by a lytle and a lytle gott to them all the good shippes that thair allyes had excepte them of Chio and of Lesbos and after dyd laye vpon them certayne trybute by meane wherof they made an armye more great and more myghtye on thair side onely than all the couÌ„trey of Grece had euer made bifore fro the tyme that they made warre generally together Suche was the estate of Grece in auncyente tyme as farre as I canne fynde albeit that it be ryght harde to beleue if a man wolde narrowely consyder and debate all the tokens or signes For somuche as the people that heare speakynge of thynges passed though that it be of thair countreys and of thair owne ancesters they suffre the bruyte to spreade abrode ronne as one reporteth it vnto theÌ„ wythoute enquyrynge any further of the trouthe For we se that the Athenyens bileue and say commonly that Hyparcus was slayne by Armodyus and by Aristogitone for that he was a tyrante and they do not consyder that in the same saysone that he was slayne Hippias whyche was elder brother of Phisistratus reigned in the cytie of AtheÌ„s of whoÌ„ Hiparcus and Thessalus were brotherne and that one daye Armodius and Aristogiton who had interprysed to kylle them all three imagenynge that thair purpose had bene discouered by some thair accomplyces vnto the sayd Hippyas durste not execute thair enterpryse agaynst them doubtynge that he had bene aduertysed therof but yet neuerthelas they determyned to do some thynge worthy of memory bifore they were taken so they came to fynde Hyparcus who was makynge sacrefyce in the temple that is called Leocorion and there they slewe hym And in many other thynges wherof men haue yet memorye we fynd that the other Grekes haue faulse opynion and thynke them to be other than they haue bene As the Lacedemoniens who bileue that thair rulers whan they putt the balles in the boxes in the counsaile to shewe thair opynion dyd putt in euery of them not one onely that is to saye that they had two voyces And that there
wytt that they cannot be in rest nor suffer other to rest Having than one such a cytie your ennemye you slepe lordes LacedemonieÌ„s and thinke that they may well reste who whan it is necessary execute vertuously geue to vnderstaÌ„d that if any woulde oultrage them they haue the harte to resiste And youe mesure youre modestie equitie with no wille to do euille to an othere and to reuenge youe whan men would do it whyche thynge youe shall skarcely do whan you haue to do with a cytie your neyghbour whych shal be equall wyth yours And nowe you woll as we haue bifore declared lyue be conuersant with the Athenians accordinge to thair auncieÌ„t maÌ„ners customes but it is necessary to haue regard to the thinges newe presente in this case as in all other busynes For as it is right conuenieÌ„t for a cytie that ys in rest peace not to change hys lawes auncyent customes right so for that whyche is oppressed with affaires by an other It is necessary to thinke on many newe thynges And to Imagynne many craftes for to resiste it is the cause wherby the Athenyans be alwayes inclyned to enterprise new thinges muche more than we for the greate experience that they haue wherfore lordes it is nedefull that henceforwardes youe cease youre prolonging and slackenes that youe succour your frendes specially those that be at Potyde as we haue vnderstanded And entre with diligence into the landes of the Athenyans and suffer not your frendes and parentes to fall into the hande of your mortall ennemys nor also that we the other be constrayned through despayre to seke other allyaunce than yours whyche we may well do in thys case wythout to be reprehended of the goddes by whome we haue made othe or also of men that shall vnderstande the reasone wherfore we shall haue done yt For they that departe from thair allyes beinge by them forsakenne arne not to be reputed breakers of faythe but worthely those whyche haue denyed them succour whyche if ye do fourthwith delyuer vs we wyll parseuer in the faythfulnes that we owe youe For doinge otherwyse we shulde be vnhappy and also coulde not recouer it of other people that haue as greatly biloued vs. UpoÌ„ whych thynges it may please youe to take good counsayle and good deliberation and so â—o do that yt may not be not sayde that you gouerne the countrey of Peloponese wyth iesser dygnytie and reputation than your parentes dyd that haue lefte youe thys gouernance In this manner spake the Corinthians Nowe were than in the cytie of Lacedemonie certayne Ambassadours of the Athenyans whyche were sente thider longe bifore for other matters Who vnderstandyng thies complainctes and practises denised that it was expedyeÌ„t for thair honnor to go towardes the Senate of the cytie not for to aunswere to the complainctes that were made agaynst the Athenyans but for to shewe them in generall that they oughte not to determyne vpon those thynges bifore they had furst well digested them and to do them to vnderstande the strengthe of thair sayd cytie bringinge to remembrance of the auncyent men the thynges whyche they knewe and doynge the yonge men do vnderstande those thynges wherof they had yet no experience For they thought well that whan the Lacedemonyans had vnderstande th aire declarations they wolde be more enclyned to maigntaigne the peace and rather contynue iâ— reste than to begynne the warre For this they sayde vnto the lordes of the counsaylle that they had come matter to shewe them if it were thair plaisirs who gaue them audyence And they did speake in this manner The narration of the Ambassabassadours Athenians to the Counsaylle of the Lacedemonyans ☞ The .viii. Chapter WE be not coÌ„me into this towne lordes LacedemonyaÌ„s for to debate wyth our allyes but we were here for other matters as ye do know yet vnderstandyng the complaynctes that the othere cyties do make agaynste ours we be willinge to presente and declare not for to aunswere againste the charges that they lay vnto vs for also you arne not our iudges betwene vs and them but to the entente that you credite not lyghtly that whyche they say agaynst vs and for thair parsuation determyne slightly in this matter whyche is of so greate importance otherwyse than is requisitt and also for that that we woll well informe youe of our affaires and dedes as they bee and that the same whyche we holde we haue laufully gottoneyt And furthermore that our cytie ys suche that yt ought to be estemed And wythout rehersynge the thynges so auncyent that men haue more knowlaige therof by comon fame and renomme than by true scyence we wol speake of them that were doone in the warre of the Medes wherof youe haue true knowlaige althoughe that it be noysome and molestuous to repete it often tymes yet it is necessary nowe to do it And also it that whyche we than did at our great danger redoundeth to the comon weale of all Grece wherof youe haue bene parttakers men shulde not be asshamed to shewe it not somuche for to excuse and iustifie oure selues of the thinges that arne layde to vs as for to do youe to vnderstande with what cytie you shall haue to do if that through euill counsaille you enterprise the warre For â—urste it is very certayne that we onely wente bifore the straungers in danger of oure lyues at Marathonie And afterwardes whan they came agayne the seconde tyme seinge that we were not myghtie inoughe to goo to fyght wyth them by lande we wente to encounter them by sea wyth all our shippes and vainquished them at Salamyne whych victorie letted them that they wente not to pillage and fourraige all your townes and cyties of Peloponese whyche they might easely haue donne consyderinge that they coulde not succour the one the other agaynste â—one so mightie an armye by sea as they hadde The whyche thynge the Barbarous kynge did well than declare For beinge by vs ouercommed by sea and knowynge that he coulde neuer assemble one suche a puyssance he retourned wyth the greater partie of his hooste by whyche dede being fully clere and notorious that the force of Grece consisted in the armye by Sea we fournished than thre thinges vtile and profytable for all Grece To wytt greate nomber of shyps a Capytayne ryght wyse and diligente and a harte obedyent and coragious For as touchinge the shippes we hadde lytle lesse than foure houndredde whych were two partes of the hole armye Concerninge the Capytayne we gaue youe Themistocles whiche was principal author and mouer that the battaile was made in the discreate of the sea which without all doubte was the saufgarde of Grece By occasyon whereof youe iudged vnto hym singular honors more than to any other estrangier that euer came vnto youe And as for the couragiousnes of harte we shewed yt very openly For seing that we had not any succour by lande for that
cloked meane that they coulde not to suffer them to departe vntill that he were come again vnto theÌ„ In the meane time aryued togither his companyons of the Ambassade to wytt Hambronicus son of Lysicles Aristides sonne of Lysimachus who signefied hym that the walles of Athens were nowe of good heigh and defensible For he feared that whaÌ„ the Lacedemonyans vnderstode the trouthe of the thinge that they wolde restrayne them The Athenyans did righte well that whyche he commaunded them whereof after that he was aduertysed he came to the counsayle of Lacedemonyans and shewed them that the walles of his cytie were nowe made iâ— suche sorte that they were defensible for them that were within yt And if the sayde Lacedemonyans or thair sayde allyes woolde froÌ„thence forwardes sende thair Ambassadours they sholde sende them vnto people that vnderstode well what were eâ—pedyent and profytable for a comon wealth For at what tyme yt semed vâ—to them eâ—pedyent to forsake thair cytie and enter into thair shippes they shewed that they hadde the harte and mynde to do yt without counsaille of any othere And also sithens in all the affayres that happened duringe the warre whan they were putt into deliberation th aire opynion was founde so good as any of the other And therfore they thought yt good most expedient and profytable that thair cytie were enclosed with walles rather than to leue it open aswell for the wealth of them as of thair allyes for yt were impossible that thinges might egally be consulted vpon where as indiffereÌ„cie were not hadde wherfore it was nedefulle aither that all the cyties confederated shulde be wtout walles orells that those LacedemonyeÌ„s confesse acknowlaige that those of AtheÌ„s haue bene made with good raison The Lacedemonyens shewed not theÌ„selfe to be displeased against the AtheniaÌ„s for thies wordes For also they sent not thair Ambassade to impesch theÌ„ precisely to make thair walles but only to perswade them to put the matter into general deliberatioÌ„ For yâ— that they had theÌ„ in great loue for the good wyll that they had shewed for saruyce that they had done at the warre of the Medes Neuerthelas also they were sory to haue bene so deceyued of thair opynioÌ„ In this maÌ„ner retourned ThaÌ„bassadours of both partes wtout any declaratioÌ„ of displeasure And also the cytie of Athenes was by this meanes in shorte tyme enclosed with walles which were made with greate haste as may be well perceiued by this yâ— men may se the fouÌ„dacions to be of many sortes of stones in some places they be not â—ayde egall but as they were founde And also men may see there many stones wrought and entailled whiche had bifore â—arued for monumentes or tombes and had made the circuicte of the walle muche more large than the towne was And for this cause they toke the stuf in all places to fournyshe yt Besides this Themistocles perswaded the Athenyans to make an ende of the walle whiche he had caused to be begonne in the yeare whâ—Ì„ he was gouernour and ruler of the cytie abâ—ute the gaate of the sayd cytie that is called Pyree aswell for that that the place was very propice so as it than was and yet beinge enclosed shuld be more necessary hauing thre natural portes enclosed as also to the intent that the Citezeins might the rather geue theÌ„selfe to saylinge whyche was the thyng by meanes wherof he thought that the cytie might be made more puyssante For this cause he was the furste that had the hardynes to say to the AthenyaÌ„s that there lacked to rule the sea And incoÌ„tynently afterwarde beganne to enterprise the Empyre Thus by hys counsaileâ— the wall was made and fynyshed wherwith the porte of Pyree was enclosed so that we se it now if such largenes that two wagons may passe there al of great quartered fre stones wtin fourth made with chalke sande and on the owte side the stones be ioyned with graspes of irone with leade But yet it is not raysed aboue yâ— one halfe in height that it was appoynted to be of which was such that if it had bene so made A very fewe people though they were no warryous might haue kepte it agaynste a greate armye And the other people of defence myghte haue entred theyr shyppes for to fyght For all hys entente was principally to the affayres of the sea For thys cause as I thinke that he perceyued that the Medes yf they wolde retourne into Grece might come sooner more easely by sea than by laÌ„de Wherfore it was more expedyeÌ„t to fortefye the porte of Pyree than the cytie For this cause he oftentymes perswaded the AtheniaÌ„s that yf they were constrayned or ouercharged by lande they might retyre strength them in thys place and make all their defence by sea In suche manner the Athenyans after the departure of the Medes fortefyed theyr cytye and theyr porte wyth walles Anone afterwardes Pausanyas Lacedemonyan sonne of Cleombrotus Duke of Grekes departed from Peloponese with twenty greate shyppes And with hym went thirty other shyppes wyth Athenians togeders with a greate nâ—mber of other theyr allyes whiche wente all to lande in Cypres where they toke by force many townes and cytyes And froÌ„ thence went to Bizance which the Medes dyd yet than hold and dyd take it lykewyse by force All which thinges were done vnder the conduct of the sayde Pausanias But for that he shewed hym selfe to lofty or high and imperiall towardes the allyes and impytuous to all other and specyally to the Ionyans and those that newely had bene recouered from the obeysance of the Medes they could not indure it but prayed the Athenyans for the amyte and allyaÌ„ce that was betwene them that they woulde be theyr heades and not suffre that the sayde Pausanias shulde so oppresse and ouertreade them Wherunto the Athenyans gaue willyngly the eare and watchedde the meane and occasyon howe they might most honestlye do it So chaunced it that in the meane tyme Pausanias was sent for or commaunded home by the Lacedemonyans who had nowe ben aduertysed by many people of the vyolences that he dyd and that he gouerned hymselfe more lyke a tyraunte than a Duke And by thys meane all at one tyme he was called backe all the Grekes became vnder the obeysance of the Athenyans reserued them of Peloponese And after that the same Pausanias was come agayne to Lacedemonye he was conuicted of many violences particuler pyllages bâ—t no greate cryme coulde be approued agaynste hym Neuertheles before he was acquyted it was layde to hys charge that he had confederacie wyth the Medes And for so muche as it was in a manner clerely approued so to be they wolde not sende hym agayne to the armye to haue the charge but in hys stede they sent Docres and certayne other Capitaines with a small nomber of people But whan they were aryued at the armye the sayde men of warre seing
the Athenyans that were in Megare yssued forth vpon them with so greate furye that they slewe all them that hadde sett vp the sayde Trophee and the other that shulde haue bene theyr faulsgarde they put to flyght Of whome a great parte in theyr sleyinge ranne into a felde closed wyth dyches so that there was none commynge fourthe which seyng the Athenyans dyd set at the entring a good bende of theyr men to kepe them that they retourned not backe And the other ennyroned the sayde dyche on all sydes and with strokes of stones slewe all them that were entred within which was a great plage to them of Corinthe though the reste of their people dyd saue themself within the towne Aboute the tyme that these thynges were done the Athenyans enterprysed and beganne to make two great and thicke walles that wente from the cytye Thone vntyl the port of Pyreus and the other vntyl the same of Phalere At which tyme the Phociens hadde their armye agaynst the Doryans froÌ„ whome the Lacedemonyans were nowe departed helde besieged thre of theyr townes to wytt Beon SytynyoÌ„ Erineon Wherof after that they had taken the one the LacedemoniaÌ„s sent to the succour of the said DoryaÌ„s Nicomedes sonne of Celobrotus who than gouerned the citie for in stede of Plistynates soÌ„ne of Pausanias kinge of LacedemoniaÌ„s with a thousand fyue houndredmen of their lande about ten thousand of their allies coÌ„federates NotwithstaÌ„ding before they aryued Understanding that the Doryans had rendred theÌ„self by composition vnto the CorinthiaÌ„s they retourned vnto their houses But they were in greate feare to be empesched by the AtheniaÌ„s yf they toke their voiage by sea for on the cost of the goulphe of Crissee the AtheniaÌ„s had great noÌ„ber of shyppes armed on the other coast of Geraine there was also daÌ„ger for that the Athenyans dyd holde Megare and fountaynes called Pegase and had there alwayes both people and shyppes And further the passage was harde and strayght and also they knewe that the Athenyans dyd there wayte for them For this cause they concluded for the moste expedyente to soiourne in the countreye of the Beotians vntyll suche tyme that they had better aduysed for theyr iourneye And also at the persuasion of some of the Athenyans suche as imagyned to chaunge the gouernaunce populair of the cytye of Athenes and to lett that the walles shulde not be parfaicted that were begonne But the Athenians that perceyued it came fourth agaynst the Lacedemonyans both olde and yonge to the nomber of a thousand and assembled of theyr allyes to the nomber of .xiiii. thousande aswel for that that it semed to them that theyr ennemys knewe not whyder to go as also for that that they greatly doubted that they were coÌ„me for to trouble theyr estate and common gouernaunce Besyde the sayd nomber certaine horsmen of the Thessalians came to ayde the sayde Athenians for the allyance that they hadde with them But they tourned to the other parte at the battayle that was made nyghe the towne of Tanagre in the countreye of Boece wherof the Lacedemonyans hadde the victorye notwithstandyng that there was greate manslaughter on bothe sydes After which victorye the Lacedemonians entered into the countreye of Megare and cut downe all theyr trees afterwardes toke theyr iourney by Gerayne and by the distraict of Peloponese and retourned into theyr houses But the Athenyans threskoore dayes after the sayd battayle loste retourned with a myghty power into the countreye of the Beotiens vnder the conduct of Myronides and hadde a victorye ouer them nyghe Enophite and by meane therof saysed themself of all the lande of Beoce and of Phocide and rased downe the walles of Tanagre and toke a houndredd hostages or pledges of the rychest of the Locriens and the Eponicens And also they fynyshed in the selfe tyme the two walles that they had begonne at Athenes for to extende vnto the two portes After thys the Egenytes were constrayned by lengthe of siege to render them selfe to the Athenians vpon these conditions that they shuld beate doune theyr walles geue ouer all theyr shyppes and yearely pay certayne trybute At departure from thence the Athenyans wente rounde about Peloponese and burned the fenses of the Lacedemonyans and toke from the Corinthians the towne of Calcibe After thys at theyr landynge they fought agaynste the Cycionyens which were comme thyder agaynst them and vainquished theÌ„ all which thynges were done in Grece by the Athenyans in the tyme that they had theyr armye in Egypte In whiche countreye they had many dyuers adueÌ„tures of warre And besydes thys the kynge of Perse from the begynnynge that he vnderstode theyr commynge into that same countrey sente one hys capitaine a Persian named Megabasus into Lacedemonye wyth a greate somme of moneye for to persuade the Lacedemonyans that they shulde by force enter into the lande of Athenes to thintent to dyuerte or tourne by thys meane the Athenians from Egypte But aâ—ter that the sayde Megabasus had spente one parte of the monneye and sawe that he nothyng preuayled he retourned with the rest into Egypte and sente an other capytayne named also Megabasus sonne of Zephirus Persian to the sayde countrey of Egypte with a great armye which beyng arryued hadde a battayle agaynst the Egyptyans whiche were rebelles agaynst theyr allyes in the which they were vainquyshed and the Grekes that were wythin Menphis were chased away who withdrewe themself into the Islande of Prosopyde whiche is in the Riuer of Nylus in the whiche the sayd Megabasus helde them besieged one yeare and an half Durynge whiche tyme he tourned the water from one of the sydes of the sayde Islande In such sorte that the shyppes of the sayde Athenyans laye on drye lande and that the Islande was ioyned to the fyrme lande And thys done Megabasus entred drye footed within the Islande with hys armye and discomfyted the Athenyans and by thys meane that whiche they had done in the sayde countreye of Egypte in siâ—e yeares was all loste at one instant togethers wyth the more parte of theyr people And the reste which was very smal saued themselues through the couÌ„trey of Lybye and came to aryue at Cyreâ—e And by thys meane the countreye of Egypte came agayne to the obeysance of the Kynge of Mede except the countrey that Amyrteus did holde for that that it was all maryce and forestes And moreouer the people of that regyon were all good warryours But Inarus kynge of Lybyens that had bene cause of all the rebellyon was taken by traysone and afterwardes hanged on the gallowes Duryng thys tyme fyfty galleys whiche the Athenyans sente to succoure theyr people in Egypte arryued at one of the armes or entrynge of Nylus named Mendesius not knowynge the dyscomfyture of theyr sayde people whiche were assauted on the lande syde by the people on foote that were there
them but they ought to vnderstande that yf they take no regarde of the inhabitantes of the base countreye and do suâ—fre them to be lost the daunger shal afterwardes come vpon theÌ„ And herefor is it that thys present consultacyon is made aswell for them as for the other For thys cause they oughte not to be nyece and negligent to enterpryse this warre for to haue afterwardes peace For as it is conuenyent for graue prudent people to lyue in peace and reste whan they be not wronged and that no violence is done vnto them Euen so it is conuenient for vertuous and couragyous people to tourne peace into warre whan they be oultraged And after that they haue wel prouyded for theyr affayres to come agayn to peace accorde And nother to be proud for the prosperitie of the victorye nor also for couetyse of peace and of reste to suffre theÌ„self to be oultraged For he that for to muche loue of reste is nyce not forcinge to reuenge him self parceyueth hym selfe very sone depryued of the voluptuousnes that he taketh of the reste Also that parsone that hath oftentymes good aduentures in warre forgetteth hym selfe by vnassured and vnfaythfull fiercenes and crueltie in suche sorte that he thinketh not what he ought to do For oftentymes foolyshe enterpryses chaunce well for that that the ennemyes dyd conducte theyrs more folyshly And also manye enterpryses that semed to haue ben well begonne haue myshappened For that that the thynges in suche matter be neuer executed in the sorte that they were purposed vpon Also men haue alwayes good and certayne hope of thynges to comme that they do enterpryse But whan it cometh to execute them they fayle oftentymes for feare Nowe as touchyng vs who haue bene greatly oultraged by the Athenyans we purchase and enterpryse warre against them vpon good and iuste quarell to the intent to lyue alwayes in peace and reste after that we shall haue ben reuenged of them Of the which warre we oughte to hope to haue the victory for many reasons The furste for that that we haue greater nomber of people and better warryours than they haue And the other for that we be all wyth one wyll delyberated to do that which shal be commaunded vs. And for that that they arne more mighty with shippes than we we woll supplye to that aswell so much of our particuler monney that we woll furnyshe euery one for hys rate a portion as also of the Syluer which is in the teÌ„ple of Delphos in the same of Olimpus which we may coigne And by that meanes we shall easely wtdrawe reteigne their maronniers also theyr men of warre which be more straungers and mercenaries or huyred souldyours than borne in that countrey which thing is otherwyse with vs. For we be more mighty of people than of monneye And yt we maye haue the victorye ouer them it is to beleue that they shal be discomfyted And also howe much the more longer that they resiste so muche the more our people shall exercyse applye theÌ„self to the sea And so muche as they be people of more harte thaÌ„ theirs whan that they shall haue ben exercysed they shal be alwayes more strong For the hardynes that ours haue cometh vnto theÌ„ of nature which the other may not acquyre or get nother by arte nor by learnynge But we maye well by exercyse acquyre the industrie or trauayle that they haue more than we and also we shall fynde moneye ynough for to fournyshe thys affayre For yf theyr allyes refuse not to paye them trybute for to be in theyr seruytude and subiectyon we shall not be so wretched that we refuse to contrybute with theirs goodes for to reueÌ„ge vs of oure ennemyes and to saue oure lybertye For also whan they shall haue taken them from vs they woll intreate vs worse by cause of our goodes We haue on the other parte many other meanes to make warre agaynste them The furst is that we woll practyse theyr allyes and subiectes and woll cause them to rebelle agaynste them and by thys meane we woll cause them to lose the reuenues that they haue more than we Also we maye destroy theyr countreys and territoryes whereby monney groweth vnto them and many other occasyons meanes maye happen to vs wherof we nowe take no aduyse For there was neuer warre made holy by the meanes and accordyng to the preparatioÌ„ that was deuysed from the begynnynge but of it self it causeth others to comme to the vnderstandyng of men accordynge to the accydentes and chaunces whiche do occurre and happen And in that they that haue most hygh and entier courage be in greater suertie than they which be in sadnes and in feare And euery one of vs ought to thincke and imagyne that yf he had questyon of hys lymites or boundes wyth hys neyghbours that were as myghtye as he that he woulde not suffre hym selfe to be oultraged Now presently the Athenyans be myghtye ynough to subdue vs altogider whereby they shall more easely subdue vs particularly towne â—or towne whiche thynge they woll do yf that we allye not our selues together and resiste them all wyth one accorde And yf they haue the victorye ouer vs though it be a thynge ryght heauy and dyspleasante to be spoken yet alwayes he that heareth it ought to vnderstande that that same victorye shal be no other thynge but oure bondage whiche is a thynge abhomynable to be harde named in Peloponese muche more to see by effecte so manye noble cytyes to be suppedytated and trauaylled by one onely cytye wherin it semeth eyther that we be nyce and neglygent or for feare to muche pacyent and by that meane degenerating frome the vertue and glorye of our ancestres who haue delyuered all Grece from seruytude And it semeth that we be not suffycyente to defende oure lybertye whan we suffre one onely cytye to vsurpe the gouernemente ouer vs where as whan there is one onely tyraunt in a cytye we demaunde that he maye be chased awaye And we do not consyder that by indurynge thys we incurre into thre greate and euyll vyces to wytt cowardnes pusillanymytie and imprudence And yt auaileth nothyng to say for to excuse youe of the sayd vyces that youe woll exchue the temeritie and rashnes whyche hath bene pernycious vnto many people For this excuse vnder shadowe wherof many haue bene deceyued ought rather for feare to be named madnes But it sarueth nothinge to oure purpose to taxe or reprehende thinges passed by longer talke than the tyme requyreth but we ought in prouyding and succouring thinges presente to trauaile for those that be to coÌ„me For you holde and haue lerned of your ancestres to acqiure vertues by laboures and trauayles Frome whome ye shulde not degenerate nor swarue And if that youe were auncyently more ryche more mightie than tâ—ey were so much it shulde be greater shame to lose in your ryches that whyche they wonne in thair
pouertie Youe haue moreouer many reasons and occasyons whyche shulde moue and encourage youe to make warre The furste is the aunswere of the god Apollo who hath promysed to ayde youe youe shall haue more to youre helpe all the reste of Grece partly for feare partly for thair proffitt And youe oughte not to feare furste to breake the peace and the allyance whyche we haue with the Athenyans whyche the God who perswadethe vs to beginne warre Iudgeth to haue bene furste infringed by them But yt shal be rather to defende the traicties and confederations which they haue violated and brokeÌ„ne For they that defende themselues be not infractours of the peace but they that furst make assaulte Wherfore by al reasonne there can not but goodnes happen vnto vs to enterpryse this warre And in asmuche as youe knowe by the thynges that we haue shewed youe here in generall assemblie for to anymate and perswade howe it is necessary aswell for the comon welth of all as for the particuler of euery one amongeste vs Delaye no more to defende youre lybertie and particularly to geue ayde to them of Potyde whiche be Doriens and be assieged by the Ionyans whyche is hole contrary to that that was wont to be in tymes paste For that that if we presently dissemble we shall suffre one of vs to be destroyed And whaÌ„ it shal be published that we haue made this assemblie for to reuenge vs but that we dare not we may vnderstande that there may be asmuche done to the other But lordes allyes and confederates knowinge that we be comme into this necessytie and that we couÌ„saile you that which is for the beste youe ought to determyne and enterprise this warre And you ought not somuch to be afrayd of soubdaine incomodites difficulties of the warre as to thinke of the goodnes whyche shall come vnto youe by the longe peace that thereby shall folowe For peace establisheth itselfe by warre And also men be not assured to be withoute daunger whan they be in reste and wythoute warre And on the othere parte in subduinge by force that cytie of Grece whiche woll vsurpe the tyrannye or rule ouer all the othere wherof it alredy ruleth some and purposeth to rule the reste we shall certainely abyde afterwardes in suertie and shall sett at lybertie those that be in seruitude and bondage Thus dyd the Corynthians speake How the warre being concluded agaynst the Athenyans by all the Peloponesians in the cytie of Sparte the Lacedemonyans sente thair Ambassadours towardes the Athenyans for to sommone them of certayne causes The .xiiii. Chapter WHan the Lacedemonyans had harde all theÌ„ of the other cyties speake whiche were there assembled they caused to be geuen small balles to the Ambassadours of euery of them for to declare by that meanes whider they willed peace or warre So they were all of opynyon to make warre whyche was by them concluded and determined But there was no meane at that tyme to begynne yt for they were vnprouyded of all thinges For thys cause it was deuysed that euery one of the sayde cyties shulde contrybute And ordayned that it shulde be done withoute tracte or lengthe of tyme whiche they did in lesse than one yeare And in the meane tyme they sente Ambassadours towardes the Athenyans for to expounde and declare th aire faultes and crymes wherof they were charged To thintente to haue better more iuste occasion to make them warre if they amended them not immediatly And chiefly demaÌ„ded theÌ„ that they shuld purge the mysdede offence wherwith the Goddes were offended whyche was suche There hadde bene sometyme a citezeine of the cytie of Athenes named Cylon a noble and a mighty man who had gottone the pryze at Olympe This Cilon hadde to wyfe the doughter of Theagenes who than was ruler of Megare In makinge whyche mariage aunswere was geuen to the saide Cylone by the god Apollo of Delphos that whan the greate feaste of Iupiter shulde be he shulde enioye the fortresse of Athenes who hauinge the conducte of men of warre of Theagenes hys â—ather in lawe and assemblie of some his frendes of the cytie than whan the feaste of Olympus was celebrated in Peloponese toke and occupyed the sayd fortresse of Athenes to the intente to make himselfe lorde and ruler Perswading him that that was the greatest feaste of Iupiter that was made And for that that he had at other tymes wonne the pryse in the sayd feast yt semed to hym the more that the same sarued to his case and prophecie of the god For he had not coÌ„sidered if the aunswere extended to the feast that was celebrated at Athens or at other places Also the god had not declaired yt And yet the Athenyans celebrated a very solempne feast euery yeare in the honor of Iupiter without the cytie in the which were sacrificed many beastes counterfaicted by so greate arte that they semed to be lyuinge But Cylon who had interpretated the oracle of Apollo to hys owne fantasie thinking to do well enterprisedde the matter like as hath bene shewed whan the Athenyans vnderstode that thair fortresse was takenne all they that were in the feldes assembled and came to assiege the sayde Cylone and his men wythin the saide fortresse But for that the place was stronge and that it noyed them to be there all occupyed the more parte wente to chaire affaires and lefte the charge to nyne of theym with a competente nomber of people to kepe and hâ—lde the sayde place assieged And so gaue them full mighte to do all that whyche shulde seme vnto them in that affayre to be for the wealthe of the cyte Who duringe the sayde siege did many thinges apperteigninge vnto the administratioÌ„ oâ— the comoÌ„ welth In the meane tyme CyloÌ„ his brother fouÌ„d meanes to yssue secretly out of the fortresse â—aued theÌ„selues But the other that taryed beynge constrayned by famyne after that manye were deade came to couche themselues bifore the great awter whiche was within the sayde fortresse ThaÌ„ they that had the charge of the siege beinge entred within wolde haue caused theyme to aryse And seyinge that they dyed to thintente that the temple shuld not be polluted and defyled did drawe them fourth and afterwardes did kylle them But there were some that were mourdred in passing by the infarnal goddes and some at the fote euenne of the aulters By occasion whereof they that committed the dede and all thair discente were holdenne for cruelle and sacrileges And also the malefactours were bannyshed by the Athenyans And likewise by Cleomenes chased out of Lacedemonye And afterwardes beinge come into newe dissention wyth the Athenyans they that were founde of the sayd lingnaiges were not onely dryuenne oute of the cytie but also the bones of the buryed were caste forth from thence And yet by successyon of tyme they came thider agayne and euen at this presente there be certayne housholdes there dwellinge And
yet at this present day the sepulcre may be sene bifore the temple lyke as appeareth by the letters that be grauen in the stone of the sepulture And moreouer they were commaunded by the oracle of the god that for to purge the sacrilege that they had committed by violating of the teÌ„ple of the goddesse that they shuld in stede of one hys body reÌ„dre twayne whyche they dydde And in the stede of Pausanias whome they had taken they offred him two images and statures of copper By this meane nowe the Athenyans for to aunswere to the Lacedemonyans touchynge the sacrilege wherewith they charged them rendred them the contrary Sayinge that it was requysitt also that they shuld pourge this cryme and oultrage whyche they had done to the goddesse Pallas whiche by the god Apollo was iudged sacrilege ¶ Howe Themistocles duke of Athenyans beinge persecuted aswell by them as by the Lacedemonyans withdrewe himselfe towardes the kynge Artaxerxes and there ended hys life ☞ The .xvi. Chapter WHan the Lacedemonyans had vnderstande the aunswere of the Athenyans they sente vnto them againe thair messengers signyfying theÌ„ howe that Themistocles had bene consentynge and parttaker of the selfe conspiracy that Pausanias had done like as they sayd to appere by his proces whiche they kepte within the temple Requiringe the Athenyans that they shuld lykewise punishe the sayd Themistocles The whiche thing the sayd Athenyans lightly did beleue And all with one accorde sente aswell from Sparte as fro Athenes people for to take the sayd Themistocles Who in that same time beinge bannished from Athenes kepte himselfe in the cytie of Argos the more part of the time but oftymes he weÌ„t through the couÌ„trey of Peloponese Being than aduertised of that same deliberation he departed from Peloponese went from thence by sea to Corcyre knowing that the people of that same cytie loued him for many plaisiâ—s and benefites that he had done them But they shewed him that if they receiued him they shuld cause the Spartaynes and the Athenyans to be thair ennemys And so they sett him a land in the coaste of the Islande nexte vnto them And after perteyuinge that he was stille pursued he wtdrewe himself towards Admetus king of Melosses although he knewe him not to be his frende And not finding that same king in his cytie for that he was than absent he came to render himself to the quene his wife who bad him to take their son by the hand to tary in thair house vntil the coming of the king who taried not long bifore he retourned And whaÌ„ he was arriued Themistocles came to present himâ—elf shewed him That albeit in the tyme that he was duke of Athenes that whaÌ„ the same king was at thair mercy he had spokeÌ„ against him in certaine thinges yet were it not reasonable that he shuld take veÌ„geance of him at that houre that he was coÌ„me to reÌ„der himself to his marcy in somuch as the things were not like for he was thaÌ„ in much more poore estate thaÌ„ the kinge was whan the said Themistocles iniuried him And yt apperteigned not to a noble couraige to take veÌ„geance but against his egalls And on thoder part whan the said Themistocles was against him the said king trauailed onely to do his proffit for goods not to saue his life as the said Themistocles presently did For if that he restored him vnto theÌ„ that pursued him he were cause of his death After the Themistocles had made thies declarations being set vpoÌ„ the grouÌ„d with the same son of the said Admetus which is a facioÌ„ to require the most effectuously that might be the same king caused him to arise promised not to restore him to the LacedemoniaÌ„s AtheniaÌ„s whiche thinge he perfourmed notwithstanding that sone after thair messengers came to hym and made many great declarations for to perswade him to restore hym But vnderstandinge that he wolde goo to the kinge Xerxes he caused him to be accompanied by lande vnto the cytie of Pydue whiche is situated vpon the shore of the other sea appertaigning vnto AlexaÌ„der In which place he entred into a shipp which was willinge to go into IonuÌ„ But by fortune of sea he came to lande for anempste the cytie of Nare whiche the AtheniaÌ„s did holde assieged wherof the sayd Themistocles was greatly astonyed yet discouered not himselfe to the patrone of the shippe who knewe not bifore what he was nor for what cause that he fledde but sayde vnto him in this manner If thou sauest me not kepe me secret I wol say to the Athenyans that thou hast taken monney of me for to saue me But if thou doist saue me I woll recompense the habuÌ„dantly or liberally And the remedy is that thou suffre not any of them that be in the ship to go fourth but kepe them here at ancre vntill we haue winde for to departe whiche thinge the patrone graunted him and laye at ancre a daye and a nyghte Afterwardes hauinge recouered the wynde he halsed vp the saile for to goo towardes Ephasus Beinge arryued at whiche place Themistocles parfourmed that whych he had promysed And gaue him a good some of monney For anone after it was largely brought to hym aswell from Athens as also from Argos From thens Themistocles toke his iourney by mayne lande with one maroÌ„ner beinge a Persyan And so wrotte letters to Artarerxes who than newely succeded Xerres his father in the roiaulme of Mede and of Perse whiche were of the tenour that folowith I come vnto the kynge Artarerxes I Themistocles that haue done many doÌ„mayges to thy house more than any other Greke by that I was constrayned to resyste thy father who assayled me But I dyd him much more saruyce afterwardes whan yt was laufull for me to do yt For he was beholden vnto me for his retourne which was right daungerous And this said he for that that after that Xerxes had lost the battaille by sea at Salamyne that same Themistocles wrott vnto him that he shulde haste to retourne fayninge that it was enterprised to breake the bridges where he shulde retourne and that he had empesched it After folowethe the reste of the Epistle And nowe that the Grekes do parsecute me as thy frende I comme hither to do the muche saruyce But I am determyned to soiourne here one yeare and afterwardes to shewe the causes for whiche I am comme The king hauyng red his letters maruailed at his wytt and graunted him that whiche he demaunded to tary there one yeare wher he was bifore to come vnto him within which tyme he lerned all that was possible both of the language and also of the maÌ„ners of the Persiens Afterwardes he came vnto the kinge and had more authoryte about him than any of the Grekes that euer came thider aswell for the dignite and great reputacyon that he had had bifore as also for that that
that couÌ„trey and also they defeated and discomsited thre houndred good men of the valleys of the said countrey of Elyde with a certaine other noÌ„bre of the couÌ„trey adioining that were come downe for to succour the said towne of Phee And afterwards a great wynde teÌ„pest arising in the sea by meane wherof thair shippes might no longar tary there for that that it was a place with out porte one part of theÌ„ embarqued theÌ„self And passing bifore a rokky place called Ithis they came to aborde in the porte of Philie To which place the Messenyens the other that could not be embarqued at departure frome Phee were come by lande and had taken the towne by force Whiche vnderstandinge that there were nowe assembled a great bende of people of the countre of Elyde for to come to ouerronne theÌ„ habandoned the cytie embarqued themselues with the other departed altogither keping that same sea enuiroÌ„ninge the places nighe about it In the same self tyme the Athenyans sente thirty othere shippes for to go against the quarter of Locride for to kepe the Island of Eubee they coÌ„mitted the coÌ„ducte of the same shipps vnto CleopoÌ„pus son of Clynias who being there landed wasted many couÌ„treis along by the sea toke the towne of Thronie caused the same to delyuer hostages Afterwardes certaine LocryaÌ„s being come to repulse chase him away as he was bifore Alope he defeated ouercame theÌ„ in battaile In that same soÌ„mer the Athenyans chased all the inhabitantes out of Egyne with thair wiues childreÌ„ reproching theÌ„ that they were cause of all the warre And also they thought yt much more sure to inhabytt with their people that same cytie which was affectioned to the PeloponesyaÌ„s which thing they did anone after But the PeloponesiaÌ„s aswel for hate of the AthenyaÌ„s as also for that that the Egynes had done theÌ„ many plaisirs both in the tyme whaÌ„ the earthquake was in thair couÌ„trey also in the warre that they had against the Sklaues they gaue theÌ„ the cytie of Thyree for their habytacioÌ„ with all the terrytory thereof vnto the sea for to labour which terrytory departeth the couÌ„trey of Argiues from that same of Laconie And one parte of the sayd Egynes did inhabitt theÌ„self ther the other weÌ„t dispaâ—sed through the couÌ„trey of Grece In the self same soÌ„mer the furst day of the moneth in the chauÌ„ge of the mone at which might only chauÌ„se the eclips As it was bileued the sunne was darkened about noone or mydday In such sort that there was sene many starres in heaueÌ„ anone after came againe to his clerenes At which time the AtheniaÌ„s made appoinctmeÌ„t with Nymphodorus Abderite who was bifore thair ennemy for that that he had greate authoritie with Sitalces sonne of Thereus kinge of Thrace whoe hadde espoused his suster hopinge by his meane to withdrawe the sayde Sitalces vnto th aire allyaunce For that same Thereus hadde furst in his lyuinge made the royalme of Odrises whiche he enioyed most great of all the couÌ„trey of Thrace whiche lyueth in coÌ„parison of the reste in lybertie This same Thereus was not he that hadde Progne doughter of Pandion kinge of Athenes to wyfe but they ruled in dyuers countrees of Thrace for he the espoused Progne holdeth the couÌ„trey of Daulie which is nowe called the lande of Phocyde that was than inhabyted with Thracyens in whose time that same Progne and Philomene her suster dyd that greuous offence in the place of Itys By reasone wherof many poetes makinge mention of Philomene whiche is called the nightingale named yt the byrde of Daulie And it is good to beleue that Pandyon kinge of Athenes made that allyance with the same Thereus king that helde the countrey of Daulie for that that it was very nighe to Athenes for to haue succour seruyce rather than wyth the othere Thereus that helde the couÌ„trey of Odrises which was greatly distant fromtheÌ„ce That same than of whome we speake beinge a man of none estymation nor renoÌ„me gott the roiaulme of Odrises and lefte yt vnto Sitalces his sonne with whome the Athenyans made allyance aswell for to haue places frendes and fauourers in Thrace as also to destroye by hys meane Perdycas kynge of Macedonie And Nymphodorus came vnto Athenes with full power of the sayd Sitalces to conclude thappoinctmente whiche thinge he didde And moreouer he caused his sonne named Sadocus to be made Citezeine of Athenes And he toke charge to practise with Sitalces that he shulde cease forbeare the warre that he made in Thrace for to sende to the Athenyans horsmen and footemen lightly armed all Thracyens He moreouer made appoinctement bitwene the Athenyans and Perdicas by meane of the cytie of Therme whiche they rendered him at perswation of the same Nephodorus By meane of whiche appoynctment Perdicas ioynned with Thathenyans and with Phormeon biganne warre against them of Chalcyde In this manner the Athenians had Sitalces kinge of Thracyans and Perdicas kinge of Macedonyans in thair allyance And durynge this tyme their people that were gone into Peloponese with the houÌ„dred furst shippes toke the towne of Solyon bilonginge to the Corynthyans And after that they hadde vtterly pillaged yt they gaue it with all the territory vnto them of Palere whyche be in the countrey of Acharnanie And after that they toke the towne of Astacte by force whiche they reduced to theire allyaunce hauynge chased frome thence Euarchus that helde yt by tyranny And this done they toke saile for to come to the Isle of Chephalanie which was situated for aneÌ„pste the countreis of Acharnanie and of Lewcade and there were four cyties to wit Pale Cranie Samee and Pronnee So without any resistence they toke al the Isle And sone after departed froÌ„thence about the ende of somer for to retourne to Athenes But they beinge arryued at Egyne vnderstode howe Pericles was come fourth with a great bende of men of Athenes and was entred into the territory of Megare So they toke their way for to retyre straight into that partie there landed and ioygned themselfe with the other Which was one of the greatest assembles of men of warre that had bene yet sene togither of Athenyans alonely For also the cytie was than in his flower and hadde not suffred any calamitie And it is sayde that they were ten thousand men armed all of Athens besides thre thousand that were at Potyde and the inhabytaÌ„tes of the feldes that were retyred into the cytie which were issued with theÌ„ to the noÌ„ber of thre thousand all well armed And beside those there was a great noÌ„ber of othere lightly armed whyche altogether hauinge pillaged and wasted the more parte of the territory of Megare retourned fromthence vnto Athens And the same Athenyans ceased not yearely to come
receyued Also we alone do gratefie nobly and liberally our frendes more for to proffitt them than for to shewe that we vse our liberalitie towardes them And for to speake all at one woorde I thinke that this cytie is the myrroure and the doctryne of all Grece and one body mete and suffycient to be made mynistre of hys membres and suppostes in all manner of thynges wyth good grace and honneste All the whyche thynges be not shewed and verefyed by wordes nor by declaratioÌ„s but by the apparance of the trouth as may be sene knowin by the puissaÌ„ce of this cytie which hath bene established by this meane in suche reputacion as it is sene by experyence that this same our cytie is renoÌ„med through all the world more thaÌ„ any other And it is that cytie alone that geueth not occasion to hys propre ennemys to runne vpon it for to hate it though that they receyued thereby shame and damage coÌ„sideringe of what people they receyued it nothere is it blamed of his subiects as vnworthy to gouerne And also it cannot be sayd that that our puyssance sheweth not itself but by tokens and signes for there be sene so greate experiences that bothe those that be present also those that shall come after shal hold them for myracles And we nede not to couett to haue an Homere nor other poete of theÌ„ yâ— be lyuinge for to exaulte or extolâ—e our feates by poetical coulours for the trouth of thinges eâ—faceth blotteth out the opynion therof for that that we haue by our audacyte magnanimytie or noblenes of mind made all the lande all the sea passable leuinge euery wher a memorial of the goodnes or of the euils that we haue there seperatly done Now for this cytie than thies whose exequies we celebrate died in fighting vertuously for that that they thought it a thinge tomuche harde to be depryued from it whiche opynyon and wyll we other that be suruyuing ought alwayes to haue Whiche hath bene cause wherfore I haue more prolixe and largely spoken of thys cytie aswell to shewe that we fyght not for a thinge like vnto othere but for that same vnto whome none othere is like as also to thintent that the praisinges of them of whome we speake shulde be more manifested and opened Of whiche thinges we haue nowe sayde the pryncipal parte For the prays of the excellency and of the greatnes of this cytie wherof I haue bifore spokenne ys dewe vnto them here and vnto thair like whiche thinge very fewe of the other people of Grece may reasonably say of thair feates And I thinke that the chiefest iudge of vertue in a man is the vertuous lyfe and the last confirmator is the honnorable deathe as that same of thies here hath bene For it is a thing iuste and reasonable that they that cannot do othere ayde nor othere seruice to the common wealthe that they shewe themselâ— couragions to defende yt in feate of warre For that that this doinge they acquyte themselues right well in suche comon affaire towardes the cytie where they had euill acquited bifore tyme by attendynge to thair particuler busynes And by this meane recoÌ„pense that same fault by this seruice And there hath not bene he of thies here that withdrewe himself or retyred for his goodes or ryches desiringe more the enioyinge therof for the tyme to come than the goodnes of the partie nor also yâ— spared himself froÌ„ dangers for pouertie hopinge to become ryche but rather semed that they had lesser care for theire welth than for the same of their ennemyes And in effect they were willing in auenging themselues of ennemys to come to this wherunto they be come For that that yt was the most fayer experyence that they coulde make of thair vertue in hope to acquire and gett the glory whiche they had neuer sene For the which it semed to them by that that they had sene of other that they ought well to aduenture their lyues And that yt were better to indure death in defendinge themselues valyaÌ„tly than to eskape by recuilling or drawing backe wher vpon not for to incurre this dishonnour this shame they haue suffred in theire bodyes and in a right small space of tyme haue for a right greate glory willed rather to indure fortune than to obey vnto feare In whiche doinge they haue shewed themselues towardes the partie to be suche as they ought to be And as touchinge the other that be suruiuinge they ought well to couett to haue their intente sett lesse vnto daunger but not to haue lesse of harte for to resiste the ennemys And consyder that the proffitt and the vtilitie coÌ„sisteth not onely somuch in that as I haue shewed youe for there be many amonge youe that vnderstande knowe yt which may more amply expounde declare what goodnes foloweth by repoulsing of ennemys But it consisteth more and youe shall knowe it better if that biholding always the greatnes of the cytie by his workes ye take daily more and more loue in it And somuch that it shall seme more greate vnto youe ye maye thinke that there haue bene noble people who knowinge reason and honestie haue gottone by thair vertuous workes all thies thinges And whansoeuer that the affaires came otherwyse thaÌ„ they desired they were not mynded to defraude the cytie of thair vertue but rather they haue offred and geuen vnto it the fayrest trybute or stipeÌ„de that they might pay that is to wyt their bodies wherby they haue particulerly acquired for theÌ„selfe eternall glory and also right honorable buryall not onely to be therein ingraued but that theire vertue and their glory bee in the same celebrated and magnefyed for euermore whan tyme shall require to speake of thair feates or for to ymitate and followe them For to men illustrious and renoÌ„med euery lande ys the sepulcre or graue The memory of whome is not consarued by the Epitaphies and wrytinges of their domesticall sepulcres But by the renomme that is yssued and dyuulged in strange nations who consydered in thair vnderstanding more the greatenes and highnes of thair couraige than that whych ys chaunced vnto theÌ„ Such people we haue here lordes brought fourth that be worthy to be ymitated followed to thintent that knowinge the felecytie ys lybertie that lybertie is gentlenes you shuld not forsake the daungers of warre that the vnhappy myserable that haue no hope of goodnes shulde not be reputed to do more wysely to countergarde or safe thair lyue than they that be of an other condition that is better whyche put it in hazarte For truly cowardenes accompaigned wyth shame is to a noble and gentle harte more greuous ad displeasante than death whyche maketh vs without feling and insensible chauÌ„sing by his prowesse with hope of the comon glory Considerynge the whyche thynges youe other that were fathers of them that be deade oughte rathere to comforte youreselues and to reioyse
than to bewayle them For if youe regarded the dyuers daungers of deathe whereunto the infantes be subiectes so longe as they be nourished those arne mooste happy vnto whome the more honnorable happenethe as thies here haue bene And youe likewyse coulde not mourne more gloryous thoughe that I knowe very well that it is ryght harde to perswade youe that youe shulde not feele the heuynes and dysplaisir always as youe shall remember them by the prosperytie that youe shall see of othere of whome in tymes paste ye reioysed in lyke case And whan youe shall consyder that they be depryued not onely frome hope of goodes whyche they shuld paraduenture neuer haue enioyed but of those same that they had longe enioyed youe must alwayes patientely indure yt And comforte youreselfeâ— wyth hope that youe haue to haue more chyldrenne youe that are in age for to haue them For that that by the more chyâ—drene that they shal haue hereafter youe shal be caused to forgette the mournynge of them here that be deade and shalle sarue the commone wealthe in twoo manners that ys that they shall not leaue yt desolate and also shall kepe yt in suertie For somuch as they that putte fourthe theire chyldrenne to daungers for the common wealth as those haue done that haue lost thairs in this warre maye geue better counsaylle and more raysonnable than they that haue not done yt And as touchinge the othere amonge youe that be so aged that they haue no more hope to haue chyldrenne somuche the more they oughte to be contente and to comforte themselfe to haue had this aduauntaige aboue the othere as to haue lyued so longe in prosperitie and that they shal passe the remenant of th aire lyfe whych could not be longe yet more swetely for the glory of them here For the desyre of honnoure ys the onely thynge that bryngethe not age And as some saye there ys nothynge that the people desyre somuche in thair age as to be honnored Concerninge them amonge youe that be childrene and brotherne of them that be here deade I see youe to be conuyued vnto a tourney whiche ys ryghte harde For there is no man that praisethe not with woordes the vertue of theym that be deade In soorte that youe that remayne for any valyauntnes that ys in youe shal be skarcely iudged egall vnto theym but rathere shal be iudged to be inferyours for that that amonge the lyuynge there be alwayes enmytyes Butt after that a man ys deade euery man wyth one accoâ—â—â— frendly praysethe hys vertue And thoughe it be nedefull that I nowe speake some thynge of the vertue the of women that presently remayne wydowes I wolle conclude the whole by a very shorte exhortatyon That ys that youe oughte to holde for great glorye nott to be more frayle than the successe importeth nothere suche as men ought opeÌ„ly to make one onely meÌ„tyoÌ„ of your vertue or of your blame Now haue I in this my preaching oratioÌ„ that hath bene enioyned me by vertue and authoryte of our lawes sayde rehersed all the things that haue semed to me to be vtile profitable And they that haue bene here buryed haue bene honored with dede more than with wordes whose children the cytie shal nourish if they be yonge and within the age of pubertie or orphancie for to geue and set fourth a prays and a profytable rewarde both to them whych be dead for thair faithful seruice also to other that shall herafter dye for like quarel For euery man forceth hymselfe willingly and with good harte to acquyre that that is ordonned and iudged by comon decree as a suffycient remuneratioÌ„ and rewarde of the vertue It resteth sithens that euery one of youe hath suffyciently bewayled and honnored in mournynge his neighbours parentes allyes and frendes that youe retire and withdrawe youe all into your houses In this manner and solempnitie the exequies and funeralls were celebrated at Athens the winter whiche was the ende of the furst yeare of the warre ¶ Of the pestilâ—nce that was in the cytie and lande of Athenyans wyth the exploictes of warre that were done of the one syde and of the other And of the despayer wher in the Athenyans were fallen ☞ The .viii. Chapter THe sommer folowinge the Peloponesyans and thair allyes entred agayne into the lande of Athenes by two partes so as they had done the sommer preceding vnder the conduct of Archidamus king of Lacedemonyens And hauinge planted thair campe pillaiged and wasted all the couÌ„trey And an one after that they were therin entred ther soubdainely came vpon the Athenyans a pestilence which furst had bene as men saye in the cytie of Lemne in many other places But there was neuer sene in place of the world so greate contagyousnes nor wherof so many people dyed And the phisicyans could not therin ministre remedy nother from the begynnynge knewe nothinge therin so that many among theÌ„ therof dyed chiefly those that went to visitt the sicke Also in lyke manner men founde no remedy by vowes by diuinations nor by any suche meanes as they vsed For in effecte all did nothing sarue or auaile By meane whereof whan the people were attaincted or infected they lefte al the said remedies And the same pestilence biganne as it is sayde in the countrey of Ethiope that is aboue Egypte Afterwardes it desceÌ„ded into Egipt into Libie and extended yt self greatly into the landes seignyories of the kyng of Persie And from thence yt came incontynently to Athenes and biganne in Pyrens By meane wherof they of the towne thought at begynnynge that the PeloponesiaÌ„s had impoysonned thair countrey for that that they yet had not any fountaynes Sone after it passed into the hedde cytie Fromthens it spred maruailously ouer all Wherof I am right willinge here to speake to thintente that euery one that hath skille of phisicke or that knowith nothinge therof declare if it be possible to vnderstande wherof the same might chauce and what mighte be the causes vehement ynough for to pâ—â—â—uce and bringe fourth so soubdaynely one so greate mutacion and change As to touchinge my selfe I woll well shewe howe it happened And woll declare the thing of the sort that euery one that shal se that which I wryte if any suche chaunce chaunced an other tyme maybe aduertised shall not be ignorante For I speake as hauinge knowlaige insomuche as I my selfe haue had this sickenes and sene them that hadde yt And it is to be knowin that the same yeare precedinge and goinge bifore was aboue all other exempted froÌ„ all other maladies And to them that were infected with other sickenes yt tourned into this selfe same And those that were in full helth founde theÌ„ soubdainly taken without that there was any cause precedinge that might be knowin And furste they felte a great heate in the hedde whereby their eyes became redde and inflamed And withinfourthe their tongue and
litle goodes whiche they had was consumed by the warre and the ryche and noble men for that they had loste the fayre possessyons and the sumptuous houses that they had in the feldes And this was the most grief that they had warre in stede of peace By reasone of whiche thynges they remytted not the hatred that they had agaynste Pericles but coÌ„dempned hym in a somme of monney And neuertheles wythin a smal tyme after lyke as is the cvstome of the people to be varyable dyd choseâ— hym agayne to be theyr Duke and gaue hym full puissance and auctoryte in all thynges For although that they were nowe weakened by the euyls and dammages that they had suffred in particuler yet in thynges that concerned the weale and gouernement of the common wealthe they knewe that they had nede of hym and that he was the most suffycyent man that they had Also for trouthe so longe as he had the gouernaunce durynge the peace he admynystred moderately and defended it intierly and also augmented and amplefyed it greately And afterwardes whan there was questyon of the warre he knewe and vnderstoode ryghte well the strength and puissance of the cytye lyke as it appereth by that which therin hath be done But sithens hys death which was two yeares and a halfe after the warre begonne men knowe muche more hys prudence and prouidence For he had alwayes shewed them that they shulde haue the victory of that warre yf they kepte themselfe from fayghtynge agaynste the enemyes on lande and dyd execute theyr feate by sea wythout alwayes to searche to gette a newe seignyory and wythoute puttynge the cytye in daunger wherin after hys deathe they dyd the whole contrarye And moreouer touchynge the other thynges that concerned not the warre they whiche had the administratyon dyd euery one after hys ambition and particular couetice bothe to the greate preiudyce of the common welthe and also of themselfe For theyr enterpryses were suche that whan it thaÌ„ came to theyr intente it redounded to the honnoure and proffite of particulers more than of the commone But chaunsynge to the contrarye it was the perdition and losse of the common welthe And the cause of thys disorder was for that that durynge the tyme that the same Pericles was in auctoryte he had the reputacyon the myndes and affectyons and assured fealtie and truste Also with out all doubte he was ryght wyse and wolde not be corrupte For thys cause he easely refrayned and appaysed the people For that also he shewed hymselfe towardes them rather a compaignyon than a duke and gouernour Furthermore he got not the auctoryte by vnlaufull meanes nother dyd speake any thynge for to please but in kepyng hys grauitie whan men proponed and sett fourth anye thing invtile and vâ—profytable he spake frankely agaynst it though that in that doing he incurred the indignatyon of the people And so often as he vnderstode that they Imagyned to do any thynge before that it were tyme or by crueltye rather than by reasone he reprehended and resrayned them by hys graue speakyng and by hys auctoryte And also whan he sawe them afrayde for any inconuenyent he put them agayne in courage In such sorte that in apparance the gouernaunce of the towne was in the name of the people but in effecte al the auctorytie was in hym Wherethroughe after that he was deade it chaunced that those whiche succeded in hys place beinge equalle in auctoryte dyd searche euerye one of them to obteigne the principalite ouer the other And to brynge that to passe they enforced them selues for to please the will of the people Which doing they commytted very many great faultes lyke as it chauÌ„ceth in suche cases in a great cytye whiche hath empyre and seignyory but amonge other the greatest was that they made a nauigation into Sycile For they offended not onely agaynste them whome they wente to oultrage begynnyng to warre vpon them whiche thinge they shulde not haue done but also againste them whome they had sent thyder for that that they prouided not wel in theyr case by meanes of the troubles and questyons that happened in the cytye by occasion of thadministration of the auctorytyeâ— for the which the princyyall dyd stryue and debate through iniuryes and through accusatyons And by that meane the sayd armye was defeated in Sycile And also afterwardes was loste a greate parte of the armye by sea wyth the apparayle which they had set fourth agayne And notwitstandynge the sayde losse and that they were trauaylled in the cytye by cyuile seditions and questyons and that they had gottone the Syciliens for enemyes besydes the other and also that the more parte of the allyes had habandoned and forsakeÌ„ theÌ„ fynally the Cyrus sene of the kyng of Perse was allyed with the PeloponesiaÌ„s and had geuen them money for to make an armye by sea yet dyd they resist thre yeares and coulde not be vainquyshed vntyl suche tyme as they being oppressed troubled by their cyuyle dissensyons were constrayned to render theÌ„self wherefore it is clerely apparauÌ„t yâ— whan Pericles faylled them they had yet suche puissance that with his conducte they might easely haue had the victory of the same warre Of some other exploictes of warre that wree done that same sommer aswell on the one parte as on the other and howe the cytye of Potyde was rendred by composition vnto the Athenyans The .xi. Chapter ANd for to retourne to the narration of the sayd warre of the Lacedemonians and theyr allyes that self same sommer they raysed vp an armye by sea with an houndred shyppes whiche they sente vnder the coÌ„duct of Cnemus SpartiaÌ„ into the Isle of zeacynthe which was right agaynst Elyde and was inhabyted by the Achayans that be in Peloponese but it toke partie wyth the Athenyans and there pyllaged it all ouer and wente aboute to take the cytie but seynge that they coulde not they retourned In that selfe same sommer Aristeus of Corinthe and Polys Argyan in theyr particuler name and Anteristes Nicolaus Pratodemus and Tymagoras as Ambassadours of Lacedemonyens wente into Asia towardes the king Artaxerxes for to induce hym to be of theyr allyance in that same warre and to lende them money to rayse an armye by sea But before their goinge thider they came into Thrace towardes Sitalces sonne of Terreus for to perswade hym yf it were possyble to leaue the allyance of the Athenyans and to take theyrs and in that doyng to leade and conducte hys horsemen with their fotemen for to rayse theyr sâ—ege that the Athenyans dyd holde before Potyde And so as they were entred into the royalme of Sytalces for to go to passe the sea into Hellesponte wyllinge to go to fynde Pharnaces sonne of Pharnabasus whiche shulde brynge them vnto the kynge they founde with Sytalces Learchus sonne of Callymachus Ameniedes sonne of Philemon Ambassadours froÌ„ the Athenyans who perswaded Sadocus
the shippes that were enclosed in the myddell of the oder of thennemys and the othere that were lightest beganne to hurkle against the other and successyuely the disorder came the one from the othere so that the people that were within was the more parte occupyed to lay fourth plankes of woode or their glayues specially bifore for to defende that the shippes shulde not hurkle againste them where they were Wherby arose a great crye of one sort that cryed and sayd vylaynye to other in suche sorte that they coulde not heare nor vnderstande the thinge that was commaunded them And yet they that vnderstode it coulde not tourne nor conduict their shippes so as they were coÌ„maunded they were so greatly opprest and coustrayned Also they were not yet instructed perfaictely in the â—eate by sea Than Phormyo seinge the disorder gaue the signe or token of the battaile vnto his people who charged lyuely vpon the ennemys and at the arryuall they did ouerronne one of the Pretoryans galleys to wytt vpon which was one of the Capytaines and so drowned it And consequently all those that they encouÌ„tred at that the furste charge they frushed or sonke them with suche strenghte that they gaue not the ennemys leasure to ioynne themselfe agayne togither nother to recouer thair courage but they fourthwyth fledde towardes Patras Dymen in the quartier of Achaie And the Athenyans followed them so nighe that in chasinge them they dyd take twelue of their shippes and also dyd sleye a great nomber of their people Afterwardes they retourned into Mylocryte And after that they hadde erected and sett vp their throphee vpon the promoÌ„tory or highest place and consecrated a shipp to the god Neptunus they retourned vnto Naupacte Also the Peloponesyans wyth the shippes that were eskaped from Patras and frome Dymen retourned to Cyllene where the Athenyans haue their hauen to the whiche place Cnemus also came at his departure from Leucade after the battaylle of Stratie with the other shippes that shulde haue ioyned with them there And they beinge there aryued Tymocrates Brasidas and Lycophron whome the Lacedemonyans hadde sente for to assiste Cnemus and had wylled hym to vse their counsaille in feate of the sea and chiefly that he enterprised agayne a battaille vpon the sea to the intente that the ennemys who had the lesser nomber of shippes shuld not coÌ„tynue maisters For they thought well that that same battaille was loste through faulte of thair people by many reasons And chiefly for that that it was the furst tyme that they hadde foughte in the sea wherfore they coulde not haue had the arte and industrie to conducte themselues so well as the Athenyans who therin were all accustomed And lykewyse that the victory was not for that that the Athenyans were more puissant wyth shippes nor with apparaille but through the ignorance of thair people which was the cause that they sent the thre personaiges aboue named through disdaigne and anger for to geue Cnemus his people knowlaige of their fault the whiche parsonnaiges after that they were arryued demaunded certayne noÌ„ber of shippes of the cyties and caused them that were there to be repayred like as they thought good On the other side Phormyo sent his messengers to AtheÌ„s for to signefye the victorie vnto the Athenyans and also to aduertyse them of of the apparaille and preparation that the ennemys did make afreshe and that it was nedefull that they shulde sende fourthwith renforte and more power of people and of shippes whiche the Athenyaâ—s dyd and sent hym twenty shipps wyth good nomber of people By the conductor whet of they commaunded him that he shulde incontynently and bifore all thinge come with all the armye into Crete And this did they for that that a citezein of Crete named Nycias Gertynyus that was thair frende had aduertised them that if they wolde sende thider their armye he wolde cause them to wynne the cytie of Cydonie whoe toke the contrary parte But he willed that this were done by meane of the Polichnytes who were neighbours of the said Cydonyans Phormyo than ensuyng the commaundement of the Athenyans came into Crete and from thence into Cydonye and with the Polichnytes he pillaiged and wasted all the terrytorye of Cydonians and also was constrayned by force of coÌ„trary wyndes to tary there longer than he was willinge Duringe this tyme the Peloponesyans that were in Cyllene hauing prepared all that whych they thought good for to comme againste their ennemys they came to Panorme whiche ys in Achaye at which place was the hooste of land that the Peloponesyans had sente thider for to succour ayde that same by sea On the other syde Phormyo wyth the .xx. shippes that he had the daye oâ— the date of the battayle came directly vnto the promountory of Milocryte And lodged themself all rouÌ„de aboute wythout that same for that that it dyd take their parte and straight against it of the same coaste of Peloponese there was one other distant or beinge a sunder the space of seuen stades or theraboutes by sea whyche caused the mouthe and the entrye of the Goulphe of Erissee The Peloponesians also came to an other promountorie of Achaie whiche was not so farre distant from the cytie of Panorme where they had their armye by lande And they had the nomber of .lxxvii. shippes armed Than the twoo armyes beinge in sight the one of the othere they kepte themselues sixe or seuen daies in their fort for to make their preparations and to aduise of the manner of the battaile For the Peloponesians by reason of the feare and remembrance that they had of the former discomfiture durste not issue fourth at large into the mayne sea Also the Athenyans woulde not enter into the distroicte knowinge that it was for their disaduauntage And in the meane tyme Cnemus Brasidas and the other capytaynes of the Peloponesians seinge that thair souldyars were astonyed and afrayed by meanes of the former ouerthrowe they causedde them all to assemble and did speake vnto them in this manner ¶ The exhortation of the dukes Lacedemonyens to their souldyars ☞ The .xv. Chapter IF there be any of youe lordes Peloponesyans that feareth to come vnto this battaille by reasone of the other which we loste he groundeth his feare nother wel nor vpon good cause For our preparation and apparaille was not than suche as apperteigned For that menne thought not to come to fight by sea But rather that voyage was onely to cary and transporte our armye into the lande wherein inconuenyences chaunced vnto vs whyche were not small by mysfortune and it might be partly by ignoraÌ„ce beinge the furste tyme that youe hadde fought by sea wherefore knowinge and consyderinge that we were not vainquished by the force and vertue of our ennemys but rather that there be raysons to the coÌ„trary It is not raisonable that we shulde nowe be destitute of couraige
bekens By meane wherof they were in playne sight by light of the sayd bekens also it did let theÌ„ to see the other that were on the other syde wherupon beinge by occasion hereof in faire sight and also that they were vpon the syde of the diche in discouert they that were wtin did repoulse theÌ„ with force of dartes so did hurt many Thus they all did passe the diche though with greate difficultie for that the water was halfe frosen so that ther were great flakes of Isse And also it coulde not beare theÌ„ that was by meane of the south wynde that had thawed it It rayned also by reason wherof the water was so increased that it came in a manner vnto their chynne And they pourpously had chosen yâ— same tyme. After that they had passed the dyche lockyng or ioygninge theÌ„self togiders they toke the way that leadeth to Thebes leauing on the side of the right hande the sepulcre of Andocratus And this they dyd consideringe that the Peloponesians wolde neuer thinke that they wolde take that same way that did leade vnto their ennemys and also for that they did see that the said Peloponesians had lighte wyth fyers and beakens all full vpoÌ„ the way towardes Athens But after that they had gone sixe or seueÌ„ stades towardes Thebes they lefte that way and toke on the syde the way that goithe to the mountaigne of Erithre and of Nysie and throughe that countrey of mouÌ„taignes they came vnto Athenes and were two houndredde and twelue in all For the other seinge the difficultie retyred into the towne of Platee excepte one that was slayn in the dyche The Peloponesyans after that the bruyt was paste retyred euery one vnto his lodginge in the campe And as touchinge them of the towne they knewe not if their compaignyons were in saulftie or not And for that that they of their bende that were retourned had saied that they were all deade they sente whan yt was daye their Heraulte towardes them of the siege for to haue the deade bodys but vnderstandinge that they were saulfe they made no furthere poursute In this manner parte of them that were within the towne of Platee did passe all the fortes and rampares of the ennemyes and saued themselues How the Mytilenians for fault of not being succoured in time as the Pelopooesians had promysed did render themself to the Athenians and the determynation that was made by those Athenyans to kylle them all togider with certaine other thinges that were done in the same tyme by the people of the one partie and of the other ☞ The .v. Chapter ABoute the ende of that same wynter the Lacedemonyans did send in a light galley one Salethus vnto Mytylene who beinge landed at Pyreus came a fote well nighe vnto the campe and entred by nyght into the towne through the shallowe of a streame which passed ouerthwart the rampers of thennemys wherof he was aduertysed And he did signefie vnto the princypaleste and chiefest of the towne that he was comme to aduertise them howe the Lacedemonyans and other confederates shulde shortly enter in armes into the lande of Athens and to sende them foorty shippes to their succours as it was ordeynedde and moreouer to prouyde in the meane tyme with theÌ„ in that that was to be done in the cytie By meane whereof the MytilenyaÌ„s were slacke or retarded to make any appoinctement with the Athenyans And so passed the fourth yeare of this warre In the beginning of the sommer following the Peloponesians sendinge Alcidas their Capytayne general by sea wyth forty shippes for to succour the Mytylenyans they wyth their confederates entred a freshe into the lande of Athens to thintent that Thathenyans seinge themselfe assayled and thronged on both sides shulde haue lesse occasion to sende renforte or newe strength by sea to the siege of Mytylene And of that army by land Cleomenes was chief in the name and as tutor of Pausantas sonne of Plistenactus hys yonger brother in years than kyng of the Lacedemonyans In whiche coÌ„myng they destroyed afressh yâ— that was encreased agayn newly spronge in the countreys that they had wasted the yeares preceadinge And moreouer all the quartiers where they neuer had touched bifore By meanes whereof the same entry was more greuous to the Athenyans than all the other bifore excepte the seconde For somuche as the ennemys attendinge newes that their armye by sea had done some greate exploicte in the Isle of Lesbos where they thought it was than arryued they dydde pillage and destroye alle asmuche as they founde before them But vnderstanding afterwardes that their enterprise of Lesbos failled hauinge also lacke of victuailes they retourned euery one into his quartier In this meane tyme the Mytileniens seing that the succours of the PeloponesiaÌ„s came not and that the victuailes failed them they were constrayned to take appoinctement with the Athenians wherof Salethus himself was the cause who lokinge no more for the said succours caused the armure to be delyuered to the people of the towne whyche had not yet bifore borne them to the intent to cause them to issue fourthe vpon Thathenyans And whan they had receyued the armure they wolde no lenger obey the officers but they made greate assemblies came to the gouernours and riche people of the towne sayinge that they would that all the goodes and victuailes shulde be putt in commone and parted by the hedde and that if they so dyd nott they wolde delyuer the towne vnto the Athenyans whych sene by the said gouernours and principallest and fearing that the comon people shulde make an appoinctement a parte withoute includinge them therin whiche thinge they might do at their will for that they were the stroÌ„ger they made all togiders their appoinctement wyth Paches and the Athenyans vpon this condition that they shulde receyue tharmye into the cytie and sende their Ambassadours vnto the AthenyaÌ„s to requyre grace coÌ„myttinge into their wille and discretion the satisfaction and amendes that those MytylenyeÌ„s had to make for their offence And this during vntill thaunswere were comme from Athens it shulde not be laufull to the said Paches to kylle bynde nor take prysonner any of the Citezeins whiche appoinctement notwithstandinge they that had bene the principallest conductours of the reuolte or rebellyon after that the hoste was entred into the towne they withdrew themselfe into the temples for franchise sanctuary whome Paches did finde a manner to cause to coÌ„me fromthence and sent them into the Isle of Tenedon vntill that he had thaunswere froÌ„ Athenes And after he sente a certayne nomber of galleis vnto Antisse whiche reÌ„dred itselfe vnto his wylle And further he ordened touchinge the hooste as he thought good In thies entrefaâ—ctes the forty ships with the Peloponesians that shuld come to the succours of the said Mytyleniens kepte theÌ„self longe in secret about Peloponese also vsed very small
I am ambasshedde that there may be any that woll say the contrary to that that hathe bene concluded And will parforce themself to shewe that the iniuryes and offenses of the Mytylenyens be proftita table vnto vs and that oure welthe redoundeth to the Calamytie of our allyes For certaynely whosoeuer wylle maigntaigne that shall shewe openly aither yâ— he wylle for the great confydence that he hath in his wyttes and in his speache cause other to bileue that they vnderstande not the thinges that be clere and manifeste or ells that by meane of some corruption he wyll deceyue youe by his eloquence and fayre speache By suche meanes and dilations the cytie doth proffitt other but she putteth herself in daunger wherof you the other are the cause that naughtely introduced and brought in thies disputations and haue bene accustomed to be regarders of woordes and harkeners of dedes persuadinge your selfe that the matters must chaunce like as he perswadeth youe that speaketh beste And youe holde for more certayne that whiche youe heare spokenne than that you haue sene For you suffre yourself to be led deceiued by artificial speakings And likewise you ar easy to be deceyued by newe wordes harde to execute yâ— whiche hath bene ones approued concluded And by this meane you arne subiectes to vayne thinges and tary to longe in your auncyente customes By meanes wherof euery of youe parforceth himself and studieth to knowe to preache well And those that haue not this eloquence woll followe them that haue it for to shewe that they vnderstande no lesse the matters than they And moreouer if there be any one that speaketh any thinge subtill and apparante youe ar ready to prayse hym and to saye that youe hadde thoughte asmuche bifore that he hadde spokenne yt where youe be slowe and nyce to prouyde for thinges that myghte chaunce in that whereof is spokenne Serchinge by a manner to speake an othere thynge than that whereof ye intreate and vnderstande not sufficiently the matters presente Suffrynge youreselues to be deceyued throughe the volupte and delectation of youre eares as they do that amuse themselfe sonner to heare the sophistes and logycyans to dispute than to heare speake of the affaires of the cytie Frome whyche erroure I wyll take payne to wythdrawe youe in causinge it to appere vnto youe that the cytie of Mytylene is that same that hath done youe a singuler oultrage and displeasure For if there be any cytie that for that he coulde not endure your Empire or that were constraynedde by your ennemys that doeth rebelle agaynste youe I am of opynyon that yt shulde be pardonned But if they that holde an Isle and a cytie very stronge wyth walles whyche fearethe nothynge but on the sea syde and also maye well defende itself hauynge good nomber of shippes tacledde and that be not oure subiectes but be by vs honnored beyonde and aboue all oure confederates haue done it what maye a man iudge anye othere thinge but that it ys a veray imagination against vs. And that yt maye be better saied that they haue moued warre than to saytâ— that they be rebelledde agaynste vs. For those maye be sayed to be rebelles that were constraigned by any vyolence And that whyche more ys to be detestedde and abhorred yt suffysed not them to make vs warre wyth theire owne force but they haue attempted vtterly to destroye vs by the meane of our mortall ennemys wythoute hauinge feare or consyderinge the greate calamytees that be chaunced vnto othere that rebelled againste vs in tymes paste after that we had reduced them to oure subiection And also not fearynge to putt themselfe into newe daungers where they were in reste and in greate felicytie And the audacyte that they haue hadde to enterpryse this warre declareth that they haue greater hope than power and lesse power than wylle wyllynge to preferre theire puyssance bifore reasonne For wythoute beinge in anye thynge offendedde by vs they haue takenne armure agaynste vs for no othere reasonne but for the hope that they haue hadde to vaynquishe and ouertreade vs. So chaunceâ—â—â—e yt oftentymes chiefly in cyties that in shorte tyme doo comme vnloked â—orâ— vnto greate felycitie that they become insolente and prowde And that the prosperyties that happen to men by reasonne and after the common course 〈◊〉 â—hynges be moore fyrme and stable than those that chaunce by fortune and â—eyond thopynyon of the people And by manner of speakynge it is more dyfficile and harde for men to consarue and kepe themselfe in prosperyties than to defende and warde themselfe in aduersities For thys cause it had bene good for the Mytylenyans that we hadde not more honnoured nor estemedde them than oure othere allyes and confederates For than they shulde not haue fallen into so greate oultrecuidance and presumptyon Also it is a naturall thyng to contâ—Ì„pne them to whome a man is bounde and to haue in admyratyon them wyth whoÌ„ they be not bounde Lett vs procure than that thies here be punished according to the greatnes of theire mysdedes and lette vs not pardonne all the people by ymputynge the faulte vnto a small nombre For they haue all wyth one accorde takenne armure agaynste vs. For somuche as if anye particulers woulde haue constrayned them to do it they mighte haue fledde and haue hadde recourse â—nto vs. And if they so hadde doone they myghte nowe haue reâ—ourned into their cytie But they louedde more to putt themselfe in daunger and proue fortune at the appetite of the lesser nombre and by thys meane rebelledde altogiders Youe ought lykewyâ—e as touchyng the surplusage to haue regarde to the consequence of oure other confederatees and aâ—lyes For if we punishe not â—han more that rebelle agaynste vs wyllyngly than those that doo yt by force and constraynete there shal be noo cytie nor towne that for the leaâ—â—e ocâ—asion in the worlde woll not enterpryse to do yt Understandynge that if yt take good effecte they shall abyde in lybertie and if yt take yll they shal be acquitedde good chepe By meanes whereof we shal be in daunger to lose in all the cyties that we haue bothe the reuenue and also the parsonnes For thoughe we shall well take agayne a cytie that rebellethe yette shall we lose oure reuâ—nue for a longe tyme. durynge whiche oure forces shal be one agaynste the othere And if we can not recoâ—er yt wee shall haue theyme there for ennemys besydes the othere that wee nowe haue And moreouer the tyme that wee shulde vse for to warre agaynste our ennemyes we muste employ and occupye to reduce and reâ—ourme our subiecâ—es wherfore it is not expediâ—Ì„te to geue them hope that they may obteigne grace or remyssyon of vs by faire perswations nothere for monney and corruptyon vnder coloure that they haue offendedde by mannes frailtie For they haue not endommaiged vs agaynste their wylles but rather wyllynglye haue conspyred agaynste vs. And that faulte ys
worthye of marcye and grace that ys not commytted of a determyned wylle By whyche raysons I haue froÌ„ the begynnynge resisted thys waye and also nowe do speake agaynste it to my power That you reuoke not that which you haue ones concluded and that you offende not euen at ones in thre thynges whyche all three bee commonly ryght daungerous and pernicyous in a comon wealthe to wytt in mercy in voluptuousnes and in facilitie or gentlenes For mercy shulde be vsed to them that do the lyke and not to them that haue yt not but rather haue broughte themselfe in nâ—ceâ—site to be your perpetuall ennemyes And our Oratours spekers that take so great pleaâ—ure â—o know well to persuade shall haue lycence to shewe the force of their eloquence in other matters of lesse importance and not in thies where the cytie for a small delectation that yt shall haue to heare faire speakinges disputations may incurre a great daunger And yet shal be neuerthelas reputed to haue spoken well And as concernynge the vse of equitie and gentlenes that shulde be done to them whome we maye truste to be in tyme comminge good and of a good wille And not to them whoe after we shall haue pardonnedde them shall contynue styll our ennemyes And to conclude my speakinge in fewe woordes if you woll bileue me youe shall do to the Mytylenyans that whiche iustyce requireth And that shal be proffitable vnto youe And if youe doo yt not youe condempne yourself and yet do not gratefie them For if they here haue had iust cause for to rebelle it must be confessed that we rule vniustly And though it so were yet muste youe sithens youe woll rule take punishment of them here iniustly for your proffitt orells departe yourself from your domynyon And being eskaped the daunger lyue as wyse men and iuste people But if youe woll perseuer in your seigniory ye muste recompense them accordinge to theire desarte And make them to vnderstande that youe haue the harte no lesse offended and pricked to reuenge you being eskaped the daungere than they haue had to sturre youe and to conspyre agaynst youe callynge to your remembrance what youe haue to bileue of your selues consyderynge what they woulde haue done vnto youe if they mighte haue had the victorie Specyally that they haue bigonne to offende youe And they that without cause do iniurie and offende other do theire beste therin vnto the laste poincte and go aboute to destroye them vtterly Fearynge the daunger wherin they shulde be if they that they offende might eskape Insomuch as euery man that parceyueth himself to be wronged by hym that had no cause therto if he may skape it he reueÌ„geth himself more angrely against him than he woulde do against his mortall ennemy Be not than traytours vnto your self But consyderinge the inconueniences that haue very nighe chaunced vnto you by this matter euen as you haue aboue all things desired to take thies here sens that youe haue taken them render vnto them like punishemente And suffre not yourself somuche to relente and waxe gentle for the estate and suertie wherin the thinges nowe be that youe forget the wronges that haue bene done youe But punishe well thies here accordinge to their deserte for to geue perpetuall example to other your allyes that if there be any one that rebelleth it shal coste him his lyfe For whan they shall knowe it youe shall take no more payne to fight agaynst them where youe ought to defende your frendes Thus spake Cleon. After whome Dioditus sonne of Eucrates stode vp who at the consultacion the daye bifore had chiefly spokenne agaynste them that wolde that all the Mytylenians shulde be slayne and did speake in the manner that followethe ¶ The proposition and opynyon of Diodotus contrary to that same of Cleon. ☞ The .vii. Chapter I Prayse not the opynyon of them that reproue thys that men putt agayne into deliberation the matter of Mytylene and that thinke yt not good that men consulte many tymes vpon waightie affaires But me thinketh that there be two thynges much contrary to good connsaille To wytt hedynes or haste and wrath or anger For the one doth thinges folishly and the other furyously and rashly And also me thinkethe that he that wyll empesche and lett men to shewe thinges by woordes ys wythoute vnderstandinge Or that he hath some conceites and deuyses that be not wel knowin for if he thinke that the things to come which be not yet parceued may be otherwise vnderstand than by wordes he hath no vnderstandinge And if he woll perswade any dishoneste and euill matter for that that he thinketh that he cannot make it good by woordes wol astony and choke with iniuries and villenies those that wyll saye the contrary it is a great signe that he affectith or fauoureth the matter But yet they be more to blame that charge the againesayers with corruption For if a man obiecte againste him whose opynyon the greatest parte of the counsell haue not alowed that he vnderstandeth not well the causes he shal be reputed onely ignorant and not a noughty parsone but whan it is obiected that he is corrupted and brybed though men allowe his opynyon yet shall he be neuerthelas suspected And if it be not holden he shal be not onely reputed ignoraunte but also an noughty parsone whereby the publique welthe shall susteigne dommaige for that the people dare not speake nor counsaille freely for feare thereof And it semeth that it shuld be better for the wealthe of the comon weale that there were no man in the cytie that had the vnderstandynge and knowlaige to speke wel than that there were any as if by this the people had lesse occasions to offende whiche is hoole contrary for a good cytezeine that speaketh his opynyon ought not to empesche nor feare the other that they shulde not speake againste hym but in all equalytie and modestie shewe by reasone that hys opynyon is the better And moreouer me thinketh that a cytie that gouerneth itselfe by reasonne oughte not nother to do more honnour to hym that counsaillethe welle aboue all the othere nor yet lessen hym of that whyche he hadde bifore And likewyse shulde do no shame to hym whose opynyon was not allowed and yette lesse to punishe him For by that meane he whose iudgement shal be found good shall not care to saye any thynge but that whyche he thinkethe to sarue him to get the honnour or fauour of the people And by lyke raysons he whose opynyon ys not approuedde shall not be moued to chaunge yt for to gratefye the multitude wherin we do clene contrarye For if there be anny that maye be charged to haue bene subournedde or brybed by gyfte or by promes thoughe that he haue good opynyon and counsailleth the wealthe of the cytie yet throughe suspytion of the sayd corruption wherof there is none apparance we wol reiecte and forsake yt And
hys shyppes before the castelle Wherof he dyd beate doune wyth artyllerye two towers which were higher than the dongeon of the sayd castell And by thys meane he made that the shippes might passe wtoute daunger betwene the Isle and the sayde place of Nyseus And moreouer he made a walle ouerthwarte the dystreate from the mayne lande that came to aunswere to the Isle nygh ynough vnto it Through which men sente succoure to the sayde Castell for that they were maryshes And after that he had made hys rampares and munytyons wythin a verye shorte tyme he lefte hys garnysons at the defense of the walle and retourned wyth the remenaunt of hys people In that same sommer the Plateans beynge in greate necessitie of victuayles and seynge that they coulde not resiste the assaulte of the Peloponesyans they made appoinctment with them For also the Capytayne and Lieutenaunt of the Peloponesyans beynge approched nyghe vnto the walle and seynge that they were so feble that they coulde not defende themselfe wolde not take them by assaulte for that that he was commaunded by the Lacedemonyans to take it by composytyon rather than by assaulte yf he myght To the intente that yf any appoinctment were made betwene the Peloponesyans and the Athenyans by the whiche it shulde be ordeyned that the townes and cities that shulde haue bene taken by warre of the one syde and of the other shulde be rendred those Lacedemonians myght excuse themselfe for none rendrynge of this vnder coulour that they gott it not by warre but that it was rendred vnto theÌ„ with their good wille And so he sente an haraulte vnto them by whome he demaunded whyder they wolde reÌ„der the towne the people that were wythin to be at the wylle of the Lacedemonyans and commyt vnto theyr dyscretyon the punyshement of them that shulde be founde coulpable so that none shulde be punyshed but that furste hys cause shulde be knowen and iudged Whiche thing they agrede vnto seynge them selfe in suche extremytie that they coulde no longer resiste And by thys meane the Peloponesyans dyd take the cytye and nouryshed the people that were wythin it wyth victuayles for certayne dayes and vntyll the fyue iudges which the Lacedemonians had sente for this matter were there arryued who wythoute makynge any other particuler proces caused all them to assemble that were wythin the towne Afterwardes they demaunded of of them onely yf sence the warre begonne they had in any thynge well merited towardes the Lacedemonyans and theyr allyes To which demaunde they requyred that it myght be laufull for them to aunswere more amplye by comoÌ„ delyberatyon Which thynge was graunted them And so they dyd chose Astimachus sone of Asopolaus and Lacon sonne of Aimnestus who was burgeois of the Lacedemonyans and they dyd speake in thys manner The proposition and defence of the Plateans before the Lacedemonyans ☞ The .ix. Chapter FOr the fayth and confydence that we haue had in youe Lordes Lacedemonyans we haue commytted oure cytye and our parsones into youre power Not lokynge for suche iudgemente of youe as we perceyue that mâ—n wolde do vnto vs but some other more cyuile and more gentle And also we loked to haue other iudges than you And specially we hoped that it shuld haue bene liefull for vs to dyspute debate oure reasone our cause But we doubte greatly that we haue ben deceyued of both our thoughtes For we feare not wtout cause that thys disceptacion debatyng be vpon our lyfe And that youe comme not to iudge of our case by reasone Wherof we see an euydent tokenne by thys that there is no accusation proponed agaynst vs wherin we maye defende vs. But at oure request lycence is graunted vs to speake and your interrogation hath bene very brief Wherevnto yf we wolde aunswere accordyng to the trouthe oure aunswere shal be contrarye and ennemye to oure cause And yf we aunswere contrary to trouthe it maye be condempned as faulse And notwithstandynge that we see our â—ase in daunger and perplexitye on aâ— sydes yet be we coÌ„strained to speake And also it semeth vnto vs better to incurre the daungier by sayinge some thynge than vtterly to kepe scilence and to speake nothynge For yf they that be in suche case speake not that they myght say they haue alwayes the harte dyspleased and they thyâ—ke that yf they had spoken iâ— shulde haue bene cause of theyr welthe But nowe it is to vs ouer and aboue al the other dyffyculties a thinge ryght dyffycyle and harde to perswade you that whiche we woll speake For that that yf we dyd not knowe the one the other we coulde cause thynges to be wytnes vnto youe whereof youe had not not know layge But we speake before youe that knowe the trouth of the hoole And we feaâ—e not that youe wyll impute it vnto vs for offence that oure vertues be lesse than yours insomuche as youe knowe vs but we greatly feare lest for to please other a subdaâ—ne iudgement shall be pronounced agaynste vs which is already determyned Thys notwithstandynge yet woll we parforce our selues to shewe you the reasone and the ryght that we haue agaynste the ennemitie of the Thebayns and agaynst you and the other Grekes puttinge youe in remembraunce of oure seruyces and good dedes And for to aunswere vnto the ryghte brief interrogacyâ— that is made vnto vs whyder duryng thys warre we haue in any thing meryted well towardes the Lacedemonyans and theyr confederates we aunswere youe that yf you demaunde vs as ennemies we haue done you no iniurie though we haue done you no pleasure But yf you aske vs as frendes we thinke that you haue more offeÌ„ded vs than we haue offeÌ„ded youe For that that we haue not begonne the warre althoughe that we haue â—ot in any thynge yet broken peace wyth youe And in tyme of the warre wyth the Medes we alone of all the Beotyans came to assaulte the sayde Medes with the other Grekes for to defende the lybertye of Grece And notwythstandynge that we were people of mayne lande yet dyd we fyght with them nygh to Artenusus by sea And afterwardes whan they dyd fyght in oure lande we were there wyth Pausanias And of all the other thynges that were done by the Grekes in greate daunger we were parttakers further than ower puyssance stretched And in partyculer to you other Lacedemonyans youre cytye of Sparte beynge in great drede and feare after the earthequake whan the bonde men dyd flye frome Ithomus we dyd sende the thyrde parte of oure people to youre succoure Of whiche saruices to haue none remembraunce shulde be a thynge to dyffycyle Suche were our workes in the begynnynge And yf sence we haue bene ennemyes that hath bene through your defaulte For whan we were inuaded by the Thebayns perseuerynge in amytye and allyaunce we had furst recours vnto youe and youe repoulsed vs saiynge that youe were to farre frome vs and
whereunto youe shall doo the hoole contrary through euill counsaille if youe woll slaye vs. For youe oughte to consyder that Pausanias buryed them in this lande as in the lande of frendes and amonge his allyes wherfore if youe slaye vs and geue our lande to the Thebayns what other thinge shall youe do but depryue vs youre ancesters parentes of the honnors that they haue and leue them in the lande of theire ennemyes that haue slayne them And moreouer bringe into seruytude that land in the whiche the Grekes haue recoueredde their lybertie And also you shall leue the temples of the goddes desart and not inhabyted wherin they haue made the vowes by vertue wherof they haue vainquishedde the Medes And youe shalle take the furste aulters from them that haue founded and edified them whiche shal be certaynely lordes Lacedemonyans a thynge abatinge and farre inconuenyent vnto youre glory to manners and common lawes of Grece For the memory of youre progenytours and oure saruyces and merytesâ— to haue slayne vs wythoute beynge by vs offended through the hatred of othere And yt shulde be muche more conuenable for youe to pardone vs and aswaginge your angre and displeasure to suffre yourself to ouercome by a modestuous mercy Consideringe and settinge bifore youre eyes what euills youe shall do and to what sort of people And that suche calamyttes do very often chaunce to people that haue not deserued them wherfore we praye you lyke as bicommeth vs and as necessitie constrayneth vs callynge to our aide the goddes of our particuler temples and those that be comon to all Grece that youe vouchesaulfe to receue vs frendelye and to cease youre displeasure at oure requestes and declaratyons and haue remembraunce of youre auncesters For whose memorye and sepulcres we requyre youe callynge theyme vnto oure ayde euenne deade as they be that you wyll not to putte vs into the subiectyon of the Thebayns nor delyuer your ancyente frendes into the handes of youre naturall ennemys Aduertysinge youe that the selfe daye wherein we were in daunger to suffre extreme euyll ys that same onely wherein we dydde so manye fayre actes wyth your ancestres But forsomuche as to a people that be in suche myserye and necessytye as we bee it ys a myserable thynge to make an ende of theire speakynge thoughe that yt preuayleth nott to vse yt by necessytye insomuche as afterwardes whan they haue donne they attende and looke for the extremytie of deathe yet in ceasynge too speake wee saye to youe that we haue not rendredde oure cytie vnto the Thebayns For rathere we woulde haue enduredde to dye by famyne or by othere shamefull death But it is to youe lordes Lacedemonyans for trouthe to whome we be rendredde puttynge oure truste in youre faythe Wherefore if wee cannot obteygne oure requeste reasonne wylle that ye serte vs agayne in that state wherin we were to wytt in daunger of that which might chaunce vs puttynge youe agayne in remembrance that frome youre handes youe doo not coÌ„mytt into the same of the Thebayns oure mortall ennemyes vs the Plateens whyche haue bene alwayes affectyonedde to all the Grekes and that haue rendredde themselfe vnder youre parte and to youre mercye Butt rathere to be authors of oure weale to the ende that men may not say that you that preteÌ„de to putte all the Grekes in libertie haue vtterlye abolyshedde and extinguishedde vs. In suche manner spake the Plateens Than the Thebayns fearynge lest the Lacedemonyans shulde be mouedde wyth their speakynge to graunte theyme somme thynge demaundedde to be lykewyse hearde For somuche that in theire opynyonne to muche audyence and too longe delaye was grauntedde to the sayd Plateens for to aunswere to the interrogation that was made vnto them And after that lycence was grauntedde them to speake they beganne in this manner ¶ The oration and speakinge of the Thebayns agaynst the Plateens and howe they were destroyed and slayne ☞ The .x. Chapter WE hadde not requyred this audyence lordes Lacedemoniens if this people here hadde aunsweredde briefly to the interrogation made vnto them and if they hadde not tourned their talke agaynste vs by chargynge and blamynge vs and excusynge themselfe wythoute purpose where no manne accusedde them and highly praysynge themselfe where no man blamed them But nowe we be constrayned partly to denye and partly to faulsefie that whyche they haue sayde To the ende that their oultrecuidance and presumptyon proffytte not them and oure scilence and pacience hurte vs. And afterwardes youe shall iudge who shall haue sayde the trouthe And furst the cause of oure enmytie muste be consyderedde whyche ys for that that hauynge foundedde and peopled the cytie of Platee the laste of all the othere that be in oure contrey of Beoce wyth certayne other townes whych we had wonne oute of oure sayde countrey and peopledde wyth oure people chasinge fromthence those that were there before thies here onely frome the beginninge disdaigned to be vnder oure empyre and woulde not obsarue ouâ—e lawes and ordinaunces whyche all the othere Beotians did holde and kepe And parceyuing that we woulde constrayne them therunto they rendred themselfe to the Athenyans throughe whose helpe they haue done vs very many dommages wherof they haue bene well recompensed But touchinge this that they say that whan the Medes entred into Grece they onely amonge all the Beotiens woulde not take theire partie whyche is the matter whereof they aduaunte themselfe and that they reproche vs the more wee confesse truely that they did not take parte with the Medes forsomuche as the Athenians did not take it But by the same reasonne we saye that whan the Athenyans haue holden against al the Grekes they onely amoÌ„ge all the Grekes haue bene on their parte And also it is to be consideredde howe we did that than and howe they haue at this presente done thys For oure cytie at that same tyme was not gouerned by a lawfull pryncipalite of a small nomber of lordes nor yet by the comon state but by an othere fourme of lyuinge whyche is ryght odyous both to all lawes and to all cyties And differeth not muche from tyrannye to wytt by the puyssance of certayne paâ—ticulers who trustynge to enriche themselfe if the Medes hadde obteigned the victory constraigned vs to take their partie whyche thynge neuerthelas the cytie for trouth did not vnyuersally wherfore it shulde haue no reproche not beinge than in her lybertie But sens that it toke againe and recouered her lybertie her ancyent lawes after departure of the straungers It is to be consideredde that whan the AthenyaÌ„s had assaulted Grece would haue subdued our couÌ„trey vnto their domynyon in dede whan they occupyed one parte therof throughe occasion of cyuyll dissensions we after the victory that we had against them at Cheroneus haue not onely deliuered all the land of Beoce out of their seruitude but also nowe of a franke courage we be ioyned wyth youe to delyuer the
hostages and pledges to wytte the Olpiens And some othere wolde not do the one nor thoder to wyt the Hyeniens vntill that theire towne named Polis was takene by force Hauyng than Eurilochus set in order all his case and sente his hostages and pledges into the towne of Cytyme in the countrey of Dorie he marched with his hoste throughe the countrey of Locryans for to go agaynste Naupacte And in iourneyinge he toke by force in the saide countrey of Locres the towne of Eneone and that same of Eupolion whyche woulde not obeye hym Beynge arryuedde in the lande of Naupacte entred the succours of the Erholyens And so they beganne to pyllage and waste all the saide lande and all the vyllages that were not walled Afterwardes they wente bifore the cytie of Molictyon whsche was a Colonie or habitacion of the CorinthiaÌ„s but neuerthelas they toke part with the Athenians and soo toke it by force Nowe Demosthenes Athenyan was yet in that quarter of Naupacte whoe kepte hymselfe there after the losse that he had had in Etholie This same man vnderstandinge the commynge of the enemys weÌ„te vnto the Acarnanyens and perswaded them so farre that they did delyuer him a thousand meÌ„ armed which he ledde by sea vnto the citie of Naupacte wherof he was in greate doubte for that that it was well walled of so greate defence But there was not many people wtin it Howbeit the Acarnanyans did this againste their wil at the request of the said Demosthenes for the displeasure that they had against him for that he wolde not assiege Leucade whan Eurilochus did vnderstaÌ„de that the succours were entred into the cytie that by that meane he might not take it he departed fromthence with his armye and wente not into Peloponese but into Eolide whiche is at this presente called Calydon and into Pleâ—â—â—rone and other places nigh adioygninge to the countrey of Etholie And beinge there the messengers of the Ambraciens came to hym whyche shewedde hym that if he woulde he might wyth their ayde subdue and gette the cytie of Argos and the remenant of the countreye of Amphilochie and afterwardes that same of Acarnanie And that done that he mighte easely brynge to the allyaunce of the Lacedemonyans all the countrey of Epire. For this cause and vnder hope of thys enterpryse Eurylochus passedde not further into the countrey of Etholyans attendynge the succours of the Ambracyens And in the meane tyme the sommer passedde At the entrynge of wynter the Athenyans that were in Sycile wyth theire allyes and all those that dydde take their partie agaynste the Syracusayns came to assaylle the Cytye of Nyse In the Castell whereof the Syracusayns didde kepe theire garnysonne but seinge that they coulde not take it they departedde And in wythdrawynge theymselfe the people that were in the Castell issuedde fourthe vpon the hyndermoste and so dydde putte theyme into disorder and did slay a good nomber of theym After that Laches and the other that were in the shippes yssued fourthe into the lande of Locryens nighe vnto the ryuer of Caicinus At whyche place they encountredde the Locryens whyche Prorenus sonne of Capaton did conducte who repoulsed theym and toke three houndredde of theym and spoyledde them And afterwardes suffredde theme to departe In that selfe same wynter the Athenyans ensuinge some oracle or aunswere of the god didde puresie and dedicate the Isle of Delos Whiche a longe tyme afore Pysistratus the Tyrante had pourged and purified and yet not all But onely that partie that mighte be sene oute of the temple But than it was hooly pourged by this manner For they dyd take awaye all the sepulcres that they there founde And made a decree and forbodde that fromthence fourthe no humayue creature shulde be suffredde to dye nor to be borne in all the Isle But that they that shulde drawe nigh to death shulde be caryed into the Isle of Rhenie The whyche ys so nere to that same of Delos that Polycrates Tyrante of Samyens who gouerned many Islandes of that seaâ— for that he was puissante wyth shippes hauinge takenne that same Isle made a chayne that trauersedde and went thwart ouer from thence vnto the Isle of Delos And consecratâ—dde all the Isle to god Apollo And after that last purification the AthenyaÌ„s dedycated in the honnour of god Apollo one solempne feaste frome fyue yeares into fyue yeares Notwythstandinge that auncyently yt was accustomedde ther to make greate feastes wherunto came the Ionyans and the inhabitantes of other Isles nighe adioygninge with their wyues and childrenne lyke as they nowe doo in Ehesus And there they vsed tourneyinges wrastlinges and other exercises and also al maner of playes wyth instrumentes of musicke as it may appere by that whiche Homere sayth in his Proheme of Apollo wherin he maketh mention of himself that he was blynded and that he remayned in Chio. Yet afterwardes by succession of tyme the sayde tourneynges and exercyses cessed and they wente no more thider but wyth instrumentes of musicque whyche the Athenyans those of the Isles nighe adioynynge brought thider to the solempne feastes But than the Athenyans brought them vp agayne And also added the coursing with horses whiche had bene there neuer bifore How Eurilochus and the Ambrasians were by Demosthenes by the Acarnanyans and Amphilochiens discomforted two tymes in three dayes anâ— of the slouthfulnes that the sayde Lacedemonyans vsed towardes the sayde Ambrasians ☞ The .xvi. Chapter IN that same wynter the Ambracyans came into the Campe wyth their armye like as they had promysed to Eurylochus And being entred into the lande of Argos in the countrey of Amphilochie wyth thre thousande faightinge men they toke the towne of Olpas whiche was situated vpon a poyncted hill and had a greate wall to the sea syde whereupon the Acarnanyans founders of that towne did chose their trybunall for to iudge and knowe of common matters for that that it was not distante fro the cytie of Argos but the space of twenty stades whyche parceyuedde by the AcarnanyaÌ„s they sente parte of their people for to succour and kepe the cytie of Argos And wyth the othere parte they wente to lodge themselfe in a place whiche is in the countrey of Amphilochie named Erenus for to defende that the Peloponesians that were wythe Eurylochus shulde not passe into Ambracie and ioygne them self with the Ambracians whom they knew not And fourthwyth they sent to Demosthenes whyche was duke of the Athenyans in the countrey of Ethiole that he shuld comme to them to be their capytayne And to Aristoteles sonne of Tymocrates Hiorophon sonne of Arimnestus that had conducte of twenty galleys wyth Athenyans who than were aboute the countreye of Peloponese that they shuld come to their succours On the other syde the Ambracyans that were at Olpas sente to their cytie that all the
inhabited and in maner not frequēted conteigning fiftene stades or forlonges aboute Than for to empesche and stoppe the entrye of the sayd hauonne from the Athenians they bestowed suche nomber of shippes ther as they thought necessary for to occupy all the fronte whiche had theire former parte of the hauonne and the remenant wythin And moreouer fearynge that the sayde Athenyans shulde lande people wythin the sayde lytle Islande they sette there one parte of theirs And the other abodde in the lande to the ende that the ennemyes might not lande nother in the land nor in the Islande And to the rest it was not possible to succour the place by any other wayes For on the other side by the whiche it was enuironned with the sea there were no good depthes where the shippes mighte arryue surely And by that meane they thoughte that wythout faightinge and wythout puttinge themselfe into daunger and hazart they might take that same place in shorte tyme beinge ill furnished of victuailes and of people Nowe they had ordeyned that for to bestowe and putte wythin the sayde Islande a certaine nomber of all the cōpaignies shuld be taken that shuld be changed euery daye And so it happened that the laste that were sente thyder were to the nomber of foure houndred and twenty of whome Epitadas sonne of Molobee had the charge Demosthenes seinge that the Peloponesians prepared themselfe for to assaylle aswell by sea as by lande preparedde hymselfe to defende And furste he causedde the galleys that remayned wyth hym to retyre vnder his rampares and inclosedde them wyth pales And he armedde the maronners that were wythin them wyth mischeuous targottes or shieldes made in haste the more parte of wyllos For in suche a desarte place there was no question or hope to haue armure And the same that they had there had bene gottone by force from a galley and in a brigantine of the Messenyans that they had takene passinge that waye wyth forty men of the saide Messene wyth whome they sarued themselfe at that nede wyth the othere Hauynge than placedde one parte of hys people aswell armed as naked to the kepynge of the places the were assured by reasone that the place was not to be gottone or gone vnto and the other parte that was greater to the defence of the quartier that he hadde fortefied towardes the lande he commaunded them that if the fote men came to assayle them they shulde defende themselfe and repoulse them And he wyth thre skoore of the beste armed and a nomber of people wyth shott issued de fourthe of the place and wente oute on the sea syde where he thought that the ennemyes wolde parforce themself for to lande and to passe through the rockes and harde places on whyche the walle of the towne was moste weake and feable for to battre and breake it it they coulde For it was not greately forcedde to make a stronge walle on that syde not thynkynge that the ennemyes shulde euer haue bene strongest by sea And he knewe well that if it were the strongest so that men myghte by that coste goo into the lande the place shulde be loste For thys cause he wente to that syde of the sea for to defende yt wyth the nomber of people as afore whome he orderedde and sette battaylle the beste that he coulde and afterwardes dydde speake vnto theym in this manner It is nedefull for me that youe the othere that be putte in thys daunger wyth me do shewe youreself sage and dyligente to consulte all the difficultees and all the daungers wherein wee be But it is necessarye that we mynde to assaille valiantely oure ennemyes with a good couraige and wythe a good esperance to repoulse theym and to escape frome all the daungers wherein we be Forsomuche as in all causes of necessitie as thys same is at thys presente men muste not oftymes serche after reasone but they muste be soubdaynely hazardedde And yet I doo see in oure affayre manye thynges that be for oure aduantage if we wyll to stande to theym and forsake not for feare of the greate nomber of oure ennemyes the commodities that we haue agaynste them For I esteme one parte of the place that we holde to be not to be comme vnto and suffycyent for to ayde vs if wee woll defende yt But if we habandonne and forsake yt howe dyffycyle and harde soeuer it be it shal be easye to wynne not beynge defendedde Trewe it is that we shalle haue the ennemyes somuche more sharpe to fyghte wyth if we sette on theym whanne they be landedde for that they shall parceyue that they maye not retyre withoute greate daungier But consyder youe that soo longe as they abyde in their shippes wythout landinge they be easely resistedde And if they do lande thoughe they be in greate nomber they be not to be feared Forsomuche as the place is very difficille and vneasy for them and the platt where they muste fight shal be ryghte strayght and very lytle And by that meane if they come on lande the nomber shall in nothynge sarue theyme for the incommoditie and difficultie of the place And if they tary vpon their shyppes of force they muste fyghte in the sea in whyche fyght there be many difficulties Wherfore I compense and esteme to be egall asmuch the difficulties dangers that they haue as our smal nombre For thys cause I praye youe my frendes that bringinge to youre remembrance that youe be Athenyans lykewyse that you be people all experymentedde to fyght wyth shyppes and on lande youe woll consyder that he that remoueth not for feare of a wawe or sourge of the sea that maye comme nothere of shypp that maketh vnto hym shalle neuer be repoulsedde frome one suche a place as thys And lykewyse that youe wyll stande by it and repoulse your ennemys in thies rockes and harde passages and defende and kepe thys place togyders wyth your parsones The Athenyans discouraged beinge recomforted by thies short encouraigings and declarations disposed themselfe to defende euery one in his quarter On the other syde the Lacedemonyans that were in campe on the lande side came to assayle the rampares and on the sea syde those that cōducted the shippes whyche were .xliii. in nombere wherof Thrasymelides sonne of Cratesicles Spertayne was Capytayne came to inuade the quarter where Demosthenes was wyth his men The Athenyans also defended themself very manfully on both sides And as touchinge the quarter by sea the Peloponesians came wyth small nomber of shippes by tournes or courses one after the othere for that that it was not possible to brynge thyder a greate nomber for to lande in the place where Demosthenes his people were for to repulse them if it were possible And amonge othere Brasidas who was Capytayne of one of the galleys seynge that the place was difficile and daungerous to aboorde and that for that cause the patrons of the
people here whyche do come with oute beynge called for to conducte yt whan they shall see that we shal be welle trauailled and haue empoueryshedde the one the othere they wyll repute yt to be the proffitte of theire estate and seignyorye And than whan they shall see vs broughte lowe and decayedde they shall comme wyth a greater puyssanceâ— and shall brynge vs all into their obeissance wherefore if we be sage yt is muche better for euerye one of vs to call his frendes and confederates for to inuade the landes of an other than to destroye our oune whyche we nowe possesse and so take the daungers and parelles vpon vs. And we oughte to consyder that the particuler sedycyons of the cyties of Sycille be not onelye daungerous to the same but also vnto all the countreye and to all vs that be therein For so longe as they do fighte the one agaynste the othere there bee that laye wayte to do vs all displeasure Hauynge than regarde to thies respectes and consyderatyonsâ— we shulde reconcile oureselues euery one particulerly wyth hys ennemye and the one cytie wyth the othere and all togidre take payne to saue and delyuer all our countrey of Sycille And we shulde not haue fantasye that some of vs be descendedde and come of the Doryens whyche be ennemys of Athenyans and that the Chalcides for the auncyent parentage whych they haue wyth the Ionyans be theire good frendes For the Athenyans haue not enterpretysedde thys warre for annye parttakynge of oure factes but for couetyce of the goodes whyche we all haue in Sycille Lyke as we maye welle knowe by theyme amongeste vs whyche be Chalcydiens who callynge theym to theire ayde althoughe they neuer hadde saruyce of theym nor amytie wythe theym yett be they comme readelye vnto theire succoures and haue made allyance wyth theym more wyllyngly than wyth the other And yet neuerthelas the sayd Athenyans be to be pardonned and arne not to be blamed if they go aboute to encrease their estate and seignyorie But they be to blame whych arne tomuche prone and ready to obey and submytt themself vnto them For it is a naturall thynge for euerye man to wylle to be ouere and gouerne those that wolle submitt themself vnto him to defende themself from them that wyll inuade and oppresse them And there is not he amongeste vs that vnderstandethe not thies thynges And whosoeuer shall not knowe that a common feare oughte to be eschewedde by a general and common prouysion he deceyueth hymselfe greately And if we agree oureselues all togider we shall veray easely brynge oureselues out of thys feare For the Athenyans do not assaylle vs oute of their lande but out of oure owne to wytte by those that haue calledde them And by thys meane we shall not appease one warre by an othere warre but by a generall peace we shalle appease all oure discordes wythoute anny difficultie And they that haue bene called by vs beynge honestly comme for an euyl intente shal retourne reasonablie frustrated of their purpose And thys whyche I saye vnto youe as touchynge the Athenyans all those that haue wylle to counsaille well wyll fynde it good But as concerning the peace whyche all honneste people esteme the beste thynge in the worlde wherfore shulde not we desyre it Thynke ye not that if anny of vs hath any goodes yea or anny thynge contrarye vnto hym that reste and peace be not better for hym than the warre and that it be not better for vs aswell of the one parte as of the other to departe from armure and strife so to vse of oure goodes in reste and to enioye peace wythoute daungere of oure honnour 's of our dignyties and of all the othere goodes that canne be nombred and receyuedde by a very long talke farre better than as it may be done wyth the incoÌ„modyties of the warre All whyche thynges consyderedde ye oughte not lordes to disprayse my sayinges But by the same euery one oughte to prouyde for hys oune welthe And if there be any man that hopeth to gett any thynge by the warre by ryght or by wronge he ought well to feare to be therof deceyued knowynge that to manye whyche thought to reuenge their iniuries and wronges or vnder confydence of puyssance hoped to encrease their faculties and power the whole contrary hathe chaunced whyche ys that some loste their healthe and some their goodes For it is not sayde that vengeaunce shulde always take effecte althoughe it were enterprysed for a iuste cause Force also wyth a good hope and esperance ys not a thynge establyshedde alwaye to contynue But ofâ—entymes temerytie rashnes taketh better effecte than profounde wytte And thoughe thys temerytie be the thynge whereby the people haue mooste oftene bene deceyued yet whan yt happenethe well it is iudgedde to be ryght good For thys that whan there is asmuche feare in theym that assaille as in those that be assayledde aythere partie procedeth therin more warrely and circumspectly And so shulde we do lordes aswelle for feare of thynges to comme as also of the Athenyans who be alreadye fearefulle vnto vs and prouyde in oure affayres for the tyme to come And euerye one of vs presupposynge that the thynge whyche he purposedde to doo maye be empeschedde by those twoo meanes to sende oute of oure lande the ennemye whyche ys already vponne oure shulders And to brynge that to passe we oughte bifore all thynges to conclude amongeste vs a perpetuall allyaunce or at the leaste a longe treuese in deferrynge oure particuler discordes and differencies And holde yt for moste certayne that if ye wylle geue fayth and bileue my woordes by thys meane euery of vs shalle haue hys cytie in lybertie By occasyon whereof it shal be in our facultie and power to render to those that shalle do vs good or euyll accordynge to their desaruynge And by the contrary if youe bileue me not but rather wylbe in the obeissance of straungers there shal be no questyon to make oure reuenge But those that shall obteigne the victorie at their wylle shal be by necessitie frendes of them that be greatly their ennemys And aduersaries to those vnto whome it is not conuenyent that youe be And I who as I haue shewedde youe at the begynnynge am of a cytie whyche ys the greatest and mooste puissante of the countrey and make the warre more by assaylynge than in defendynge am he whyche counsaylleth that wee agree and accorde altogiders hauynge regarde to the daungers that be for to comme And that nother we goo aboute to do hurte somuche euery one af vs to hys aduersaryeâ— as thereby we procure vnto oureselfe a greater nother that we shulde be so furyous through oure domesticall contentyons that we shulde perswade ourselues to be maysters of oure oune counsaille and of fortune whom we rule not but as raysonne shall requyre ayther that we vainquishe orelles that we be vainquishedde that we rather do
Lordes Acanthiens declareth sufficieÌ„tly that the cause for the whiche we haue proclaymed and published from the begynnyng to haue moued the warre against the Athenians is true veritable to wytt for to delyuer Grece out of seruitude And if we haue slacked to come hyther being deceiued by the hope that we haue had to haue vainquished the Athenians more sonner we ought not therefore to be reprehended Considered that thereby ye arne not incurred into any daÌ„gier And we come nowe whaÌ„ we may for to defeate the Athenians with you through our power But I am greatly abashed of this that ye shutt me out of the gates where I thought to be by you receyuedde with greate ioy and that ye shulde haue desired greatly my coming For we other Lacedemonians thynkyng of the occasion and chance of thynges that we haue made to come hither as to oure good frendes and to those that shulde desire oure comyng we haue enterprised this voiage without hauing regarde to daÌ„gers wherein we did putt our self by passyng through so long space of lande and of strange countreis for to shewe the good wille that we haue towardes you And if you haue an other wille or be mynded to resist them that shoulde purchase the lybertie of all Grece ye shall do naughtely Aswell for that that ye shall empesche youre oune lybertie as also for thys that ye shall geue yll example vnto other not to obey and receyue vs. Whiche shall bee a thynge vnâ—yttyng for this cytie whiche is puissante and reputed prudente That we being firste addressed vnto the same ye haue notte hadde wylle to receyue vs. And also I cannot thynke that ye haue any reasonable cause to do it except it should be sayd that aither I would perswade you to an vnâ—ust and vnreasonable lybertie orells that we be not puissant ynough for to defende you against the Athenians if they would herefore inuade you Which thing ye ought not to feare For if I being come to the succours of Nysee with this armye that I haue here they durst not come to fight with me truly it is is not to be beleued that they woll sende hither so great an armye by lande as they sent thider by sea And as to the other poynct I do aduertis you that I am hider sente by the Lacedemonians not for to do hurte nother damage vnto Grece but for to restore it into lybertie And I haue made greate othes into the haÌ„des of our officers to suffre al theÌ„ that I shall bring into our allyance to lyue in libertie afâ—er their lawes Wherefore ye ought welle to knowe that I am not come for to drawe you by force or by deceite trompery vnto our allyance but the contrary in delyuering you from the saruitude of the AtheniaÌ„s for to ioigne you in this warre with vs against theÌ„ And therefore I thinke that ye ought to haue confidence in me that make vnto you so great fayth of that whiche I speake And for to geue you couraige I am come puissante ynough for to defende you And if there be any that doubteth herein fearing for his particularitie that I woll not geue deliuer the gouernement of the towne to any one particuler amonges you I wouâ—d that he had more confidence suertie than thoder For I do certifie you that I am not come to moue any sedicion nor mutyne among you But also me thinketh that I shulde not restore you into free and true lybertie if changing youre aunciente fourme of lyuing I shuld putt the coÌ„mon people into the subieccion of any particulers or any perticulers to the subieccion of the comon people For that that I vnderstande welle that the same dominion rule shulde be more odious and hated vnto you than that same of estrangers And thereby vnto vs Lacedemonians shuld not be due any pleasure nor huyer for the payne that we haue taken for your cause But in stede of the glory and honor that we attende and loke for thereby we ought to be blaymed and shulde be charged of the self vice that we impute vnto the Athenians Whiche shulde be somuche more vnsittyng more worthy of reprehension vnto vs than vnto them that we attribute to our selues this vertue and prayse to witt not to vse tromperie or deceite Which thing they do not For albeit that deceite be vnsittyng in al men yett is it more vnsemely in them that be in moste dignitie And also it is woorse more dâ—shonnest than violeÌ„ce it self For thatâ— that violence ouercometh by vertue auctoritie of the force that fortune geueth to the one ouer the other but tromperie and deceyte procedeth and cometh of an vnreasonable mischeuous and very malyce To all which thinges we haue a great circumspection and a great regarde in treatyng and coÌ„ductyng the great affaries And also I wolle not that you trust so muche in my othe as in the experience of thinges to that whereof you shall see the effectes correspondent to reasons whiche is ryght requisitt for you as I haue shewed you But also vnderstaÌ„de that if you hauing harde this my proposicion woll excuse yourself saying that ye cannot do that which we woll that ye woll require vs as your frendes that we retire without doing any hurt or damage vnto you pretending that you haue this lybertie without danger and that it ought to bee offred and presented to them that maye haue it without danger and that none shuld be coÌ„strayned to take it I will protest bifore the goddes and the sainctes whiche haue this cytie in keping the being come hider for your welth I coulde nothing proffitt with you by wordes And I woll essay by wasting and destroying your feldes whider that I may constrayne you thereunto Perswadyng my self to do it for a good and iust cause and not wrongfully for two necessary reasons The one for the welth of the Lacedemonians to the ende that they shuld not suffer damage for your loue permitting you in this sorte paying the monney whiche you fournishe to the AtheniaÌ„s the other for the weale of al the Grekes to thintent that by you they be not lett empesched to recouer their libertie For if that were not we shuld well vnderstaÌ„de that no maÌ„ ought to be constraigned by force to sett himself againe into libertie and specially we Lacedemonians if it be not for some comon and publique wealth And yet neuerthelas we wolle not haue any other gouernance or rule ouer you but to delyuer you from the subiection of other And we shulde do iniury vnto many if by restoring to all other their right of lybertie we shuld leaue you in this estate shuld endure your resisteÌ„ce wherfore Lordes take good aduyse herin be authors vnto al yâ— Grekes And shewe them the waye to recouer their lybertie aswel for to acquire gett this perpetuell glory to haue bene the first as also for to exchue the damage that
was voyde and hollowe all alonge Afterwardes they fastened yt wyth yrone at bothe endes And also alengthe very artyfyciallye aftere manner of a pipe and to one of the endes they fastened wyth chaynes of yronne a greate cawdrone of brasse whyche hanged from the sayd piece of tymber downewardes by the sayd chaynes And at the ende of the beame there was a hollowe pype of yronne whyche tourned and crooked downewarde agaynste the cawldrone for to caste ryghte into the cauldrone the wynde that came alonge oute of the ingyne the whyche beinge so acheuedde and made as ys aboue sayd they caused it to be drawin and caryed wyth greate charettes vnto the walle whiche the Athenyans had made on that syde where the mooste parte was of woode And in raysinge yt vp they dyd sett the ende wheron the cauldrone was vnto the syde of the sayd wall full of cooles brymstone and pytche And to the other ende whyche was on their syde they applyed greate bellowes by blowynge whereof they caused incontynently through the wynde whyche passed alongâ—ste through the Engyne into the caudrone that all the matter that was wythin did lighten and caste a greate flame wherwyth the wall was anone fyred and burned By occasion wherof they that deâ—ended themselfe were constraynedde to forsake it And by thys meane the Beotians dyd wynne it And of those that were wyâ—hin there were taken twoo houndred prysonners Of the other one parte was slam and the other saued themselfe in the shyppes that were in the hauone of the sea Thus the temple of Delos was recoueredde .xvii dayes after the battaille And soone after retourned the heraulte of the Athenyans which dyd knowe nothing of the sayd takinge or recouerey for to demaunde agayn the dead men To who the Beotyans dyd render and delyuer them wythout speakynge vnto hym anny more of that that they had declared at the othere tyme. And there was founde aswell of those that were slayne in the battaille as at the takynge of Delos on the partâ—e of the Beotians nyghe to fyue houndredde and on the othere partie of the Athenyans about a thousande And amongest other Hippocrates one of their dukes besydes the foremâ—n light armed and the victuaâ—liers whyche were a greate nomber On the other syde Demosthenes who was gone to Siphas by sea seynge that hys enterpryse hadde faylled hym he issued fourth of hys shipps wyth four houndred men aswell of the Agryans and Acarnanyans whyche he hadde ledde awaye as of the Athenyans into the lande of Sycionians But bifore the reste were landed for to followe and to pursue those there the Sycionyens who yssued fourth for to defende their lande came to assayle them and repoulsed and dyd chase them backe euen into their shippes and so dyd slaye one parte of them and many of them were takene prysonners ¶ Howe Brasidas duke of the Lacedemonyans dyd take the Cytie of Amphipolis soubdaynly and some other in the countrey of Thrace by treatye aud apoynctemente ☞ The .xiii. Chapter IN that same tyme whan the thinges were done at Delos wherof we haue spokene Sytalces kynge of Odrysyans dyed in battaill against the Tryballes wyth whome he began to warre And Seuthes sonne of Spardocus hys brother succeded hym aswell in the realme of Odrysians as in other landes and seigniories whyche he helde in the countreye of Thrace And in that same wynter Brasidas wyth the allyes of the Lacedemonyans in that sayd countrey moued warre against the cytie of Amphipolis whiche was situated vpon the ryuer of Strymone For that that it was a Colonie of the Athenyans And bifore that they had peopled wyth their nation the place where the cytie presenâ—ly standeth Aristagoras Milesius flyinge the persecutioÌ„ of the kinge Dariusâ— had furste inhabyted yt but he was chased fromthence by the Edonyans And than the Athenyans .xxxii. yeres after sent thyder teÌ„ne thousand meÌ„ aswel of their people as of other assembled froÌ„ all quarters whych were all destroyde by the Thracians nyghe vnto Dranesque Notwythstanding .xxix yeares after those same Athenians sente thider agayne of their people vnder the conducte of Agnon sonne of Nycias who chased the Edonyans fromthence and founded the cytie suche as yt presently is whyche was bifore named the newe wayes And whan the sayd Agnon came thyder to make it he departed frome a towne whiche the Athenyans had in the mouthe of the ryuer named Eionus wherein they made theire estaple and called it Amphipolis by cause that it was enuyronned on both sydes wyth the ryuer of Strymone and so enclosed it wyth a wall that wente from one arme of the ryuer vnto the other And builded it in a place of a conuenyent heyght so that it was fayre to se aswelle towarde the sea as to the lande Brasidas than beinge at Arnes whyche is a towne in the terrytorye of the Agryans departed fromthence wyth hys army and arryued aboute goynge downe of the sonne in Aulone and in Bromisque on that syde where the lake of Bolbus voydeth itselfe into the sea And after that he had supped he toke hys iourney in the nyght whyche was very darke and also it did snowe and was veray foule whether so that he aryued bifore the cytie wythout beinge parceued by them that were wythin Resarued some wyth whom he had intelligence whiche were partly of the Argylians that be in the countrey of Andrie were come thider for to inhabitt and partly of other whyche had be practised and wonne aswell by Pardiccas as by the Chalcides But pryncipally the Brasides whyche was adioygninge vnto them were of that intelligence and confederacy and had bene alwayes ennemys of the Athenyans and espyed and layd in wayte to take pryuely the sayd cytie Those same than that were inhabitedde there as afore ys sayde hauinge concluded the treasone wyth Brasydas by consente of them whiche than had the gouernance of the cytie dyd suffre him to come in And the same night they rebellinge froÌ„ the Athenyans came to lodge wyth the army of Brasidas nighe the bridge that was on the ryuer distant a verye small space frome the cytie whych was not thaÌ„ closed wyth walles as it presently ys And though that there was a nomber of people that kepte the brydge yet aswell by cause of the nyghte as of the foule wether and also of the soubdayne arryuall he repoulsed them easely and wonne the brydge and dyd take all the cytezeins that dwelled wythoute the cytie in the suburbs except some small nomber whyche saued themselfe in the towne wherof they that were wythin were greatly afrayed and chiefly for that that they greatly doubted amonge theÌ„self the one the other And the sayinge ys that if Brasidas had aswell approued to take the cytie as he suffred hys people to pillage the suburbs he had than takene yt But in the meane tyme that hys people did geue themselfe to pillaige those
twoo dayes durynge the whyche he furnyshed hys fortes Lykewyse dydde the Athenyans theirs And besydes thys he dydde assemble the cytezeins of Torone and spake vnto them almoste in that same sorte as he hadde spokene to themof Acanthe in thys substance The narration of Brasidas vnto the Toronyans THat is that he shewedde them that raysonne woulde not that they whyche had hadde intelligence wyth him for to lett hym into the cytie shulde be reputedde traiters nor euyll doers Forsomuche as they hadde done it nothere for monney nother for to brynge the cytie into seruytude but rathere for to restore yt into lybertie and for the greate wealthe of the cytezeins generallye Also yt were not raysonne that they whyche were not parttakers of thys goodnes shulde be depryued of theire goodes and faculties for he was not come thyder for to destroye the cytie nor any of the Cytezeins but for to delyuer it oute of captyuitie And for thys cause he hadde done yt to bee knowen to theym that were gone wyth the Athenyans that they might comme agayne into theire goodes and into the estate that they were in in tymes passed To the intente that all men myghte knowe that the amytye of the Lacedemonyans whan they shalle haue prouedde yt was nott worser than that same of the Athenyans and shulde haue cause to be somuche the moore affectionedde to theire partieâ— as they shulde fynde theym by experyence more iuste and more reasonable Though that at the beginninge they hadde bene afraied not hauinge yet experymeÌ„ted the nature of the said Lacedemonyans Praying and exhorting them that they wolde dispose themself to be theire good and faythfull frendes confederates from that houre forwardes For if they afterwardes coÌ„mitted any faulte they shulde be coulpable and punishable whyche thynge bifore tyme they had not desarued but rather they that had by force holden them in subiection as the more stronge wherefore though they had euenne vnto that present houre bene aduersaryes and contrary to the sayd Lacedemonyansâ— yet raysone wolde that it shuld be pardoned them With such words Brasidas exhorted coÌ„forted the Toronyans whan the two dayes of trefues were passed he came to Lecythus and thought to take yt wyth assaulte For that that the walles were very weake in euery place in some quarters made of woode Yet the AthenyaÌ„s that were wythin defended themself valiantly the furste daye and repoulsed the Lacedemonyans The morowe followynge Brasidas had caused to be set vp an instrumente for to cast fyer into that parte where the walls were of woode which parceyuedde the Athenyans raysedde vp a towre of woode vpon the sayde wals in the selfe same parte and there caused to be sett a greate nomber of vessels full wyth water wyth instrumentes for to caste yt fourtheâ— and also greate stones But throughe the greate nomber of people that mouÌ„ted vpon the same tower it did fall soubdaynely downe to the grounde whereby and wyth the brute that it made in fallynge the Athenyans whyche were nyghe yt were moore displaysedde than afrayedde But they whyche were furthere of thynkynge that the towne hadde bene takenne fledde awaye towardes the sea into the shyppes that were in the poorte Than Brasidas parceyuyâ—ge that they hadde habandonedde and forsakene the walle assayled it on that same syde and toke the towne wythout greate difficultie by that meane And they that were encountred at the arryuall were â—layne Yet one partie of the Athenyans sauedde themselfe in the ships and saylledde to Pallenes Nowe had Brasidas caused to be cryed bifore the assaulte wyth sownde of trompett that he woulde geue .xxx. poundes in syluer to the furste that shulde haue mountedde vpon the wall But persuadinge hymself that the towne was taken rather by wylle of the goddes than by force he dyd geue that soÌ„me of monney to the temple of the goddesse Pallas whyche was in the same towne wyth whyche monney that same temple was reparedde which hadde bene destroyed at the takynge of the same towne wyth the other edifices And yet afterwardes Brasidas caused it to be buylded agayne And he was the reste of the wynter in that same quarter repayringe and fortefyinge the places whyche he dydde holde and layinge in wayte for them whyche didde take parte wythe the Athenyans ¶ Howe the Athenyans made trefues for one yeare wyth the Lacedemonyans ☞ The .xv. Chapter IN the begynnynge of the furste vere or sprynge tyde the Athenyans made a trefues wyth the Lacedemonyans for one yeare And that the Athenyans dyd thynkynge that durynge that season Brasidas wold not haue practysed to wythdrawe their landes and in the meane tyme to haue fortefyed them and also hopynge to treate durynge that tyme a fynall peace yf they parceyuedde that it shulde be good for them The Lacedemonyans also perswaded themselfe that the sayd Athenyans feared the sayde matters lyke as it was trewe and that hauynge by meane of trefues repose and release of trauailes and paynes wherin they had beneâ— they woulde be more enclyned to the peace and that in that doynge they would render the prysonners whiche they kept whych was the thyng that the sayd Lacedemonyans most desired and hoped to obteigne yt makinge the trefues duringe the tyme that Brasidas prosperedde But so longe as the warre contynued and that he dyd gette of the ennemys they hopedde not that their sayde people shulde be releasedde and delyuered And so the trefues was concluded in thys fourme for the Athenyans dyd delyuer the articles whych they demauÌ„ded and the LacedemonyaÌ„s made the aunswere suche as foloweth The fourme of the trefues bitwene the Athenyans and the Peloponesyans FUrst we woll that as touchynge the temple and the oracle of Apollo Pythicus that it be lâ—efull to all them that wyl of aither partie to go thider wythout fraude and wythout feare for to haue counsaile of the god in the manner accustomedde Thys article was approued by the Lacedemonyans and by those of their allyes that were there who promysed to do all that they myghte that the Beotyans and Phociens shulde approue and ratefie it and for that cause they sent their herault vnto them Secondarely touching the treasure of that same god whych was pillaged and imbecilled we woll that men procede againste the transgressours for to punishe them accordinge to theire demerittes lyke as hath bene accustomedde in suche case and that we and youe and all other that wylbe comprysed in the trefues shalle obserue the auncyent ordonances and customes as touchynge that matter To thys aunswered the Lacedemonyans and theire allyes that they were contente that if the peace were made aither of the parties shulde be contente wythe his lande lyke as they presently dyd holde yt To wytt that the lymitts of the Lacedemonyans shuld be in the quarter of Coryphasius bytwene Bufrades and Tomeus and the same of the Athenyans in Cytheis And that the one myght not make allyaunce wyth the othere that those
touchynge Cleon he kepte hymselfe stylle withoute enterprisyng any thynge vntyll that he was constrayned by the meane of that whiche Brasidas thought would happene that is that hys people shulde be displeased to tary there wythout faightynge and reputed Cleon to be slacke and of small knowlaige of warre in comparisonne of Brasidas whome they estemed to be an hardye man and a good Capatayne And somuche the more for that that they were vnwyllynglye comme wyth hym and agaynste their wylles Whereupon Cleon vnderstandynge their murmuratioÌ„ and to thintent that they shuld be no further displeased to be there he ledde them frome the same place wherein they were all in battaylle raye in the self order that he vsed at Pylus trusting that he should spede wel For he also thoughte that the ennemyes durste not comme for to fyght agaynste hym But he sayedde that he descendedde with hys campe onely for to see the place and yet neuerthelas he attendedde a greate strengthe not somuche for hope of vaynquishynge in case he were constraynedde to fyghte as for to enuyrone the cytie and to assaille yt Beynge than come wyth his armye whiche was fayer and puissant verye nyghe to Amphipolis he lodgedde hymselfe vpon the toppe of an hylle fromewhence he myght see the countrey rounde aboute And so marked veray diligently the Scyte of the cytie chiefly frome the coste of Thracie howe the ryueâ— of Scrym onie kepte his course there whiche he founde for hys aduanntage for that that he thought that he myght retourne fromthence whan he would without faightyng And on the other syde he dyd see no man within the cytie nother those that entred nother that yssued or came fourthe of the gates Whiche were all lockedde and shutte in Wherefore he repentedde hymselfe veray soare and thoughte that he hadde commytted a greate faulte for that that he hadde not brought his Engines of artillery for to battre the towne For he coniectured that yf he hadde hadde theym there he myght easely haue takene it Whan Brasidas vnderstoode that the Athenyans were dislodgedde he lykewyse dislodgedde frome Cerdylium and entred with all hys bende into Amphipolis Without makynge any semblante for to be wyllynge ayther to yssue fourthe or for to fyghte agaynste the Athenyans for that that he reputedde hymselfe not puissante for to do it Not onelye somuche for the nomber of people whereof he hadde welle nygh as many as they but also for the preparacion and for the sorte of the people For in the armye of the Athenyans there was al the force of the Lemnyans and of the Imbryans Wherefore he determyned for to putte in vre a cautell for to assaille theym For to make a moustre of hys people althoughe that they were in suâ—ficiente nomber and welle armed vnto the ennemyes â—he â—houghte that â—t shulde proffiâ—t him nothyng but rather shulde geue courage to the ennemyes for to despise and contempâ—e them So he appoynted for the garde and defence of the cyâ—ie vnto Clearidas one houndred and syâ—â—â—e men and with the remanante he deliberated for to assaille the Athenians afore that they shulde departe fromthence thinking that they shulde be more easye to be ouercome being separated from their succours than if he taryed till their sayd succours did come vnto theym But afore the executyng of his enterpryse he mynded for to declare it well vnto his souldiars and also for to exhorte them manfully to doo and followe it And therfore caused them all to assemble togiders And afterwardes did speake vnto them in this manner The narration of Brasidas vnto his souldiars LOrdes Peloponesians forsomuche as ye be come out of a lande and countrey whiche for the hardynes generosite and noblenes of the inhabitantesâ— hath alwayes lyued in lybertie and that ye which be Doryans haue to fyght againste the Ionyans whome ye haue alwayes founde more feoble than your self It is not nedefull that I vse many wordes but onely to shewe you the facion and manner that I haue determyned to kepe for to yssue fourth agaynste my sayd ennemyes To thintente that considerynge that I am wyllyng to approue and essay fortune with a small nomber of people without takyng all our puyssance ye shall not thereof be astonyed fearynge to be the weaker For I coniecture that oure ennemye who despyseth vs thynkynge that we dare not enterpryse to come to fyght agaynst hym ys amounted in that high place onely for to see the countrey and kepeth hymself withoute any order as is all thynges assured And it happeneth oftentymes that he which diligently marketh therrour and faulte of his ennemye and determyneth manfully for to assaille hym not in ranked battaille nother in an appoyncted iourney but so as he parceyueth his aduantage cometh to the effecte of his enterprise bothe to his honour and proffitt For also those secrett and soubdayne eskermouches that be made in warre whereby specially a man deceiueth his ennemyes and doeth seruice and succour to hys frendes do geue and attribute greate glory vnto the enterprisers Wherefore in the meane tyme that they be thus in disorder and that they be in doubte of nothyng and bifore that they dissodge themself fromthence whiche thing I thinke that they be willing to doâ— rather than to tarye I am determyned to geue the charge vpon theyme with this nomber of people that I haue whylest they be in thys waueryng And in doubt what they may do bifore that they be resolued amonge themself and for to enter if I may into the myddel of their army And thou Clearidas whan thou shalt see that I shal be amoÌ„g them and that thou parceyuest that they be astonyed and afrayed opnene thou the gates of the towne and yssue fourth soubdainely on the other syde wyth the nomber of people that thou shalt than haue aswell of the towne as estrangers and come with the moste diligence that thou mayste to the reskue for to rushe and passe throughe them For I do thynke that in this doynge they shall be putt in greate feare Forsomuche as they which come sodainely afreshe vnto a conflict cause alwayes more drede and feare than they which be in battaile afore Wherfore for thy parteâ— shewe that thou arte a man of sparte And youe oure allyes followe hym manfullye and thynke that the noble fayghtynge consystethe in hauynge good couraige to feare to receyue shame and in obeyinge to youre Capytaynes And that if this presente daye ye shewe youre selfe as valiante men ye shalle acquyre and gette lybertie and shalle be frome hencefourthewarde called compaignyons and allyes of the Lacedemonians And that doinge otherwyse thoughe youe maye eskape to be all slayne and youre towne destroyed or at the beste that maye happene ye shall be in moore greuous seruytude than hitherto ye haue bene And also shal be cause for to lette that the other Grekes shall not recouer their lybertie Understandinge than of what ymportance thys battaylle ys be myndefull to shewe yourself people of
those that were wyth Ramphias passedde furthere vnto the mounte Pierie whiche is in Thessale But they of the countrey denyed them their passage By occasion wherof also hauynge vnderstande the death of Brasidas to whom that bend shulde haue bene brought they retourned home For they also thought that yt was no tyme to renewe the warre consideryng that the Athenyans were retourned and that they were not people for to parfaicte and acheue the enterpryses of Brasidas And on the othere syde they dyd know that at their departure from Sparta the Lacedemonyans were more enclynedde to peace than vnto warre And in effecte after the conflycte at Amphipolis and the retourne of Ramphias frome Thessale there was no exploicte of warre bitwene the Athenyans and the Lacedemonyans for both parties desired rather peace than warre To wytt the Athenyans by cause of the losse that they had had at Delos furst and sone after at Amphipolis By reasone wherof they estemed not their force somuch as they did at the begynnyng whan it was spoken of the appoynctment whych they refused for that that they trusted tomuche in their prosperytie and also greatelye feared leste their allyes seynge their case and chance to declyne and decaye shuld reuolte and rebelle and therfore repented theÌ„self hartely that they dyd not make peace fourthwyth after the victorye that they had at Pylus On the othere syde the Lacedemonyans desyred yt forsomuch as it chauÌ„ced otherwyse in the warre than fro the begynninge they thought yt wolde haue done For they dyd thinke that wastynge the terrytorye of the Athenyans in short tyme they shulde haue destroyed them and brought them vnder And also for the greate losse whyche they hadde made at Pylus whyche was the greateste that they of Sparte had euer had And somuche the more for that that the ennemyes that were wythin Pylus and wythin Chitera ceased not to ouerronne and pillage their countrey there nexte adioygninge And besydes that their sklaues oftentymes rendredde themself to the sayd ennemyes and also were contynuelly in feare leste the other wolde do the lyke by encouraigemente of those that were gone fro them There was also an other reasone that is that the trefues whyche the sayde Lacedemonyans had made for thirty yeares wyth the Argyues shulde shortely expyre the whyche they were not mynded to contynue excepte the sayd Argyues wolde render to them the lande of Cynuria And also they parceyued theymselfe not to be puissant inoughe for to make warre both agaynste the Athenyans and againste them and somuche the moore for that they fearedde leste some of the cyties that dyd take their partie in the countrey of Peloponese wold tourne from their side lyke as afterwardes it happened For thies respectes and reasons both the one the other partie desyred to haue peace And chiefly the Lacedemonyans for to recouer the prysonners whyche were taken in the Islande who had ben the cause wherfore euen from the begynnynge that they were taken the said Lacedemonyans procured and laboured the peace But the Athenyans beynge pufte vp sett in pryde wyth their prosperytie wolde in no wyse heare thereof hopynge to do greater thynges afore the warre shulde be ended But after that they were ouerthrowin at Delos the Lacedemonyans thynkynge that at the selfe houre they wold haue bene more tractable accorded the trefues of one yeare mindding duringe that same to intreate the peace orelles a longer trefues And aftere that happenedde the ouerethrowe of Amphipolis whyche helpedde welle to the peace And somuche moore that Brasidas and Cleon were therein slayneâ— who were the pryncipall and chiefe that empeschedde the peace on boeth sydes To wytte Brasidas for that that he hadde goode fortune in warre whereby he hopedde the encrease of honnoure And Cleone for that that he thoughte that hys faultes and offences shulde bee moore manyfeste in tyme of peace than in tyme of warre and thatt men woolde nott geue somuche faythe vnto hys inuentions and euylle opynyons if yt were peace Whereupon thoose twoo beyng faylledde remaynedde the twoo pryncypall men of twoo Cyties whereof aythere of theyme greatelye desyredde peace hopynge by meane thereof for to obteigne the pryncipalytie in the sayde Cyties To wytte Plistoanax sonne of Pausanias kynge of Lacedemonye and Nycias sonne of Niceratus Athenian whyche was the beste Capytayne that they for that tyme hadde for the warre and the same that hadde done the beste feates wherefore he thoughte yt beste for to make peace in thys meane tyme that the Athenyans were in good prosperytie to the intente that he hadde noo cause of lose by annye inconuenience hys good fortune and also that he hymselfe and the Cytezeins mighte be fromthence fourthe in reste and tranquillitie And that he myghte leaue his good renomme aftere hym that he neuer dydde nor counsailledde the thinge whereby the Cytie coulde fynde him euille whiche thynge mighte chaunce otherewise yf causes were commyttedde to the aduenture of warre the daungers whereof be eschuedde by the peace And as touchynge Plistoanax he desyredde yt for that that he was suspectedde frome the begynnynge of the warre that he retourned fromthence and hadde brought agayne the armye of the Peloponesyans out of the countreye and terrytorye of the Athenyans By meane whereof all the dammages that were afterwardes happenedde to the Lacedemonyans were imputedde vnto him And furthermore he was chargedde that he and Aristoteles his brother hadde entysedde a dyuyneresse that was at Delphos and pronouncedde the aunsweres of the god Apollo so that shee in the name of that god and as inspyredde by hym hadde answeredde vnto the Messengers whiche the Lacedemonyans hadde sente thider for to vnderstande and knowe the wylle and opynyon of the god touchinge the warre in this manner and substance The discente and lignage of Iupiter beinge halfe goddes shulde brynge agayne theire generatyon whyche is in an other lande into their owne orelles shulde laboure the lande wythe coultours of syluer And thys didde he forsomuche as hee was bannyshedde into Lycea for the suspytion that was hadde of hym that he had takenne monney for to retourne oute of the countreye of Athenes in whyche place of Lycea he taryedde a longe tyme. But by meane of the sayde aunswere of the god he was calledde agayne and receyued into the Cytie wythe the honnour 's that were accustomably made vnto kynges at their entrynge Nowe for to abolishe and take away thys infamy he hartely desyred peace for he thoughte that câ—ssynge the inconuenyences of the warre noo occasion shulde be hadde for to reproche nother to impute the sayde thynges vnto hym specyallye the Cytezeins hauynge recoueredde theire prysonners And that as longe as the warre enduredde the murmuratyon shoulde alwayes contynue For it was neuere otherewyse but whanne the people doo parceyue the incommodytyes and aduersytyes of warre they murmure alwayes agaynste the Prynces and Rulers So thys parlement and treatie of peace
that they had made with the said LacedemonyaÌ„s though they woulde not accepte the appoynctemente made wyth the Athenyans considered that they myght not do it withoute beynge periured towardes the sayde Thracyans And by the Chapitre of their allyance it was ordeyned that the lesser partie ought to accepte that whych the greater partie shulde do excepte that yt were empesched and lette by the goddes or by saynctes whyche thynge they reputed to haue happened in thys case For by doinge contrary to their othe they shulde offende the goddes by whome they hadde sworne And thys is it whyche they aunswered concernynge thys artycle To the remanante as touchynge the allyance of the Argiues they made them aunswere that hauynge therupon consulted wyth their frendes they woulde doo that thynge that they shulde fynde to be iuste and reasonable The Ambassadours of the sayde Lacedemonyans being vpon this despeche departedde the Corynthyans caused those of the Argiues to come into their counsaille whyche were already in the Cytie bifore departure of the other and shewed them that they ought not to deferre or put of to make allyaunce wyth them but that they shulde comme agayne in the nexte counsaille for to conclude yt In thys meane tyme the Ambassadours of the Elyans arryued who furste dydde make allyance wyth the Corinthians And fromthence by their ordenance they wente to Argos where as they made the lyke for also they were dyspleased wyth the Lacedemonyans for somuche as byfore the warre with the Athenyans certayn Arcadyans makinge warre agaynst the Leprates they had recours to the Elyans and promysed theym that yf they woulde succoure them they woolde geue themself vnto them after the warre fynished and that after the sayde Arcadyans shulde be rechasedde that they woolde also geue theym the moytie or one halfe of the fruictes of their lande By occasyon wherof the said Leprates beinge delyuered from the warre the Elians conuenanted wyth them that hadde landes for to laboure that they altogithere shulde paye one talente of golde whyche shulde be offred in the temple of Iupiter in Olympus whiche trybute they payde wythoute contradictyon vntil the warre bitwene the Athenians and Peloponesians But afterwardes they refused to paye yt takynge their excuse vpon the charges whyche they dyd susteigne by meane of the warre And for that that the Elyans woolde haue thereunto constrayned them they repayred to the Lacedemonyans vnto whome the sayde Elyans were contente for to commyt the questyon But afterwardes fearynge leaste they woolde iudge agaynste them they made no further pursuyte therin bifore them but wente to ouerronne the lande of the sayde Leprates That notwythstandyng the sayd Lacedemonyans dyd pronounce their sentence whereby they dyd declare that the sayde Leprates were in nothynge bounden to the Elyans and that those Elyans wrongfully and for an euyll cause hadde ouerronne their land And the said Lacedemonyans parceyuinge that the sayde Elyans woolde not obey their iudgemente they sente their people to the succours of the sayde Leprates By occasion whereof the Elyans pretended that the Lacedemonyans had done against the treatie of allyance whyche was made bytwene those Lacedemonyans and the othere Peloponesyans by the whych yt was prouyded that the landes that â—uery of the sayde Cyties dydde holde at begynnynge of the sayde warre shulde remayne vnto ytâ— sayinge that those Lacedemonyans hadde wythdrawin frome them the sayde towne of Lepreates whych was their tributayre And vpon this occasion they made allyance wyth the sayd Argiues And soone after the Corinthians and the Chalcydes that be in Thrace dyd also make yt The Beotians Megarens were in wauerynge to do the lyke pretendynge to haue bene smallye estemed by the sayde Lacedemonyans But afterwardes they dydde take better aduysemente consyderynge that the manner of lyuynge of the Argyues which was the gouernemente of the common people was not so conuenable for them as that same of the Lacedemonyans who dydde gouerne themselfe by a nomber of people that is to say by a counsaylle whyche hadde all the authorytie ¶ How the Athenyans and Lacedemonyans entermeddledde and vsed theire traffique that same sommer lyuynge in doubte and dissimulation the one wyth the othere and of certayne feates and treaties that were made durynge the sayde sommer on bothe sydes ☞ The .v. Chapter DUrynge the sommer whereof we speake the Athenyans dyd take the cytie of Sycione and dyd slay all the men of .xiiii. yeres and vpwards and dydde delyuer theire lande to the Plateans for to laboure moreouer dydde reduce and brynge agayne to Delos the Cytezeins that were dryuene and chasedde fromthence hauynge regarde aswell to the dommaiges which they had susteigned throughe the warre as also to the oracles of the goddes The Phocyans also and the Locrians beganne to warre among them And the Corinthians and Argyues that already had made allyaunce togiders came to the cytie of Tegee hopyng for to wythdrawe it from the obeissance and allyance of the Lacedemonians And by meane thereof considered that it hadde a great terrytorie to withdrawe all Peloponese But the Corinthians parceuing that those of Tegee wolde not departe from the Lacedemonyans for anny euyll wyll that they bifore tyme had had agaynste the same Lacedemonyans they retourned very quickly for they feared that no othere woolde afterwardes render themselfe vnto them sens that those there had refused yt And yet notwythstandynge they sente vnto the Beotians for to require them to be wylling to reallie themself wyth theÌ„ and with the Argyues to the reste that they shuld gouerne themself by common accorde And moreouer for somuche as the sayde Beotians had takene a trefues of tenne dayes wyth the Athenyans soone aftere the conclusyon of the peace of fyftie yeares wherof we haue spokene here bifore they requyred them that they woolde sende an Ambassade wyth theym to the Athenyans to whome they wolde go for to compryse theym in the sayde trefues and in case they woolde not do ytt that the sayd Beotyans shuld renounce the said trefues and shulde not afterwardes make annye treatie of peace nor of trefues wythout the sayde Corynthyans whereunto the Beotiens made aunswere that as touchynge the allyaunce they woulde consulte and determyne vpon yt And as for the reste that they woolde sende of theire people wythe theyme to Athenes and woolde requyre the sayde Athenyans to be wyllynge to compryse the sayde Corinthyans in the trefues of tenne dayes But the Athenyans made aunswere that if the sayde Corinthyans were allyedde wyth the Lacedemonyans they were suffyciently allyedde wyth them and that they nededde no other thynge Parceyuynge whyche aunswere the sayde Corinthyans made instance vnto the Beotians that they shulde renouÌ„ce the trefues of tenne dayes but they woulde not for all that do it And finally the Athenyans were content to make trefues with the Corinthyans wythout anny allyance That same sommer the Lacedemonyans wyth their armye vnder conducte of Plistoanactes their kinge went agaynst the
they shulde be reputed enemyes aswell of the Lacedemonyans as of the Argiues And likewyse the Lacedemonyans if they had any childe of the sayd Argiues or of theire allyes wyth them they shulde render and delyuer them For perfourmance of whyche thinges they shulde make othe the one to the other and this much is it as touching them As concerninge the remenant that all the cyties of Peloponese small and greate shall fromhensforwardes bein lybertie and lyue accordinge to their auncyent lawes and customes and if anny estrangier shall wyll to enter into the said countrey of Peloponese in armure agaynste one of the sayd cyties the other shal succour yt so as it shal be by them aduysed wyth a common accorde And as touchynge the allyes of the Lacedemonyans that be without the sayde Peloponese that they be and remayne in the estate wherin those of the Argyues be euery one in hys terrytorye and that whan annye succoure shal be demaundedde by the allyes of the one of the parties and that they shal be assembled for to make it after that declaration shall haue bene made of the presente articles it shal be in their lybertie aither to fight wyth them or to retourne into their houses whych articles were accepted by the Argiues And that done the Lacedemonyans departed froÌ„ bifore Tegea and retourned home Sone after those that had treated the sayde peace beinge gone and come many tymes the one vnto the other it was fynally concluded betwene them that the Argiues shulde make allyance wyth the Lacedemonyans forsakinge the same whyche they had concluded wyth the Athenyans the Mantynyans and the Elyans the whyche was accorded in the manner that followeth The fourme of the allyaunce betwene the Lacedemonyans and the Argyues IT hathe pleased the Lacedemonyans and the Argyues for to make allyaunce and confederation betwene them for fyftye yeares in thys manner To wit that the one partie shall do and mynyster ryghte and reasone vnto the other egally accordinge to their ancyente lawes and customes And that the cyties that be in Peloponese free and lyuing in lybertie shal maye enter into thys allyance to holde theire terrytorye and to exercyse theire iustyce lyke as they haue accustomedde And all the othere Cyties that be allyed wyth the Lacedemonyans beinge wythout Peloponese shal be of the self sorte and condytion that the Lacedemonyans be in and likewyse the allyes of the Argyues of the sorte and condytion of the same Argiuesâ—kepynge their terrytory And if it be nedefull to sende anny succours to anny of the sayde confederated cyties the said Lacedemonyans Argyues shal mutuelly deuyse what shal be expedient and raisonable to wit if any of the sayd cyties haue question difference with other cyties that they may not be of this alliance by reasone of their lymitts or otherwise And if any of the same confederated cyties had any difference the one against the other the same different shal be coÌ„mit to one of the othere cyties that shal be fouÌ„de trusty and indifferent vnto both partiesâ—for to be frendly iudged after their lawes and customs In such fourme was the allyance made By meane wherof all the differents that were bitwene the sayd two cyties were extinguished and appeased And so they concluded bitwene them not to receyue any herault nother any Ambassadour of the Athenyans into nother cytie but the furst they shuld voyde their people out froÌ„ Peloponese and rase downe the walls that they had made at Epidaure and that they shulde promys nothere to make peace nor warre but by one common accord of both the sayd cyties Nowe the sayd Lacedemonyans and Argyues had purposed to do many thyngs but principally they were wyllynge to make an enterpryse into the countreye of Thrace For that cause they sente their Ambassadours vnto Perdiccas for to wtdraw him to their allyance whereunto he wold not at the furst fronte agree nother departe from the amytie of the Athenyans notwythstanding that he had greate regarde to the Argyues for that that he was borne in their cytie and therfore he did take a tyme for to deliberate consult vpon it And therupon the Lacedemonyans Argiues renewed the othe that they had with the Chalcides and also added anew othe Afterwards the Argiues did sent their Ambassadours to the AthenyaÌ„s for to sommone and commande them to forsake and rase downe the wall that they had made at Epidaure Who parceyuinge that the armye whyche they had lefte there was small in comparyson of the othere that was departed fromethence they sente Demosthenes for to cause their people to retyre who beinge there arryued faygned to make a tourney wythout the towne and by that meane caused the other that were in garnyson wythin to issue fourth and whan they were with out he locked the gates agaynst them and afterwards caused them of the towne to assemble togider and renewed the allyance whyche they had wyth the Athenyans and in that doinge rendred the wall vnto them for whyche the question was After that the allyance was made betwene the Lacedemonyans and the Argiues the Mantynyans refused at the begynnynge to enter into it but seynge that they were to weake for the Argiues sone after they made appoynetemente wyth the Lacedemonyans and lefte the townes that they helde in their lybertie That done the Lacedemonyans and the Argyues ayther of them sente a thousande of their people to Sycione and there dydde take the gouernance frome the common people and committed it into the handes of a certen nomber of the cytezeins and the Lacedemonyans were principall and chief doers thereof And sone after the lyke was done in the cytie of Argos to the intent that it shulde be gouerned after the selfe order vsed in the cytie of Lacedemonie whyche thinges were done aboute the ende of the wynter the sprynge tyme approchyng in that same yeare whyche was the â—ourtenthe of the warre The sommer followynge they of Epitedie whych be in the couÌ„trey of Athon rebelled from the Athenyans and reallyed themself wyth the Chalcides and the Lacedemonyans dydde geue order in the affayres of Achaia whyche were not well to their contentacyon And meane tyme the people of Argos who had already conspyredde to recouer and take agayne the gouernement espying the tyme whan the Lacedemonyans exercysed themself all naked accordinge to their custome they arose vppe againste their gouernours in armure and some of them they dyd slay and the other they bannished who bifore that they were chased or dryuen fromthence had sent vnto the Lacedemonyans to haue theire ayde but they slacked tomuch their coÌ„ming through cause of their sayde excercise or playes notwythstandinge they sone after deferred or put them of and issued fourth into the feldes for to succour the said gouernours But beinge arryued at Tegea and vnderstandinge there that the said gouernours were driuen away they retourned froÌ„thence acheued or made an ende of their said playes Afterwardes
recouerye yet doth she not vtterly destroy theÌ„ as she doth those that putt all their trust in suche thing as of his nature is dangerous and full of hazarde for al at one time she causeth herself to be knowin by theÌ„ that truste to muche in her and leueth theyme no manner meane to defende theyme Wherby you that parceyue youre self so weake and in in suche danger ought to kepe youre selfe frome ytt and not to doo as manye haue done who hauynge some good meane to saue theymeselfe whan they parceyue that they be withoute apparence of hope retourne to other incertain abusions as be visions diuinacions Oracles and other lyke whiche by vayne hope brynge men vnto perdition The Melyans we knowe ryght well that whiche you vnderstande clerely And that is that it shal be a harde thing for to resist your puissance and your fortune whiche is muche greatter than ours and that the thynge shall not be egalle Neuerthelas we trust in fortune and in the grace of God consideredde that ye haue nother reasone nor good quarell againste vs and also we hope that if of our self we be not puissant ynough for to resist that yet we shall haue succours from the Lacedemonians wyth whome we haue made allyance who shal be constrayned to do it though that they haue had no other interest than for their honoure considered that we be their burgeoses parentes by which reasons ye may knowe that we haue not hitherto bene ouer muche bolde The Athenyans we also doubt not the benignitie and goodnes of the goddes forsomuche as that which we do and repute to be iust is not against thopinion of men and also is according to the deliberation and wyll of the goddes towardes men and of those men the one towardes the other For as touching the goddes we beleue that whiche other do comonly bileue of them As concernyng men we knowe that by naturall necessitie he that hath ouercome an other remaigneth his lorde The whiche lawe we haue not made nother haue we bene the furst that haue vsed ytt But rather we vse it so as we haue sene that other haue vsed yt and we wolle leaue it perpetuallye vnto them that shall come after vs. And we be full certaine that if you and the other had power and facultie to do it as we haue that ye would do the like Wherfore as touchyng you we feare not but that we be stronger than you As concernyng the Lacedemonyans we knowe that ye take in good parte the opinion that you haue of them as people finally experymentedde of euylles that for their honnoure they wolle come to succoure you but neuerthelas we prayse not your follye For the same Lacedemonians amonge themself and in thinges that concerne their lawes and domesticall customes vse oftentymes vertue But of suche sorte that if they gouerned with other men myghte alleage manye examples therof Notwithstanding for to shewe you the soÌ„marie they be the people of all those of whome we haue knowlage that moste repute that whiche pleaseth them to be honest and that whiche is for their proffytt to be reasonable Wherefore it shall not be youre commoditie to rest or trust in their fantasies whiche be without any reasone in this question that is of your welth The Melyans whatsoeuer you do saye we do bileue certainly that although their honour dydde not moue them yet for their singuler proffytt they woll not habandone nor forsake this cytie whiche is their colonie For by that meane they shulde be desloyall and vnfaythfull vnto their frendes and allyes of Grece and shulde procure the proffytt of their ennemyes The Athenyans ye presuppose than and coÌ„fesse that there may be nothyng proffitable that is not suer and also that no man shulde enterpryse for his proffytt if therein were not suertie but rather for honour that is to be done whiche is honnest reasonable ye though that there were danger therin the which thing the Lacedemonyans do least regarde of al men in the world The Melians verely we hope that they woll take thaduenture and putt themself in hazart for vs. For they haue cause to do it more for vs that for any other both for that that we be nexte neyghbours to Peloponese and thereby may best ayde themself by vs in their affayres for this also that they may moste trust in vs for parentage that we haue with them beinge discendedde of their cyetzeins The Athenyans it is true But the certaintie of succours consisteth not to be had frome them that ought to geue it for the confidence and benyuolence that those haue in theÌ„ which require it but it is to be coÌ„sidered if they be the stronger wherunto the LacedemoniaÌ„s haue more regarde than any other people For they mistrusting their domestical puissance cause the succours of their allyes to come for to resist euen their voysins or neyghbours wherefore it is not to be bileued that parceiuing vs to be strongest by sea they woll put themself in aduenture to passe into this Islande The MeliaÌ„s That is true but they haue other people inough for to sende hider And the sea of Crete is so spatious large that it is more difficiâ—e for them that kepe it to encounter those that wilcome thider than for them that come to kepe themself secrett froÌ„ them and if this reason moueth them not they haue yet an other meane to wytt for to enter into your lande and into that same of your allyes to wytt those against whome Brasidas hath not bene And by that meane they shal geue you occasion to labour to defende your oune laÌ„de not to trouble thesame wherw t ye haue nothing to do The AtheniaÌ„s you make your prouf to your cost if that you abuse yourself in such thinges the which you know sufficieÌ„tly by other experiences in yâ— the Athenyans neuer raised their siege from bifore any place through feare but we do well parceiue that whatsoeuer ye haue saide whiche you were willing to speke for your welth ye haue not hitherto touched one only word therof in al the purposes which you haue takeÌ„ And yet it is the only purpose whiche the people being in your condiâ—ion ought to kepe and wherunto they ought to trauaile to come for that whiche you propone with so greate instance be al thinges to followe you haue very short time to defeÌ„de or deliuer your self out of the handes of them that be nowe ready to destroy you wherfore me thinketh that you declare your self to be wholy destitute of your wittes if you cause not vs to withdrawe ourselues without longer debating deuise amonge your self some other partie that may be better for you without coÌ„tynuinge in the shame wherof ye be afraide For that hath oftentimes bene cause of great incoÌ„uenience vnto them which theron haue arested in great dangers And many be founde that coÌ„sidering yâ— thinges wherunto of necessitie they shulde come if they yelded
saylle in eight dayes And notwithstanding that it is so great yet is it not distance frome the firme lande but twenty stades or thereaboutes It was inhabyted frome the begynnynge by many and diuers nations of people whereof the furst were the Cyclopes the Lestrigonyans who helde onely one parte of the same of whome I cannot tell what nation of people they were frōwhence they came nor whider they wente nother any other thing haue I learnedde therof but that whereof the poetes make mention and euery one of theyme presupposeth to haue knowlaige of the same people After those the Sycanyans were the chiefe that inhabytedde there who sayed that they were the furste inhabitantes and that they were borne in that same lande but the trouthe sheweth it selfe clerely to the contrarye that they be Hyberiens nyghe vnto a ryuer that is in the sayed countrey namedde Sycania and beinge chased oute of their oune countrey by the Lyguryans dyd withdrawe themself into Sycille whiche they named by their name Sycania where as bifore it was named Tinacria and yett at this present those of that natiō holde some places of that same Isle in the weste parte therof Sence after the taking of Troye certaine Troyans whiche fledde fromethence for feare of the Grekes withdrewe themself thider into the quarter of the Sycaniens wherein makyng their abode they were all aswell Troyans as also Syracusians called Elmyans and did holde two cyties to wytte Erix and Egesta Next vnto those certayne Phocians came to inhabytt there to wytt those whiche in their retourne from Troye were by fortune of sea cast into Lybia and fromethence passedde into Sycille As touching the Sycilians they came out of Italy beinge chased fromethence by the Opicians whiche thinge is verye lykely and it is comonly sayd that they passed in small boates with the tyde whan they parceiued that it sarued them for that that the passage is very short And that it may be so there be yet of the Sycilians in Italie which was so named by a king of Arcadie that was called Italus Thies Sycilians were passed in so greate nōber that they vainquished the Sicanians in battaille caused thē to retyre into a quarter of the Isle that is towarde the Southe and therewythall they dydde change the name of the Isle called it Sycille where as bifore tyme it was called Sycania for also they occupyed the greater parte of the good places of thesame Isle and helde it frō their furst coming vntil that the Grekes came thider which was aboutes three houndred yeares During which time the Phenycians came for to inhabitt in a certen small countrey of the Isle in certaine small Islandes nigh therunto for to trade marchandise with the Syciliās but afterwardes many Grekes being passed by sea into the same they left their sailling lodged thēself with in the Isle there foūded three cities in the cōfynes of the Elymyans to witt Motia Solois Panhormus trusting in the amitie that they had with the sayed Elymyans and also in this that on the same syde there was a very smalle space of the sea for to passe out of the same Isle into Chartage In this manner and by such nomber of diuers strange people the said Isle of Sicille was inhabyted As touching the Grekes the Chalcides which came from Eubea vnder the conduct of Theocles were the furst that came to inhabytte here and founded the cytie of Naxus and without the same they made the chappell of Apollo Archageti that is yet sene there into the which whā they purposed to go out of the Islande they came furste for to make their vowes and sacrefices there The yeare after the coming of the sayd Chalcides Archias Corynthian that was descēded of Hercules came to inhabyt there where Siracusa is hauing furst chased frōthence the Sycilians which helde that parte of the Isle Nowe was thesame cytie at that time all in mayne lande without that that the sea did touche it in any parte but longe tyme afterwardes that was added vnto it that entreth into the sea and is presently sene enuyroned with a walle the whiche by succession of tyme was greatlye peopledde Fyue yeares after that Theocles and the Chalcydes yssued oute of Naxus and came to chase awaye the Cycilians that helde the cytie of Leon and dyd take it and the lyke dyd in the cytie of Catana fromewhence they chased Euarchus whom those of the coūtrey named to be founder therof In that same time Lampis came from Megare for to inhabytt in Sicille and lodged himself with the people that he had broughte thider in a ryuer namedde Pantatius in a place named Trotylum Afterwardes he came to abyde with the Chalcides in Leon for a short time and they gouerned the cytie togiders but being fallen into dissention they chased him away so he came with his people to tarie in Thaspo where he dyed And after his death his men forsoke the place and vnder the conducte of a kynge of Sycilians namedde Hyblon who by trahyson hadde delyuered the countrey vnto the Grekes they came to inhabytt in Megara and so were after the kinges name called Hyblans who two houndred Forty and fyue yeeres after that they came thider were chased fromthence by a king of the Syracusains namedde Gelon But bifore that aboute an houndred yeare after that they came thider they foundedde the cytye Selinus vnder conducte of Pammillus Who beinge chasedde frome Megara whiche was their Capytall Cytye wyth the other of hys nation retyred thider As touchynge the Cytie of Gela it was founded and peopledde by Antiphenus of Rhodes and Eutimus of Crete commonly bitwene theyme bothe who brought thider aither of theyme out of hys countrey a certayne nomber of housholders aboutes .xlv. yeares after that Syracusa beganne to be inhabyted and namedde that same cytie Gela bycause of the ryuer that passeth by nigh vnto it that is so named where byfore time the place where the cytie is sytuated was closedde with walle and was called Lyndia Aboutes a houndredde and eyght yeares afterwardes the sayd Gelyans hauyng furnysshed the sayd cytie with Doryans they came to inhabytt in the cytie whiche is presently called Agragas vnder the conduct of Ariston Pystilus and they so named it by cause of a ryuer that passeth there which hath the like name and they establysshed there the gouernement of the cytie according to the lawes and customes of their countrey As touchyng the cytie of zancla it was furst inhabytedde by certeine theues or robbors that came oute of the cytie of Cumes that is in the countrey of Opica in the lande of Chalcidia but afterwardes a greate multytude of Grekes aswelle oute of the sayedde countrey of Chalcidia as also of the rest
for that that the voiage was not so greate as thys And for that cause and also that the warre was to endure longe in Sycille they had muche the better prouyded and fournished it aswell wyth people as with al other things Wherunto aswell the Cytie generally as also the particuler patrones and capytains of the ships did employ themself with all industrie diligence For the cytie did pay a grote a day to euery maroner of whom there was a ryght great nomber in so greate quantytie of shippes to wit foorty longe galleisâ— which caried their souldyars and thre skore other that were light And aboue the said soulde that the coÌ„mons paide the sayde capytains patrons did geue an other salary to those that drewe the longest Oares also to othere ministres of their particuler purse And on the other parte thappareil preparation aswell of armureâ— as of enseignes of accoustrementes was muche moore pompuous and gorgeous than the same of the other had ben For that that euery patrone going in so longe a voiage parforced himself to cause that his ship shuld be both swiftest also best and most gorgiously esquipped and trymmed Also the souldears that were appoincted for the same voiage toke payne to decke themself aswell with harâ—ois as wyth other things euery maÌ„ to his vttermost best And also they were moreouer attentife and couetous of glory to wit whiche of them might be preferred bifore the other in order In such manner that it semed that the same armye was made for an ostentacion and shewe of the puissance of the Athenyans to the prayse of all the other Grekes rather than for to fight with the enemyes against whome they wenteâ— For truly he that shulde make the estimation and accompte of the expences that were made in that same army aswell by the cytie generally as by the capytaynes and souldyars in particulere to witt of the myses and charges whyche the cytie had debursed for that preparation and what capytaynes they sente thider and of that same whyche the partyculer parsons had made aswel in their harmes as appareil and the captains and patrons euery one in hys ship and of the prouision which euery man made for to succour himself for a longe tyme ouer and aboue the soulde or wages that he had generally and further of the great quantytie of marchandyse the whyche aswelle the souldears did cary for to ayde themself therwithâ— as also many marchants that followed them for gaignes and winninge shall fynde that the same armye emporteth the valeur of many talentes of the countrey The whyche armye dydde bringe into greate admyration those agaynste whom they wente aswelle for the greatnes and sumptuositie of it in all things as also for the hardynes and audacytie of them that hadde enterprysed it whiche semed a strange and a maruelous thynge for one onely cytie to haue durst to enterprise one such a thynge whych for trouth exceaded their porte and force and specyally being so farre from their housene Aftere that the souldears and the othere people were embarqued all the ships charged sylence was coÌ„manded with the voice of a troÌ„pet And than they made their vowes accordinge to the custome vnto the goddes not euery shipp aparte but all togiders by the mouth of the troÌ„pett and afterwards they dronke in cuppes of golde and of siluer th one to the other aswell headds and capytayns as souldears and maroners And the lyke vowes did those make which were on lande for the army in generall particularly euery man for his parent frende And after that the instrumentes of the ships and the souldears hadde sownedde and songe their songes to the prayse of the gods and acheued and fynished al their mysteries they launched fourth and departedde in the beginninge all togyders rainged or sett in order in fourme of a horne afterwardes they disseuered themself euery shipp saylinge accordynge to hys force and swiftnes they came furst to aboorde at Egine and fromthence wente strayght to Corcyre in whych place the other shipps dyd attende and tary for them Of dyuers opinions that were amonge the Syracusains for the army of the Athenyans And the Orations whych Hermocrates and Athanagoras made vnto the people of Sarragosse and the conclusion that thereupon was taken ☞ The .vii. Chapter IN thies entrefaictes the Siracusains albeit that on many sydes they were aduertysed of the army of the Athenyans that came agaynst theÌ„ yet they could not beleue yt And in many assemblies that were made of the commons for thys matter diuers and many reasons and opynyons were spokene aswell by those that bileued the sayde enterpryse as by theÌ„ whyche byleued it not Amongeste whome Hermocrates sonne of Hermon perswadynge hymselfe to haue certayne knowlaige of the sayde armye putt hymselfe fourth and dyd speake in this manner The Oration of Hermocrates LOrdes it maye be that thysâ— that I shall say vnto youe of the armye of the Athenyansâ— who come agaynste vs shall seme incredible vnto youe euen so as that whiche hath oftentymes bene already spokenne by many other And also I am not ignorant that they whyche shewe and reaporte thyngesâ— that excede the apparance of trouthe besydes thys that they cannot perswade that to be trewe whyche they saye they be moreouer reputedde and holdene fâ—r fantasticall and madde But yet notwythstandynge I wyll not feare therof for to saye and speake for the welthe of the commonweale seinge the daungier wherein I parceyâ—e yt to be that whych I knowe furthere therein than anny othere that hath therein spokenne That ys that the Athenyans of whome ye maruaylle soo greately and wolle not bileue yt They comme agaynste youe wyth so greate a puissance aswelle of shyppes as of people vnder couloure to geue ayde to the Egestains and to their allyes and to sette the bannyshed Leontyns agayne into theire houses but in trouthe it is for coueâ—yce to make themselfe lordes of Sycille and chyefly of oure Cytie â—or they thynke wel that if they haue it in their power they shall easely subdewe the othere Wherefore yt muste be thoughte on howe we shall honnorably resiste wyth the people that we haue at thys presente agaynste thys greate puissance whyche wolle not longe slacâ—e to comme And not to sett the thynge at noughte throughe willynge not to beleue yt nothere by that meane to suffre oureselues to be betrappedde as vnprouydedde And yf there be annye amongeste vs that estemethe not thys thynge incredyble but taketh it to be true I woll not for that that he haue doubte or feare of the audacytie of the Athenyans nother of their puissance For suerlye they shall receyue asmuche dammaige of vs as we of theym yf wee prouyde therefore And in thys that they do comme wyth so greate nomber of shyppes and of people is not for oure disaduantage but rather it shall redound to our proffit chiefly with the other Sycilians who seing those Athenyans
he was eldest I canne affirme yt clerely to be true by this that I haue inquired and serched more of the common renome of that same time than any other And euery man that woll serche inquier may knowe yt by this that it is not founde that any of the legytymate sonnes of the sayed Pysistratus had any childrene but onely he as it may he parceyued by the auncient monumentes or graues that be in t he sayed temple and also by an Epiâ—aphie whiche is in the castell of Athenes grauene in stoane makynge mention of the noughtynes of the sayd tyrantes wherin no mention is made of any childreÌ„ of Hipparchus nother of Thessalus but welle of fyue chyldren whiche Hippias hadde by Callis doughter fo Hipperchide Also it is lyke to be trewe that he maryedde the eldest of this chyldren furst and also beinge eldest it is to bileue that he succededde nexte in the Seigniorye and tyrannye And it semeth not vnto me to haue any apparance that if Hipparchus had bene slayne possessyng the Seignyorye that Hippias incontmently after coulde haue obteigneddde yt and also exercise it the selfe daye that the other dyedde but rather hauyng already a longe tyme vsedde hys auctorytie imperially towardes the subiectes and lyued frendely and discretelye wyth hys adherentes and frendes feared not to reteigne and kepe hys Seigniorye and pryncipalytie whatsoeuer thynge had happenedde to hys brother euene so as hys sayed brother woulde happely haue done if that the chaunce hadde happenedde to that same Hippias for that that he was alreadye exercisedde and accustomedde in the Seigniorye But that whiche geueth thys reaporte to Hipparchus and causeth theyme that came after to bileue that he had obteigned the pryncipalitie and Seigniorye of Athens was through cause of the myschance whiche happenedde vnto hym by occasyon of that whyche is bifore sayed For parceyuynge that he coulde not wythdrawe or bryng Hermodius to hys wyll he ymagined agaynst hym one suche woorke and despyte The same Hermodius hadde a yonge suster a maydene who comminge in an assemblie of other maydens of her estate to a certene solempnytie that was made in the cytie carying a paynyer or baskette as the other dyd Hipparchus by hys ministers causedde her to retyre and to be putt oute of the sayedde compaignie sayinge that she was not calledde to the sayed solempnytie for she was not woorthy to be there wyllynge to doo it to be vnderstande that she was no maydene whereby Hermodius was more and more grudgedde and spitefull and Aristogitonne also for hys sake And so they cogiders wyth the complices of that same conspiratie determyned whan it shuld be expedient for to execute it but they taryedde the daye of the feaste whyche ys calledde the greate feaste of Panne for that that on the same daye yt was permytted to euerye man withoute any susspycion to weare harnnes throughe the towne And so yt was concludedde amongeste theyme that on the sayedde daye the same Hermodius and Arystogiton shoulde charge vpon Hipparchus and the other complices vpon the garde or sargeantes And albeyt that the same complices were in smalle nomber yet for to kepe the thynge secrettt they perswaded theymselfe that whan the other cytezeins that should be assembled should see them charge vpon the tyrantes or gouernours thoughe that they knewe nothynge of the enterpryse beynge yet in armure they all woulde ioigne wyth theyme for to recouer their lybertie Than whan the feast daye came Hippias was in a place a parte namedde Cerannicus wyth the souldyars of hys garde and ordeyned the ceremonies of that same solempnitie as it apperteigned And as Hermodius and Aristogiton came directly vnto hym wyth their daggers for to slaye hym they parceyued one of their complices that was speakynge with the sayedde Hyppias very famyliarlye for that that he was gentle to geue audience whereby they were afrayed that their sayd compaigny on hadde discouered the enterpryse and leste they shulde be incontynently takene And so determyned bifore that they would be empeigned or layde hande vpon to take vengeance on hym that was cause of their conspiracie To wytt Hipparchus if they coulde And fourthwith entred into a place called Leocorus wherin Hipparchus was And so they russhed vpon hym wyth suche a furye for hatred and disdeigne whiche they had agaynste hym that they dyd slaye hym incontinently And that done Aristogiton at begynnyng sauedde hymself amonge the souldeours and garde of the tyrantes notwythstandynge he was afterwardes takene and soore hurte but Hermodius was slayne vpon the place Hippias being aduertifed in the sayd place of Cerannicus of this matter did not soudainely repaire vnto the place where the chance was commytted but wente straight waye thider where as the people of the towne being armed were assembled for the pompe or solempnytte bifore that they had any vndersâ—andynge of the dede And makyng good chere and shewynge a ioyfull countenance euene as as no suche thynge had bene done he caused â—o comaunde them that they shulde all withdrawe themself without armure into a certein place whiche he caused to be shewed vnto them whiche thyng they did thynking that he would haue sayd something vnto them And fourthwith as they were there he sent his souldears and garde for to take from them their armure and to apprehende those whom he hadâ— in suspection pryncipally them that were founde wearynge daggers For the custome was in that same solempnytie to carye speares and targottes onely In this manner throughe foolyshe loue the furste conspiracie was bigonne and enterprysedde agaynste the Tyrantes of Athens and executed foolyshly for the soubdayne feare whiche they had that enterprysedde yt to haue bene discouered whereby greate euylle insuedde afterwardes to the Athenyans For in tyme followynge the tyrantes were more cruell than they hadde bene for that that Hippias fearynge to be circumuentedde causedde manye of the cytizeins to dye and also prouydedde hymselfe wyth allyances and frendeshyps wythout the towne for to wythdrawe and saue hymselfe yf annye mutation or change happenedde wythin the cytie For this cause he maryed his doughter named Archedice vnto Hippoclus sonne of Eantydes Tyrante of Lamsaque for that that he knewe that the sayed Eantydes hadde greate amytie wyth Darie kynge of Persie The Sepulcre or graue of whiche woman is yet to be sene in Lamsacque aforesayd wherevpon was an Epitaphe of this substance Here lyeth Archedice doughter of Hyppias defendoure of the Grekes who althoughe that she was doughter wyfe and suster of Tyrantes dydde not yett therefore annye proude or violente thynge Neuerthelas three yeares arter this whiche we haue spokene Hippias was chasedde by the Lacedemonyans and by the Alemonides oute of the Seigniorye and tyrannye of Athenes And wente fromethence wyth hys good will vnto Eantides in Sigee and vnto Lampsaque and fromethence vnto the kyng Darius and twentye yeares after beyng than verye olde he dydde come
wyth the Medes agaynste the Grekes at Marathonie The people of Athenes bryngyng thies auncient thynges to remembrance was more sharpe and more chafedde to enquier of this same matter of the dyssyguredde ymages and of the corrupted sacrefices fearynge to come agayne into subiection of tyrantes And perswaded themself that the sayed excesse and mysdedes had bene done to the same entente By occasion whereof many greate personages of the cytie were putt into prysone And the persecution and wrath of the commons encreasedde dayllye to apprehende and imprysone men vntylle that one of theym that hadde bene takene and was reputed for moste coulpable at perswation of one of the other prysoners discoueredde the thynge were it truely or faulselye for the trouth coulde neuer be knowyn nother than nor afterwardes But somuche there was that he was perswadedde that if he discoueredde the case by accusynge of hymselfe and of some other he shoulde putt the reste of the cytye oute of suspition and of danger And also by so doynge shoulde be in suertie for to escape and to be delyueredde By this meane he confessedde the case of Hermes or pictures as touchyng hymself and also accused a compaignie of other whome he declared to haue bene partakers therof whereby the comons thynkyng that he had sayed the trouthe were ryght ioyfull For they were tomuche angry that no knowlaige coulde be had of a dede done by so great nomber of people And so he that had confessedde the matter togiders wyth the other whome he had not chargedde were fourthwyth delyuered And of those which he had charged al they that might be taken were putt to execution by sentence or iudgemente The other that fledde fromethence were condempnedde of contumacye to death and a huyer was lymytedde and appoynctedde for all men whiche dydde slaye theyme And yett was it not knowyn for trouthe whider that those whiche had bene executed were gylty or not Neuerthelas in all the rest the cytie reputed itselfe to haue gaigned and profytedde greatly But the comons were displeasedde wyth Alcibiades who was accused of this chance of the ymages by his ennemyes to wytte by those same that had charged him therwith bifore his departure And takyng it to be trewe that he had bene gilty of the case of the Hermes or pictures they easely perswaded themself that he likewise had bene partaker of the other case of the sacrefices with the other complices conspirators against the comons And the suspection didde growe somuche the more that a certene small nomber of warryours beyng Lacedemonyans did in that self time come vntill the distreate of Peloponese for to appoynte and intreate of some matter with the Beotians Wherby the AtheniaÌ„s had suspicion that it had bene through consent of the said Alcibiades vnder coulour of the sayd treatie and that if the same AtheniaÌ„s had not preuented to take the sayd citizeins whome they had taken vpon suspition the cytie had bene in daÌ„ger to be taken and betrayed And the suspition was so great that a great watch in armure was for one nyght kept in the cytie of the temple of Theseus In the selfe tyme the gestes and frendes of the same Alcibiades which were in the cytie of Argos were suspected to be willing for to inuade the comons which thing being by them signefyed vnto the Athenyans they licenced the sayed Argiues for to slaye the citizeins of Athens which they had in their citie of Argos who were deliuered vnto them for hostage and by them to be sent vnto certaine Islandes In this manner Alcibiades was suspected on all sydes Whereupon they that were wyllynge to cause hym to come to iudgemente for to condempne hym to death purchased to cause hym to be adiournedde or somoned in Sycile togiders with the other of whome hathe bene spokene and gaue charge vnto the Messenger that he shoulde comaunde hym to followe hym incontinentlye and not to take hym for feare that they hadde aswell of the compaignions of warre which he had vnder his charge as also that the affaire of the enterpryse of Sycille shulde not be troubledde and yet moste pryncipallye that the Mantynyens and the Argiues who at the desyre of the same Alcibiades accompanyedde the sayed Athenyans in that same enterpryse shoulde not be mouedde or loste Than Alcibiades perceyâ—ynge the comaundemente and adiournynge that was made vnto hym mounted into a shypp and the other also adiourned did mounte withe him and departed fromthence togiders wyth the ship of Salamyne whych was comme for to adiourne them fayning to be willing to saille in compagnie vnto Athens But after that they were in Thurie they followed it no further nother afterwardes were sene by those of the sayd shipp of Salamyne who hauynge carefullye enquyred what way they were gone and not learnyng any newes therof they saylled froÌ„thence their right way Sone after Alcibiades departed from Thurie and sailled fromthence to lande in Peloponese being already bannyshedde from Athens And so after he and the other whych were in hys compaigny were condempned for contuinacye vnto death by the Athenyans ¶ Howe after the departure of Alcibiades the other two Dukes Athenyans hauynge done certen small thynges in Sycille did come to assiege the cytie of Saragosse and hadde a victorye agaynste the Syracusains ☞ The .xi. Chapter AFter the departure of Alcibiades the other twoo Dukes Athenyans departed all the armye into two partes and aither of theym dyd by lott take the charge of the one of theym And afterwardes they bothe togiders wyth all the hoste wente fromthence vnto Selynunte and to Egeste for to knowe if the Egestians were determyned to delyuer the monney whyche they had promysed and also for to vnderstaÌ„de the affayre of the said Selynuntyns and the question or difference whyche they had wyth the Egestains And they saylled a length the sea hauynge the Isle of Sycille of the coste of the sea Ionum on the lefte hande and came to aboorde bifore the cytie of Imere the whyche only in that same quarter is inhabyted wyth Grekes neuerthelesse they woolde not receyue the sayd Athenyans who at their departure fromtheÌ„ce sailled to a towne named Hiccara The whyche though that it were inhabytedde wyth Sycaniens was yet ennemy to the Egestains For this cause they pillaged yt and afterwardes did set of the Egestains wythin it Thys dependinge arryued the horsemen of the Egestains wyth whome the fotemen Athenyans came by lande wythin the Isle pillaginge and robbinge vntill Catana and their ships came vnto them coastynge alongeste the sea wherin they charged their butyes pillage aswell of beastes as of the other Nycias at departure froÌ„ Heccana weÌ„te incontynently to Egeste where he receiued of the Egestains thirty talentes And hauynge geuen order for certen other thynges retourned fromthence into the armye And besyde that some that they had taken for the sayd butye whych was solde they receyued one houndred and twenty taleÌ„tes of golde Afterwards
a good nomber from them to the temple of Olympiades whyche was therby fearynge leaste the Athenyans wolde come to pillage it for that that therin was great quantyte of golde and syluer The othere retyred into the cytie Neuertheles the sayde Athenyans wente not agaynste the said temple but hauynge receyued and brunned the cariogns of their men that were dead at the battaill they taryed there that same nyght And on the morow the Syracusains knowing to haue bene vainquished they sent vnto them for to demaÌ„de their dead men whych were in aâ—l aswell of theire cytezeinsâ— as of their allyes aboute two houndred and three skore and of the Athenyans togiders with their allyes aboutes fyftie whose boanes after that they were burned they dyd withdrawe and caryed them to Catanaâ— togiders wyth the spoilles of the ennemyes and by thys meane they retyred for that that they were already in wynter whiche was no tyme to make warre They could not also coÌ„duct nor endure it with out horsmen wherof they atâ—ended a good nomber aswell from Athens as from their allyes also monney for to fournishe necessaries They hoped alâ—o duringe the wynter for to practique and wynne throâ—gh fauoure of that same victorie many cyties of Sycille vnto their partie and moreouer to make prouysyon of victuailles and of all other thinges for to come agayne to laye theire Siege to Sarragosse immediatly after the winter Thies were in effecte the causes whyche mouedde theym to comme for to wynter at Catana and at Naxe Howe the Syracusains hauing chosen newâ— Dukes and geuene order in their affayres they made an assaulte agaynst them of Catana and how the Athenyans faylled to take the Cytie of Messane ☞ The .xiii. Chapter AFter that the Syracusains had caused their dead men to be buryed the people was assembled In the whyche assemblie Hermocrates sonne of Hermon who was estemed as greatly wyse and prudente as any man of the cytie and moreouer valyante and experymented in matters and feate of warre made vnto them many declarations and perswations for to geue them courage and that they shuld not be astonied for the losse whiche they had had shewynge vnto them that the same losse was not chanced to them through lacke of courage but through faulte of order and also that yt was not so greate as by reason it shulde haue bene consyderinge that on theire side there were none but comon people and men not often experimeÌ„ted in warre and the ennemyes were the beste practysedde of all Grece and suche as vsed the crafte and feate of warre more than of any other thynge Also the multytude of their capytaynes dyd noye them greatly For there were fyue of them that had not greate obeyssance of their souldyars But in case that they wolde chose some small nomber of more experte and of more meâ—e parsons for Capitains and durynge that same wynter assemble a good nomber of souldyars fournishyng theÌ„ wyth harnes that had not therof and moreouer wolde exercyse themself in feates of armes durynge the sayd tyme he had good hoope that they shulde haue the better agaynste their ennemyes addyng good order and conducte vnto their couraige and hardynes whyche thynges be necessary for warre To wytt order and conducte for to knowe foresee and exchue the dangers and hardynes for to execute that whyche shal be deuysed by wyt And also it were necessarye that the Dukes and Capytayns whych are to be chosen in small noÌ„ber as is aboue said shulde haue power in the feate of warre for to order and do therein euene as yt shulde seme to them to be expedyent for the welthe of the cytie geuynge them otheâ— suche as ys requysite in the same lyke cases For by thys meane the thinges whyche shulde be nedefull to be holden secrett may be kepte close and moreouer the prouysyons may be made without any contradiction After that Hermocrates had ended hys aduertysements all the people founde them good and dyd chose hymself for one of the Capytayns and wyth hym Heraclides sonne of Lysymachus and Sycanus sonne of Excrestus whome also they dyd chose Ambassadours for to go to the Lacedemonyans and Corynthians for to perswade them that they shulde ioygne togiders wyth them agaynste the Athenyans and that they shulde make so stronge and fierce warre in theire countreye that they shulde be constrayned to habandone and forsake Sycille orels that they shulde sende to the sayde Syracusains succours by sea In this meane tyme the armye of the Athenyans whyche was at Catana went fromthence agaynste Messane hopinge to haue taken it by treatie and conspyracie of some of the Cytezeins But they were deceyuedde of their enterpryse for that that Alcibiades who knewe the sayde treatie after that he was departed out of the hoste holding hymself in all poynctes assured that he shulde be bannyshed out of Athens had secretely discouered the treasone of those of the sayd cytie whyche toke parte wyth the Syracusains who hauynge furste slayne the transgressours and afterwardes moued the comons agaynste them and their complices obteygned what they woolde to wytt that the Atheuyans shulde not be receyued into the cytie who aftere that they hadde bene in the campe .xiii. dayes before the sayde Cytie parceyuinge that the wynter increased and waxed more bitter and that they beganne to lacke victualles also that they re enterpryse faylled them they retyredde to Naxe and to Thrace where they forcefyed their campe with diches and pales and there passed that same wynter Durynge the whyche they sente a galley vnto Athens for to demande newe succours wyth horsemen and wythe monney for the sprynge tyme followynge that they myght be hable to issue fourth into the feldes On the other syde the Syracusains duringe that same wynter enclosed wyth walles al the suburbs whyche was on the syde of Epipole to the intent that if by fortune they loste an other tyme the battaille in the feldes they might haue the greater space for to retyre wythin the closure of the Cytie and besydes that they made newe rampares aboutes the temple of Olympus and of the place called Megare and therin they put a good garnyson And moreouer in all sydes where men might descende from the sea to lande against the Cytie they made strong crosse barres and pales After that knowinge howe the Athenyans had embarqued theÌ„â—self nighe vnto Naxe for to wynter there all the people issued fourthe agaynste Catana and they pillaged all their terrytorie rased downe and burned all the lodginges and campe of the Athenyans that they had made whan they were there and afterwardes retourned fromthence into their houses ¶ Howe the Athenyans and the Syracusains sente Ambassadours towardes the Cameryns ayther partie for to withdraw them to their allyance and the answer which they made to them both And also the preparations practiques that the Athenyans made that same winter against the Syracusains ☞ The .xiiii. Chapter THies thinges thus
and alleage and declare vnto vs the selfe same thynges that ye woolde haue alleaged if the Athenyans had surst come against youe whyche thynge ye nor the other haue not yet done And yf ye woll say that youe woll kepe and vse reasone somuche towardes vs as towardes oure ennemyes for feare to offende the one or the other and take youre occasyon vpon the allyance whyche youe haue wyth them Truly ye haue not made that same allyaunce for to go to assaylle youre frendes at their pleasure and appetite but rather onely for to succour the one the other if any dyd come to assaille youe For thys cause the Rhegins though that they be Chalcydes haue not bene willinge to ioygne wyth thies here for to restore the Leontins into their houses who be Chalcydes as they be And if those there wythout hauing any reasonable excuse but for that that they haue had this iustification or proufe so well couloured of the Athenyans for suspected gouerned themself herin wysely woll you hauinge reasonable cause for to excuse youe beare fauour and proffitt vnto them that naturelly be yâ—ure ennemyes and habandone and forsake those whyche be youre neyghbours and your parentes for to ioygne youreselâ— vnto thies here Certainly ye shall do agaynste reasone yf ye woll ayde thys puissance of enemyes which ye ought rather to feare although that if we were ioigned and vnited togider we shulde haue no cause to feare but iustly if we separate or deuyde oureselues the one from the other Whiche is the thinge that they attempte for their power for that that they be come into thys countrey not onely agaynste vs but rathere agaynste all And yet they haue not done agaynste vs that whyche they wylledde though that they dydde vaynquishe vs in battaille but after their victorie they wente fromthence Wherefore it may be clerly knowin that whan we shal be ioigned togiders we ought not greately to care for them and chiefly attendyng the succours that is to come from the Peloponesyans whyche be better warryours than thies here And truly yt ought not to seme to anny to be good for youe not to busye youreselfe or not to meddle nother for theym nor vs and that the same shal be reasonable as touching vs consyderinge that ye be allyed togyder and also the more suertie for you For though that the ryght be at the furste sight lyke and egall betwene them and vs as concernynge you for the reason abouesaide yet the dede ys greately dyuers For if they agaynste whom warre ys made for fault to haue bene by you succoured be vainquished and the other vainquishors and ouercommers what other thynge maye be sayde than that by your absence the one hath bene ouercomed and the other haue not bene prohybited or left to do euyll Therfore lordes it shal be muche better done for to ayde those whome men wolde oppresse whiche be your parentes and neyghbours in defending the comon welth of all Sycille and not to suffer the Athenians to offende than not to meddle wyth nother partie And for to shewe you in fewe wordes all that we woll saye insomuche as there nede not many wordes for to declare to you or to any other that which ye vnderstande of yourself we praye and require youe for to ayde vs in thys present busynes And we protest that if youe do it not ye shal suffre vs to be wasted and destroyed by the Ionyens our perpetuall ennemyes And being Doryens as we be ye habandone forsake vs noughtly And if we be vaynquyshed by the Athenyans it shal be youre faulte and they shalle haue the glorye of the victory And as touchynge the huyer or rewarde it shal be none othere but the same that hath geuene the victorye And if we ouercomme ye shall suffer the payne for that that ye haue bene cause of the dangeire where in we shall haue bene Consider than the whole and chose ye presently aythere to incurre and submit yourself into the seruitude presented without any danger or in ouercommynge thys people both to eskape wyth vs from beinge their subiectes and also not to be for a right longe tyme our ennemyes After that Hermocrates had thus spokene Euphemus the Athenyan arose vp and dydde speake in thys manner ¶ The Oration of Euphemus the Athenyan to the Camerins ☞ The .xv. Chapter WE were comme hider Lordes Camerins onely for to renewe the ancyent amytie allyaÌ„ce that we haue with you But sithens that this same Syracusaine hath charged and maliciously spoken agaynst vs It is here nedefull to speake of our Empire and howe by good and iuste cause and reasone we haue obteygned it whereof thys same here who hath spoken beareth good wytnes by that which he hath said that the Ionyens haue al waies ben enemys of the Doriens but it muste be vnderstande how it is We be truly Ionyens and the Peloponesyans Doriens And for that that they be in greater nomber than we and our neyghbours we haue trauailled to kepe oureselues that they shulde not bringe vs into their subiection For this cause after the warre of the Medes hauinge our army by sea we wythdrewe ourselfe from the Empire and conducte of the Lacedemonyans which were capytaines of all the armye of Grece for that that it was not more reasonable that we shulde be vnder them than they vnder vs but for that that they haue bene more puissant than we And consequently beinge made prynces and superiours of Grekes who before tyme were subiectes vnto the Medes we haue kepte and maignteigned oure reygne knowynge that whan we shall haue asmuche puissance as they for to resyste their force that than we shall in nothynge be bounde vnto them And for to speke more clerely we haue vpon good cause brought into our obeissance and subiection the Ionyans and the Islanders though that they be oure parentes as the Syracusains do say But it was for thys cause that they came wyth the Medes agaynste our cytie whyche is their Metrip olitaine and from whence they be descended for feare of losynge of their houses and domestycall goodes hadde not the hardynes to forsake their townes and Cyties for to conserue and kepe their lybertie as we dyd but rather they loued better to be bondemen and subiectes of the Medes for to saue their goodes and also to comme wyth them agaynste vs for to brynge vs into the self seruytude and bondage For thies reasons we haue well deserued to haue the seignyorye and rule ouer the other For also for trouthe and wythoute anye difficultie we fournished in that same warre more ships and shewed more harte courage than all the other cyties of Grece And chiefly we desarued to haue the rule dominyon ouer yâ— Ionyens who did vnto vs the euyll that they coulde beynge ioygned wyth the Medes Wherefore if we desire to encrease our force agaynst the Peloponesians and not to be more vnder the conducte and charge of others we
they were wyllyng to sende an ambassade to the Syracusayns for to empesche and lett them to take partie with the Athenyans were neuerthelas not wyllynge for to sende them any succours The same Alcibiades for to moue and stirre theyme to that affaire did speake to theyme in this manner The Oration of Alcibiades the Athenian to the Lacedemonyans IT is nedeful Lordes Lacedemonians bifore that I propone or declare other matters to speake of that wheâ—w t I may be charged For if you holde me suspected by reason therof ye woll not geue fayth nor creditt my wordes speaking of the comon Welth. My progenitours hauing by occasioÌ„ of certene accusation renouÌ„ced the fredome and ciuilitie of thys your cytie I haue sithens had wylle to recouer yt and for cause thereof haue honored and saruedde youe in manye thynges but amonge other in the losse that youe hadde at Pylus And I perseueringe in this affection towardes your cytie ye made the appoynctment wyth the Athenyans by meane wherof ye encreased the puissance of my enemyes and dyd vnto me greate dishonnoure whiche was the thynge wherefore I wythdrewe my selfe vnto the Mantynyens and the Argiues wyth whome beinge bicome your ennemy I did endomage you wherein that I mightâ— And if any amoÌ„gest you hated me against reason that I than dyd hurte you truly he oughte nowe to forbeare and cease if he consider the thynges well And if any other haue euil opynion of me forsomuch as I haue susteigned and defended the estate and gouernemente of the common people he hathe lesse reasone for to hate or suspecte me for that for we other Athenyans be alwayes contrarye and ennemyes of tyrantes Nowe all that whiche contraryeth or ys agaynst them ys the comon people for this cause the comon auctorytie hath alwayes remayned amonge vs and durynge the same I haue oftymes bene constrayned to followe the time And neuerthelas I haue contynually takene payne for to moderate and refrayne the lycence and audacytie of them that woulde against the fourme of reasone conduct and order thynges at their wylle for that that there haue alwayes bene in tyme paste and yet presently be some men that haue seduced the comon people in perswading them vnto that that was for the woorst Whiche be those that haue chased and dryuene me away although that in the tyme that I haue had auctorytie I haue alwayes counsailledde and perswaded good thinges that which I had learned to be for the best to the ende to conserue the citie in lybertie and prosperitie lyke as they haue founde it For all they that haue knowlaige of the comon estate knowe what it is but yet I who haue al wayes despised and abhorred yt knowe more therof And if it were nedefull to speake of the madnes and rashnes of it I would tel nothyng therof which hath not bene experymented but it semed not to me to be a thinge right suer for to enterpryse to wyll to change it being by you assieged and warred against And this is ynough spokene of the thynges that may engender suspition and hate of me towardes youe Therefore I wyll nowe speake of the affaires whereupon ye ought presently to deuyse Wherein if I vnderstande annye thynge further than youe whereof it be nedefulle to aduertise youe ye shall therein pronounce iudgemente We be gone to Sycylle in purpose furste to subdue yt if we maye and after those there the Italians and also that done for to essay to rule and gouerne the allyes of the Chartagyans and theymselfes also if we may And if that were come to oure intente in all or for a good parte than we would come to conquere and subdue Peloponese hauynge in oure ayde and seruice all the Grekes that be in the countreis of Sycille and of Italie wyth greate nomber of estrangers and barbarous people whiche we shoulde haue hadde in soulde or wages and specyally of the Iberyens who be wythout annye doubt at this present the best warryours that be in that same quarter And on the other parte we woulde haue made greate nomber of galleys in the quarter of Italie where there ys greate quantytie of woode and of other stuffe for to make theyme to the ende that we myght holde the sayd countrey of Peloponese assieged aswell by the sea with the sayd gallyes as also by lande wyth our foote men trustynge to take parte of the cyties of the same countrey by force and the other by lengthe of siege whyche thynge semed to vs very assured And hauynge subdewed the sayed countrey we hoped easely and ryght sone to obteigne the Empire and seigniorye of all Grece causyng the sayd landes by vs conquered to fournyshe vs with monney and victualles besydes the reuenue whiche hath bene leuied in theis parties Nowe youe haue vnderstande of the armye by sea that is in Sycille which thing is shewed vnto you by a man that knoweth fully and holy oure endes and ententes The whiche though I be departed fromethence the other Dukes capytaynes woll put in execution if they can And if you do not withstande it I perceyue nothyng there that maye empesche them insomuche as the Syciliens be not accustomed to warre And yet neuerthelas whan they be ioigned alll togiders they maye resist and eskape But the Syracusains who haue bene al vainquished in battaile and cannot nowe saille by sea may not alone resist withstande the hoste of the Athenyens whiche presentlye is there And if this cytie were taken all Sycille shoulde afterwars be sone subdewed yea and consequently Italie That done the danger whereof I haue made mencyon vnto youe shall not be farre of from you nor so retarded or slacked that you shall not perceyue yt commyng Wherefore none of youe ought to perswade hymselfe that this question is for Sycille onely For wythoute doubte the question and varyance ys for Peloponeseâ— yf ye doo not readely prouyde for it And for to do that it is requisitte to sende ryghte sone thider an armye by sea in the whiche the veray maroners oughte to be warryours And that whiche is pryncipall that there be for capytayne a couragious man of Sparte For the presence of hym shal be for to enterteigne in youre amytie those that be there at thys presente and for to constrayne the other there For that that they which be youre frendes shall haue by this doyng more hope and those that be in wauerynge or doubte shall haue lesser feare to comme to youre allyance And moreouer ye ought most openly to begyn warre against the Athenynans For in that doinge the Syracusayns shall knowe that ye care and be myndefulle for their affaire By occasion whereof they shall take more couraige for to resist and the Athenyans shall haue the lesser meane for to sende succours to their people whiche bene there And also me thynketh that ye oughte to take and to fortefye soubdainely wyth walles the towne of Deâ—elea whiche is in the terrytorye of Athens
manye woordes thereupon hadde bene spokene lyke as yt is to be beleued to be among people that be ambiguous or doubtefulle and that perceyue theymselfe assieged and oppressedde more and more And that aswelle wyth Nycyas as the one to the othere forsomuche as by cause of the necessyties wherein they were the one mystrustedde the othere In suche manner that they deposedde and sette of the Dukes whome they hadde chosenne at the begynnynge vnder couloure that the losse whyche was happenedde was throughe their faulte or mysâ—ortuneâ— and they dydde choose othere in their stede to wytte Heraclides Eucleas and Tellias In thies enterfeates Gylippus Lacedemonien was alreadye aryued at Leucade wyth the Corynthyans shyppes fully determyned to come with all diligence to succour the Syracusayns But beyng aduertised that the cytie was already enclosed on all sydes by many that agrede all therupon though that it were not trewe he loste both hope and fantasie of the affaires of Sicille And yet neuerthelas for to saue Italie he saylledde fromethence wyth two galleys with Lacedemonyans and wyth hym Pythus Corynthien with twoo other galleys of Corynthe wyth all diligence to Tarente And the Corynthyans saylledde after more softely wyth tenne other of their galleys twoo of Leucadyans and .iii. of Ambracians Gylippus than beynge arryuedde in the poorte of Tarente he wente fromethence into the Cytie of Thurie as Ambassadoure of the Peloponesians for to wythdrawe and brynge theyme vnto theyr allyance bryngynge hys father to their remembrance who hadde sometyme gouernedde their estate but seynge that they would not thereunto consente he retourned fromethence alongeste Italie and whan he was in the Goulphe of Terynee there came vpon him a southe wynde whereunto that same Goulphe is greately subiected so that he was by force constrayned to retourne into the porte of Tarente into the which he wythdrewe hys shyppes and repayred those whiche had bene bruised by fortune of the sea Nycyas was aduertysed of the coming of Gylyppus who vnderstanding the small nomber of shyppes that he had with him passed not of them lyke as also the Thuryans had not done And it semed to hym that he was rather comme as a Corsaire or Pyrate for to pyllage in the sea than for to succoure the Syracusains In that same somer the Lacedemonyans with their allyes began warre agaynst the Argyues and pillaiged one parte of their lande vnto whome the Athenyans sent thyrtye shyppes wyth succours And by that meane did euydently breake the treatie whiche they had not bifore done For the inroades and pillages that they had made vnto that same houre were more in maÌ„ner of theft than of warre And they were not willing to ioigne with the Argyues and Mantynyans agaynst the Lacedemonyans But rather though that they had many times bene sore laboured vnto by the Argyues for to enter in armure with them into the lande of Laconie at the least that same which they helde and for to pillaige a certaine small quarter of that the which the Lacedemonyans dyd holde and afterwardes to retourne fromethence wythout doyng anny otherthyng yet they had neuer bene wyllyng to agree or consent vnto it But than hauing made three chiefes and capytaynes of their armye to witte Pythodorus Lespodius and Damarathus they entred into the countrey of Epidaure ennemylyke pillaged Lymere Prassie some other smal townes of that same quarter Wherby the Lacedemonyans had afterwardes more lawfull excuse to declare theymself their ennemyes After that the Athenyans were retourned from Argos with their army by sea and the Lacedemonyans with theirs by lande the Argiues wente to ouerronne the lande of Phliasie Aâ—d after that they had pillaged and wasted one parte therof and slayne a certene nomber of the Paysans they retournedde fromethence Here endeth the Sixte boke of the historie of Thucidides and the Seuenth doth begynne ¶ Howe Gylippus entred into the cytie of Sarragosse with the succour of the other cyties of Sycille whiche toke his parte loste one battaille and dyd wynne an other against the Athenyans And howe the Syracusains and Corynthyens sente Ambassade to Lacedemonie for to haue newe succours and lykewyse Nycyas wryteth to the AtheniaÌ„s for the self same cause ☞ The first Chapter AFter that Gylippus and Pythan had repayred newe tacled their shipps at Tharente they departed froÌ„thence for to saille towardes the Locryans in the west quarter Aâ—d being aduertised that the cytie of Sarragosse was not yet inclosed on all sydes but that men myght enter into yt by Epipole they were in doubte whither they shuld drawe to the right hande of Sycille and essay for to enter into the citie or for to kepe the left hande and furst to go to aboorde at Imera and there to assemble the moste people that they myghte aswelle of those of the towne as of other Syracusayns afterwardes to goo fromethence to succoure the sayed Syracusayns And fynally they arrestedde and concluded to go to Imera specially being aduertised that the foore Athenyans shyppes whiche Nycyas had sente were not yet arryuedde at Rhege whiche Nycyas hadde sent thider vnderstaÌ„ding that those same were yet at Locres So Gylyppus Pythan wyth their shyppes passed the distreate bifore that the other were arryuedde at Rhege And afterwardes saillynge alongeste frome Missena they came directlye vnto Imera Beynge aryued in whiche place they intreated and perswaded the Imerens to enter into their allyance and to fournyshe them with shyppes and harnois for their men that lacked it And afterwardts they sente vnto the Selynuntyns that they shulde be in a certene place that they named vnto them assuring them one bende not very great of their people to go with theÌ„ It happened also that the Gelians some other Sycilliens were the more encouraiged for to enter into this allyance of the Peloponesyens than they had bene bifore time for that that Archonides who had gouernedde some of those Syciliens was dead a small tyme bifore who in his lyfe tyme hadde great amytie confederation and intelligence wyth the Athenyans and also for the bruyte whiche was that Gylippus came diligently manfully wyth hys people to the succours of the Syracusayns who hauyng taken aboutes seuene houndred of his oune men aswel souldiars as maroners which he had armed a thousande Imeryens aswell wel armed as lightly armed a houndred horsemen a certene nomber of Selinuntyns all horsemen or lightly armed and also a ryght small nomber of Gelyens wyth some other Syciliens to the nomber of a thousande marched towardes Sarragosse And on the other syde the Corynthians departed from Leucade for to come with the most diligence that they coulde into that same quarter with al the other shyppes Amongest whome the same whereof Gongylus was Capytaine arryued first at Sarragosse although that he was the last that departed And sone after arryuedde Gylippus who vnderstandynge that the Syracusayns were in
Athenyans as also of the Peloponesyans ☞ The .iii. Chapter AFter that the Athenyans had appoyncted their sayde prouysions for Sycille they sente twenty galleis aboute Peloponese for to defende and wythstande that no ships shulde passe fromthence out of Corinthe into Sycille For the Corinthyans after that the Ambassadours of the Syracusayns whyche were comme for to require newe succours were arryued vnderstandynge the affayres of Sycille to be in better estate dyd yet take more couraige and semed vnto theym that the armye whyche they had sente bifore was come all in tyme. For that cause they prepared for to sende thider renforte or newe succours of men in the platt Barques and the Lacedemonyans wyth the reste of the Peloponesians did the lyke So the Corynthyans armed xxv galleys for to accompaygnye their Barques and to defende them agaynste the galleys of the Athenyans whyche attended and lay in wayte for them in the passage at Naupacte As touchyng the Lacedemonyans as they prepared their succours beynge vrgently moued aswell by the Syracusains as by the Corynthyans vnderstandinge moreouer that the Athenyans sente newe succours into Sycille for to empesche that and chiefly through the counsail of Alcibiades they determyned for to enter into the lande of the sayd Athenyans and at the beginnynge to mure and walle in Decelea And the Lacedemonyans enterprysed that same wyth the better couraige by cause that they thoughte that the Athenyans hauynge greate warre in twoo coastes to wytt in Sycille and in their oune contrey shulde be the moore easely subdewed and vaynquished And also that they hadde iuste quarelle forsomuche as the Athenyans hadde furste broken the appoinctement whiche thynge was whole contrary to the other former appoynctement For the rotture or breache beganne on the bihalf of the Lacedemonians for that that the Thebains had inuaded Platea without breaking the appoinctement And though that it was ordonned by the same that warre shulde not be moued agaynste hym that submitted hymself to the iudgement of the other confederated Cyties and that the Athenyans offredde to stande therunto yet alwayes the Lacedemonyans wolde not accepte the offre by occasion wherof they thought that with good cause they hadde receiued many mischances in the warre whyche than was made and speciallye at Pylus But after the laste appoinctement the Athenyans had sente thirty ships out of their sea and wasted one partie of the terryâ—orie of the Epidaurians and of the Prasyens and also of some other countreys and kepte men at Pylus who robbed and spoylled the confederates wythout any ceassynge And whan the Lacedemonyans sente vnto Athens for to demande restytution of the goodes that were takene and in case of refusal that they shulde commytt the thynge to knowlaige accordynge to the artycles of appoynctemente yet wolde they neuer doo yt For thys cause yt semedde to the Lacedemonyans that as the fault offence of the breache which was in the former warre was coÌ„mytted on their bihalfe so was iâ— nowe in the partie of the Athenians by meane wherof they went against them with the better harte And so they commaunded to the other Pelonesyans that they shulde make prouysyon of Irons for the walles at Decelea in the meane tyme that they prouydedde for other matter therunto necessarie and moreouer constrayned theym to fournishe monney for to sende succours into Sycille for their portion lyke as the self LacedemonyaÌ„s did And in thies enterfeats ended the wynter whych was the .xviii yeare of the warre whych Thucydides had wryttonne In begynnynge of spring tyme the Lacedemonyans wyth their allyes entred soubdaynely into the lande of the AthenyaÌ„s vnder conducte of Agis sonne of Archidamus kyng of the same Lacedemonyans And at the furste arryuall they wasted and pillaiged the platte countrey that was at the entrynge and afterwardes dyd geue themselfe to enclose Decelea wyth walle and delyuered to euery of the Cyties confederated accordynge to hys quantytie to make one quarter of the sayde walle Nowe the same cytie is afarre of from Athens aboutes seuene skore stades and well nighe asmuche out of the countrey of Beotie And for that cause beynge enclosed with walle and garnished wyth men one might oute of the same pillage ouerronne the plat couÌ„trey vnto the Cytie of Athens In thys same tyme that the walles of Decelea was in buildinge the Peloponesyans that taryed in the countrey sent the succours into Sycille in their Barques To wytt the Lacedemonyans sixe houndred of the moste gentle compaignyons of their esklaues and of their laborers vnder the conducte of Eurytus of Sparte The Beotians three houndred vnder the conducte of zenon and of Nycon of Phebes and Egesander the Thespian Thies here were the furste that at there departure frome Tenara in Laconium lauÌ„ched into the meane sea Sone after the Corynthians sente fyue houndred men aswell of their people as of the Arcadyans whyche they had soulded or hnyred of whome Alexarchus the Corynthian was Chief and wyth them there were two houndred Scycionians vnder the conduct of Sargeus Sycionien On the other syde the .xxv. galleys whyche the Corynthians hadde sent the wynter precedynge agaynste the twenty of the Athenyans that abodde at Naupacte for to kepe the passage were foranempste the sayde Naupacte so longe as the Barques whyche caâ—yedde their souldyars passed by At the self same beginnynge of the sprynge tyme whan the walles were buildinge about Decelea the Athenyans sente .xxx. galleys aboute Peloponese vnder the conducte of Charycles to whome they comomaunded that he shulde go fromthence in their name vnto the Argiues to requyre them that they woolde sende and fournishe wyth men for to fylle the sayde galleys accordynge to their allyance and on the other syde in ensuing their determynation touching the affayres of Sycille that they shulde sende thider Demosthenes wyth .lx. shippes of theirs and fyue of those of Chio. In the whyche there was twelue houndred warryours Athenyans and of the Islanders asmanye as they coulde assemble and of theire othere allyes all those that they myght recouer beinge men of warre and commaunde the sayde Demosthenes that in passynge he shulde ioygne wyth Charicles and bothe togiders shulde pillaige and ouerronne the couÌ„trey Marytimate of Laconie The whyche Demosthenes sailled fromthence straight to the poarte of Egyne wherin he attended those of his souldyars that were not yet come and lykewyse the retourne of Charicles who was gone vnto the Argyues ¶ Howe the Syracusains and the Athenyans had a battaille wythin the porte of the Cytie aswel by sea as by land wherof both parties had victorie in dyuers respectes and of many other combates and feats of warre whyche were done in the same Siege ☞ The .iiii. Chapter IN the self tyme that the thynges abouesayde were done in Grece Gylippus came agayne to Sarragosse wyth greate nomber of people that he hadde assembled and wythdrawin oute of the Cyties of Sycille wherin he hadde bene So he
fought a longe tyme they were constrayned to retyre into the same place fromwhence they were departedde but wyth muche greater disaduantage for they founde there no victuailles and also the lodging was not so easye as yt had bene the daye precedynge for the oppression whiche the ennemyes dydde make agaynste theyme And neuerthelas the morowe in the mornynge they toke eftsones the waye and whatsoeuer empeschemente the sayedde ennemyes made agaynste theym they passed further vntyll the sayed passage whiche they founde closed with wall and aboue vpon the same a greate bende of footemen bearyng the moste parte shieldes and targettes and though the place was very straight yet the Athenyans marched fourth straight and trauaylled themself for to gett yt by force But being repoulsed by the greate nomber of ennemyes that were in the aduantagious place to wytt on hygh on the rocke fromwhence they might the more sturdely cast their dartes and their shott they were constreyned to retyre and plante themself there without doing any thyng for that chiefly that in that same warre there was greate thondrynges rayne lyke as comonly it dyd in the same countrey after the haruest tyme which was already bigon wherof they were greatlye astonyed and somuche the more that they iudged that the same was a prenostication of their destruction Gylippus than perceyuynge that they were planted there he sent one partie of his men by a syde waye for to reyse vppe soubdainely a wall in the waye wherethrough the Athenyans were come to the ende to enclose theym at their backes but they that parceyuedde it sente thider a a bende of theirs which empesched and repoulsed theym and that done they also retyred nigh to a felde which was nigh to that same passage where they soiourned that same night The day following they being eftsones in the waye the Syracusayns and Gylippus came to charge vpon theÌ„ on all sydes and so dyd hurte many of them And whan the same Athenyans charged vpon them they retourned And as they were retourned backe and put themself to iourney they came afreshe to charge on the hyndermost wherby they did hnrte many of them for to cause the whole army to reste and tarye but euery man defending best himself against the charginges iourneyed from fyue to sixe stades vntyll they came vnto a felde where they rested and the Syracusains retourned fromthence into their campe Nycyas and Demosthenes parceyuing than that their case was in euyll state and condition aswell for lacke whiche they generally had of victuailles as also for the greate multitude whiche they hadde of their hurte people and that they alwayes had the ennemyes bifore on all sydes whiche cessed not to assaille them they determyned to goo fromethence that same nyght secretly not by the way whiche they had bigonne but by an other clene contrarye leadynge vnto the sea whiche did go crokedly frome Catana to Camerin and towardes Gela and certen other cyties whiche be wholy apposit or directly the one against the other and of the other syde of Sycille aswell Grekes as barbarous And so they didde lighten greate fyers in dyuers places through their campe for to cause the ennemyes to vnderstande that they moued not But as it chanceth alwayes in suche case whan a great hoste dislodgeth it self for feare chiefly in the nyght and in the countrey of ennemyes and also hauing them veray nygh all the campe was generally in greate feare terror and tumulte Neuerthelas Nycias who had the former warde with his men departed furst keping good order and he iourneyedde a good space bifore the other but one partie of the bende which Demosthenes conducted and as in a manner the moytie therof skatered abroade and dyd breake their order in their passing Notwtstanding they iourneyed somuche that at the breake â—f the daye they were at the sea syde and did take away which was named EloruÌ„ alongest that same sea by whiche they would haue gone vnto the ryuer of Cyparis afterwardes a longest the same through the high countrey keping theÌ„self farre of froÌ„ the sea hoping that the Syracusains whom they had demanded to come to mete the would haue come to encountre theÌ„ there But they being arryued at the ryuers syde founde that there was a certene nomber of meÌ„ which the Syracusains had sent thider for to kepe defende that same passage whiche had stopped the other syde of the water with paales with rampares for to empesche and lett the shallowe passages howbeit they were fewe people and were incontinently repoulsed by the sayd AtheniaÌ„s who hauing passed that same ryuer iourneyed vnto an other ryuer that is called Erineus keping the waye that the guides had taught appoyncted for theÌ„ Duryng this time the Syracusains their allies whan the day was come vnderstanding that the AtheniaÌ„s were departed froÌ„thence in the night were veray angry and had suspicion that Gilippus had bene consenting to their departure yet neuerthelas did put theÌ„self in waye for to poursue the sayd ennemys with all diligence following their tracke which was right easy to knowe so that they did ouertake them about the houre of dynner And the furste that they founde were those of the bende of Demosthenes who being troubled in the iourney which they had made that same night wente most softly and wtout great order and so the former of the Syracusains did begyn to eskarmouche against them with their horsemen who enuironed them incontinently on all sydes constrayned theym for to ioigne togiders all in one place And somuch the more that they were already separated into two bendes for that the Nycias who knewe well that it was no time to arrest therefor to fyght was with his bende alredy bifore him more than a houndred fifty stades caused his men to auauÌ„ce forwardes the most that they myght wtout arresâ—inge in any parte but whaÌ„ they were forced for to defende theÌ„self But Demosthenes coulde not do so for that that he was empesched by manye meanes insomuche as he was departed out of his lodging after the other and insomuche as he had the artiere warde he was the furst that the ennemys shulde haue assailled For this cause he was coÌ„strayned to geue himself asmuche to kepe his meÌ„ ready to fight being aduertised that the Syracusains followed theÌ„ as also to cause theÌ„ to passe on their way in such sorte that by slacking his iourney he was ouertakeÌ„ by his ennemys wherof he his people were afrayde astonyed And somuch the more that he was ouertaken in a place that was enuironed with rampars and in a way where there was Olyue trees on euery syde whereby they were incontinently troubled with stroakes of dartes that â—â—â—ir ennemys did cast against them on all sydes who would not assaille them for to fyght hande to hande with all their strength for that seinge them in dispaier of their welth it semed vnto theÌ„ not to be
him whatsoeuer busynes that they mighte haue So he sailled to lande at Coryce where he soiourned certen dayes During this tyme the army of the Athenyans departed from Samie arryued at Chio and they came to lodge themself at the fote of a hill that was betwene the porte and them so that they whiche were within the said porte perceyued them not nother also the Athenyans did knowe what the other did Bitwene both Astiochus was aduertised by letters frō Pedaritus how some Erithriens which had bene prisoners at Samie were released by the Athenyans and sent to Erythree to cause the cytie to rebelle So he incontynentlye launched fourth to returne thider and it failled very litle but that he had fallen into the Athenyans handes neuerthelas he came thider in saulftie where he foūde Pedaritus who was lykewyse come thider for the self cause And so both of thē made great inquyrie of the same treatie did take many of them that were suspected But being infourmed that no naughty thynge had bene there perpetrated but that the same was faigned for th◠welth of the citie they absolued them all and retourned fromthence the one to Chio the other to Mylet Duringe thys time the Athenyans ships that passed out of Coryce vnto Argiue encountred three longe ships of the Chiens which incontinently as they had perceyued them they followed to ouerwhelme thē did geue them the chase vnto their poarte where they with great paine could skarcely saue themself by cause of the tempest that came vpon them And thre ships of the Athenyans that followed them into the porte perished and were loste and they that were wtin partly taken and partly slayne The other ships retyred into a porte that was vnder Mymante named Phenicuate◠and fromthence they sailled to Lesbos where they reysed vp newe rampares In that same wynter Hippocrates Lacedemonian with tenne ships of the Thuryens ouer which Doricus sonne of Diagoras one of the three chiefest of the army and with two other to wit one of Laconie the other of Sarragosse did rule or gouerne passed through Peloponese to Cnide which cytie was alredy rebelled agaynst Tyssaphernes Whereupon those of Mylet vnderstāding the coming of that same army by sea sente the moytie of their ships for to warde defende the said cytie of Cnide and for to succour certen barques that were coming out of Egipte charged wyth men which Tyssaphernes caused to come and ordayned to mete wyth them the ships that were in the hauon of Triopie which was a rocke in the promoutorie situated on the heigh of the regyon of Cnyde vpone the whych standeth a temple of Apollo But the Athenyans aduertised hereof whyche were at Samie preuented the sayd shipps that were at Triopie to the nomber of syxe and dyd take them neuerthelas the men that were within them saued themself on lande And fromthence they came to Cnyde the whych failled but lytle that they had takene it at the arryuall for that that it had no walles notwithstandynge they were repoulsed And yet neuerthelas the day following they dyd geue them an other assaulte but they dyd lesse proffitt therein for that that the men of the towne had in the nyght better rampared their dyches Also the shypmen that were saued in the lande at Triopie were comme thider in the self night wherby the Athenyans seynge that they coulde do nothinge there they retourned to Samie In the selfsame tyme Astyochus beinge come to Mylet he founde his armye ryght well appoincted with all thinges for that that the Peloponesyans fournished ryght well to the payemente of souldyars who besides that same had greate and muche monney for the butie whych they had gotton at Lasus And on the other parte the Mylesians were all desposed to doo that whiche was possible for them for their partie But forsomuche as the laste allyance whiche Chalcideus had made wyth Tyssaphernes semed not to be ample inough but defectuous and faulty in some things which made more for the partie of Tyssaphernes than for them they refourmed and renewed yt an other tyme by the meane of Theramenes in the manner to followeth The seconde treatie of allyance bitwene the Lacedemonyans and the kinge Dareus HEre followe the articles conuenaūtes and treaties of amytie bitwene the Lacedemonians and their allyes of the one paatie and the kynge Dareus his children and Tyssaphernes on the other partie Furst that all the cyties contreys landes and seigniories whiche do at this present apperteigne to kyng Dareus that haue bene hys fathers or other his predecessours shall remayne franke and free vnto him in manner that the Lacedemonyans nor their allyes may not go thider for to warre or to do damage therin and that they may not exacte nor take any trybute there And lykewyse that the kynge nor any of those whiche be vnder him may do damage nor exacte any trybute in the landes of the Lacedemonians nother of their allyes And moreouer that if any of the said parties requireth any thinge of the other if that yt be graūted vnto him in like case that same partie that shall haue receyued the plaisir shal be boūde to render it to the other whā he shal be therunto required And that the warre whiche they haue begonne agaynste the Athenyans shal be followed to the ende generally by the sayde parties and shall not be lefte of by the one wythout the othere That all the men of warre whyche shal be leuied in the kynges countreys by his ordenance shal be payde wyth hys monney And if any of the confederated cyties shall come to inuade any of the kynges prouinces the other shall forbydde and kepe them from it to his power And to the contrary yf any of the kynges countreis or subiectes come to inuade any of the confederated cyties or their lande the same kyuge shal empesche and forbydde them with his power After this treatie made Theramenes hauing delyuered his ships to Astiochus departed thence was neuer after sene During this time the Athenians that were cōme frō Lesbos against Chio hauing assieged it by lande and by sea did geue thēself to enclose the porte of Delphinie which was a strong place on the lande side with walle and also it had a porte sufficiently suer was not veray farre from Chio wherby the cytezeins were greatly troubled aswell for many greate losses damages whiche they had already susteigned by occasyon of the warre as also for that that the inhabytantes were yll agreinge amongest themself and muche troubled otherwaies For Pedaritus had caused already Tideus the Ionian with all his men to dye for that that he suspected them to haue confederation with the Athenyans By reason of which acte the reste of the cytezens whych were brought to a small nomber did not truste the one the othere and therby it semed vnto them thot nother they nother
to come into Eubee But for that that thaffaire of Chio semed vnto theÌ„ more vrgent for the necessitie wherin the towne was they refused the other enterprise departed froÌ„thence for to saile to succour it And passing nigh to Orope they descriued the AtheniaÌ„s ships that were departed froÌ„ Chalce whiche kepte the mayne sea neuerthelas for that that they sailled to diuers voiages the one came not against the other but rather toke euery one his way to witt the Athenians to Samie the PeloponesiaÌ„s to Milet forsomuch as they perceiued wel that Chio coulde not be succoured withoute battaille and in the meane time the ende of the wynter didde come whiche was the twentith yeare of the warre which Thucidides hath writtoÌ„ In the beginning of the furst spring Dercilidas Spartian was sent with a smal nomber of men into Hellespont for to cause the towne of Abide to rebell against the AtheniaÌ„s whiche is a coloine of the Melesiens On the other syde the Chiensâ— seing that Astyochus sâ—acked somuch to come to their succour they were constrayned to come to fight in the sea agaynst the Athenians vnder the conduct of Leontes the Spartian who they had made their chief after the deathe of Pedaritus in the tyme that Astyochus was yet at Rhodes was come with Antisthenes froÌ„ Mylet Now they had xii strange ships that were come to thier succours to witt fyue of the Thuâ—iens foore of the Syracusains one of Anea one of Milet one of Leontes and xxxvi of theirs And so all those that were hable to fight yssued fourth and came to assaulte the Athenians very boldely hauynge chosen a place of aduantage for theymself And the combate was sharpe dangerous on both sydes wherin the Chiens shulde not haue had the woorse but the night came vpon theym which departed them and the Chiens retourned into the towne In the self time Dercilidas being arryued by lande in Hellesponte the towne of Abide did fourthwith render it self into his handes of Pharnabazus and twoo dayes after the citie of Lamsaque dyd the lyke whereof Strombichides who was afore Chio beynge aduertised he came soubdaynly with xxiiii Athenians shipps for to succour and defende that same quarter amoÌ„gest the which ships there was barques that caryed meÌ„ at armes Being thaÌ„ arryued at Lamsaque hauing vainquisshed in battaille those of the towne that yssued fourth againste theym he did take euen at one comynge the sayd towne for that that it was not walled togiders with all those whiche were within the shipps afterwardes hauinge restored the free men into the towne he sailled fourthwith vnto Abyde But seinge that there was no hope to take it nor apparence for to assiege it he departed and did go to Seste which is a cytie in the countrey of Cheronese situated directly foranempst Abyde the whiche the Medes had holden for a certene time and therin he did putt a good garnison for the saulf garde and defence of all the countrey of Hellesponte But in thies enterfeates by cause of the departure of Dercilidas the Chiens also the MelesiaÌ„s were maisters of the sea whereupon Astyochus vnderstandynge the combate by sea whiche the same Chiens had had againste the sayd Athenians and the departure of the sayd Strombichides he was more anymated and assured therein And so he dyd come wyth two shyps and no more to Chio and there he toke with hym all those that he founde there and sailled straight to Samie And seynge that the ennemyes woulde not yssue fourthe to fight for that that they trusted not well the one the other they retourned to Mylet Howe a greate deuision happened amongest the Athenyans aswell within the cytie as wythout chiefly in the army that was in Samie by meane of the change of the estate and gouernance of the same whiche did greatly endomage them ☞ The .x. Chapter THe differente and controuersie of the sayd Athenyans was for that that in the same tyme the estate and gouernance of the towne had bene changed at Athens oute of the power of the comon people vnto a smalle nomber For Pysander and hys compaignions beynge retourned to Samie brought the army that was there to their wylle and obeyssance and one greate parte of the Samiens chiefly they exhorted the prycipalle of the towne to take the gouernance thereof into their handes althoughe that there were manye whyche were wyllynge to maignteigne the common estate wherby happened greate deuision and sedition bitwene them Also the AtheniaÌ„s that were there in the armye hauynge consulted vpon the thyng amonge themself and seynge that Alcibiades was not earnest in the matter they concluded to forsake hym and not to calle hym agayne for that that it semed to theyme that thoughe he dyd come agayne into the cytie yet shulde he not be conueniente nor mete for to order and gouerne the affaires vnder the gouernance of a small nomber but rather was expediente that those that were there of the estate whereof was question shulde deuyse the manner howe that practique shulde be conductedde and also howe the feate in warre shulde be pursued Whereunto euery man of theym dyd readely offer to contrybute of hys oune monney and all other thinges necessarye knowynge that they shulde no more laboure for the comons nor for any other but for theymself And so they sente againe Pysander and the moytie of the ambassadours whyche had bene sente towardes Tyssaphernes vnto Athenes for to geue order there in the affaires and charged them that through al the cyties whiche they shulde passe of the obeyssance of the Athenyans that they shulde comytte the gouernance into the hande of a smalle nomber of the pryncypalles and the other parte of the sayd ambassadours also departed euerye one dyd goo into sondry places for to do the lyke And also they ordeyned that Dyotrephes who was thaÌ„ at the siege of Chio shuld go into the prouince of Thrace which was delyuered into his gouernance who in his departure from the sayd siege passing through Thasse abolisshed the comon estate and comytted the gouernance into the handes of a small nomber of men But being departed oute of the cytie the greate parte of the Thessyans hauing enclosed their towne with wall aboutes one moneth after his departure perswadedde themself to haue no more nede to be gouerned by those which the Athenians had sett there nor by yâ— meane to remaine vnder their obeyssance but rather hopedde within shorte time to recouer entier lybertie through the ayde of the Lacedemonyans for that that their cytizeins which were bannisshed by the Athenians were withdrawin to Lacedemonie and sollycited with their power that shyppes shulde be sente vnto theym and that the towne myghte rebelle So it chanced vnto theyme hooly in that same as they desyred whiche is that the cytie wythoute anny danger was commytted into their lybertie and the commons whyche were bente to speake agaynste the estate of a
shoare and trymmed those whiche were not ready and the other mounted vpon the walles that were at the entrynge of the sayd poorte for to defende it But the Peloponesyans shyps hauynge passed Sunie saylled or kepte their way bitwene Thorice and towardes Prastie and came fromethence to aboorde at Orope Whiche parceyued the Athenyans did soubdainly apprehende and take the maroners which they founde readye lyke as the custome is to doo in a cytie whyche is in Ciuille warre and in greate danger of ennemyes for to wythstande yt For also all the comforte and succours whyche they than had was oute of Eubea the coaste of the lande beynge occupyed by the ennemyes And so they sente Tymocrates with the shyps that they coulde than make readye into Erithree whyche after that he was arryued hauynge in all xxxvi shypps those same comprysed which were bifore alreadye in Eubea he was constrayned to fight forsomuche as Agisandridas hauynge already dyned was departed frome Orope and dyd come agaynste Erethrie whiche is not distante from the said Orope but three skoare stades by sea The Athenyans than seynge the armye of the ennemyes comynge in battaylle agaynste theym they mounted soubdaynly into their shypps thynkynge that the souldyars shulde haue fourthwith followed theÌ„ but they were skatered through all the quarters of the towne for to make prouysion of victuailles for that that the burgeoses of the same had maliciously founde meane that there were no victuailles to be solde in the markett to the ende that the sayd souldyars being occupyed to serche victuailles through the towne they myght not in tyme mount into the shyppes and by that meane that the ennemyes myght betrapp or soubdaynely take them And also they in the reste conuenanted wyth the ennemyes to make theym a signe whan they shoulde perceue that yt were tyme for to assaile the sayd Athenyans shypps Whyche thynge they dyd And notwythstandynge all this the Athenyans that were in the shyps wythin the poorte susteigned a good whyle the force of the enemyes but at the ende they were constrayned to putt theymself in flyght So they were followed by the ennemyes euene vnto the shoare of the sea whereupon those whyche retyredde into the towne as into the lande of frendes were by the burgeosses villaynously slayne But those whiche retyred into the fortes that the Athenyans helde were saued And lykewyse the shyps that coulde saylle vnto Chalcide were saued But the other that were to the nomber of xxii were takene with all those that were in them maronners and othere whereof some were slayne and the other deteigned prysoners and by reasone of the same victorye they reysed vp there a Trophee and wythin a small tyme after they brought all the Islande of Eubea into their obeyssance excepte Oree whiche the same Athenyans dyd holde and also compounded with all the places borderynge thereaboutes Whan the newes of the same ouerthrowe dyd comme to Athenes all the people were afrayde asmuche or more than of annye thynge that had euer happened vnto theym For although that the ouerthrowe whyche they had receyued in Sycille had bene of greate ymportance and many other losses whyche they had had at dyuers tymes yet the hoste whyche was at Samie beynge tourned and rebelled agaynste theym and not hauynge nother more shyps nor men to putt in theym and they theymselues moreouer in suche dissension in the cytye that they dyd but attende and watche the houre for to inuade the one the othere to haue presently loste after so manye calamyties and myschances euene at one instante all the Islande of Eubea oute frome the whiche they had more succours than oute of their oune lande of Athenes it shoulde haue bene a ryght strange thynge yf they had not bene thereof astonyed And somuche the more that the sayd Islande beynge so nyghe vnto the cytie they feared greatly leste the ennemyes in the furye and heate of the same victory would haue come fourthwyth all wyth one power into Pyreus the whych being wholye vnprouyded of shypps if they had had couraige they myght well haue done and chiefly they myght haue assaulted the cytie the whiche by that meane shulde haue come yet into greater deuysione or at the leste assieged it By whych doynge those that were in the armye by sea of the Athenyans in Ionum thoughe that they were aduersaries and agaynste the gouernemente of the foore houndredde shoulde yet haue bene constrayned for their particuler interest and for the welth of their cytie to habandone forsake the sayed countrey of Ionum for to come to the succours of their cytie And by that meane all the countrey of Ionum of Hellesponte and the Islandes that be in that same sea aboutes Eubea and in effecte all the Empire and the seigniorye of the Athenyans shulde haue come into the power of the Athenyans But the Lacedemonyans bothe in the same and in manye othere thynges were muche proffytable to the Athenyans and pryncipallye throughe the multytude and dyuersitie of people that there in their compaignie who were muche differente contrary and disagreynge bothe in wylle in manner of lyuing For some of them were hasty and dyligente the other slacke and loyterynge some hardye and the other fearefull and specially touchyng the feate by sea they were in great discorde whych redounded to the greate proffytte of the Athenyans And that myght be welle knowyn by the Syracusayns Who for that that they were all of one accorde and of one wylle dyd greate thynges and had faire victoryes And for to retourne to the hystorye the Athenyans hauynge lerned theis newes in whatsoeuer manner and necessitie that they were they neuerthelas armedde twentye shyppes and fourthwyth at the selfe houre they assembled togider in the self place of Pyreus and at an other tyme in a place whyche they name Picne wherein they had at othere tymes accustomed to assemble theymself and it was concludedde in the same assemblies that the foore houndred shoulde be deposed and that the auctorye shoulde be in the handes of fyue thousande of the whyche nomber all those myght be that coulde beare armure and that would sarue in the offyce without wages and whosoeuer would do otherwyse shoulde be abhorred and execrable Afterwardes there were manye othere assemblies wherein dyuers lawes and ordonances were made touchynge the admynistration of the common welthe And in the begynnynge therof it semed to me that they made manye good thynges for the conductynge of the common affaires to the welthe of the cytie reducynge and bryngyng the dissension that â—as amongeste theyme by cause of the particuler and common gouernement vnto a good meane whiche was occasion for to cause manye euilles thynges that were done in the cytie to ceasse and by that meane maigteigned yt Moreouer they ordeyned that Alcibiades and the other which were wyth hym shoulde be reapealled and called home agayne and lykewyse that yt shoulde be commaunded to theyme that were at Samie that they shoulde
comme for to ayde to geue order in the affaires of the citie In thies enterfeates Pysander and Alexicles and some othere of the nomber of foore houndred wythdrewe themself to Decelea But Aristarchus whiche was their chief wythout other compaignie of theyme dyd take a certene nomber of Archers whyche were there of the moste barbarous or estrangers and departed fromethence to Oenoe whyche ys a castelle that the Athenyans helde in the frontiers of the Beotiens whome the Beotiens dydde kepe assieged by cause of certene murthers that those of the sayd castelle had commytted and done to their people and there were wyth him certene Beotians that were comme of their oune mynde Aristarchus being there arryued he treated wyth the sayd Corynthians and Beotians to cause the place to be rendred vnto theym And so he dyd parlamente and speake with those that were wythin yt Doynge theyme to vnderstande that the appoynctmente was made of alle the othere differences and questions bitwene the Lacedemonyans and the Athenyans Wherfore it was requisitt that they shoulde render the sayd castell to the Beotians Unto whyche wordes and declarations those that were wythin it who knewe nothynge of that whyche was done as people that be assieged dydde geue credytt and fayth for that specially that the sayd Aristarchus was the chief of the foore houndred and so rendred the place by composition In suche manner the gouernemente of the smalle nomber ceassed at Athens and by that meane the sedition and deuision of the cytizeins Howe the armyes by sea aswell of the Athenians as of the Peloponesians sailledde into Hellesponte and there prepared themself for to fyght ☞ The .xiiii. Chapter IN the self season the Peloponesians that were at Mylet dyd knowe manifestly that they were abused by Tyssaphernes aswelle for that that none of those to whome he had commaunded whan he departed to saylle at Alpendus that they shoulde haue payde the sayd Peloponesyans their soulde or wages nother hadde delyuered theym any thynge nor also there was any newes of the comyng againe of the same Tyssaphernes nor of the shypps that he shulde bryng out of Phenice But Phillippe that was gone thider with him had wrytton to Myndarus chief of the army by sea that he neded not to attende or tarye for the sayd shyps and a Spartian named Hippocrates who was at Pharsalide had wrytton the self thyng For that cause the sayd souldiars being solycited and instanced by Pharnabazus who desyred with the ayde of the sayed armye by sea of the Peloponeâ—ians to cause all the townes which the Athenians helde in his prouynce for to rebelle lyke as Tyssaphernes had done Myndarus chief of that same armye allyed and confederated hymself wyth hym hopynge to haue some more aduantage of hym than of Tyssaphernes And for to doo the thynge more secrettly bifore that the Athenyans that were in Samie parceyued yt wyth the greateste diligence that he coulde he departed frome the sayd Mylet wyth lxxiii shyppes and dyd take hys iourney towardes Hellespont whider in the self somer were also gone xii othere the whiche had made many coursynges and pyllaiges in one quarter of Cheronese But he being in the goulf of the sayd Cheronese was taken with a storme or pyrrye and was constrayned to wythdrawe to Icare there to soiourne fyue or syxe dayes attendynge that the sea myghte be appaised and quietted afterwardes to saille to Chio. In the meane tyme Thrasylus who was at Samie was aduertised howe that same Myndarus was departed from Milett So he departed wyth lv shyppes in the greateste haste that he coulde for to be the furste in Hellespont But beynge aduertised that the armye of the ennemyes was at Chio and thynking that it would haue soiourned there certene dayes he set espyes into the Isle of Lesbos and also in the mayne lande that is in the quarter oueranempste the Isle to the ende that the sayd ennemyes shoulde not passe but that he shoulde be aduertised thereof And he wyth the reste of the armye saylledde to Methymna where he caused flower and othere victuailles to be takene in for to saille frome Lesbos to Chio yf that the ennemyes woulde longe haue soiourned there And also they were mynded to saille to the cytie of Erese for to recouer it if they coulde for that that yt was rebelled frome the Lesbyâ—ns by meane of certene bannysshed men out of Methymna whiche were of the pryncipalles of the cytye Who hauynge called out of the cytie of Cumes aboutes fyftie good men their frendes and allyes soulded or waged aboutes three houndred souldyars of the mayne lande vnder conducte of a citizeine of Thebes whiche they had chosene for the amytie allyance that they had wyth the Thebayns were saylled by sea straight to Methymna thynking to enter therin by force but their enterpryse did take no effecte For they being entred into it the Athenians that were at Mytilene in garnison did come soubdainly to the succours of the burgeoses and hauynge sought agaynste the sayd bannysshed men constrayned theym to yssue fourth agayne in the night out of the towne and dyd go straight to Erese the which they constrayned to receiue them and to rebell from the Mythileniens Thrasilus with all his armye than beinge there arryued prepared himself for to assault the towne And on the othere syde Thrasibulus who had bene aduertised at Samie of the comyng of the sayd bannysshed men to Erese was already come thider bifore with fyue shyps and moreouer two other shyppes dyd arryue there after the comyng of Thrasillus whiche came out of Hellesponte and sailled fromethence home to their houses in suche sorte that aswelle wyth the shypps that were at Methymna as wyth the other that were come thider there were to the nomber of lxvii which caryed men artillery and Engynes for to take Erese In the meane tyme Myndarus wyth the Peloponesyans shyppes hauynge made prouision of victuailles for the space of twoo dayes at Chio and receyued the payemente of the souldyars by those of the towne to wytte xliii pence for euery one the thirde daye they launched fourth and fearynge to encountre and mete the shypps that were at Erese they toke the mayne sea and leauynge the Isle of Lesbos on the leafte hande they came alongest the mayne lande for to aboorde in the towne of Carterie in the lande of Phocaide where he dyned wyth his bende And incontinentlye as they hadde dyned they passed alongeste of the lande of Cumes and dydde comme for to supper in the towne of Arginusse whyche is in the mayne lande directly agaynste Mytilene And after that they had supped they saylled moste parte of the nyghte so longe that aboutes none they arryued at Hamatus whiche is a towne in the mayne lande foranempst Methymna where they soubdainlye dyned Sithens after dynner passynge foranemste Lecte Larisse Amaxitie and othere places of
ioigned that it semed not to theym good that the same estate of foore houndredde shoulde endure wherefore euerye one of theym inforced hymself the moste that he myght to acquire and get credytt with the people for to be pryncipall in auctorytie Neuerthelas those which were the pryncipalles of the sayd foore houndred trauailed to the contrarye somuche as they might and chiefly Phrinicus who whilest that he was Duke and chief of those that were at Samie had bene contrary or aduersary to Alcibiades And also Astiochus who had alwayes bene contrary to the common estate and lykewyse Pysander Antiphon and the other that were the moste puissante in the cytie who after the tyme that they had embrased and takene the admynistration and also after the change and sedition that had bene at Samie sente ambassadours of their oune bodyes and conueyde them to Lacedemonie and wente aboute to maignteigne the gouernemente of the smalle nomber wyth all their power and also caused the walle of Eetione to be repaired and heighthened And after the retourne of their ambassadours whcihe they had â—ent to Samie seing that many of their oune secte changed their wylle who had bene taken for constante and fully determyned in the affaire they sente readelye Antiphon and Phrynicus with tenne other of their bende eftesones to the Lacedemonyans and did geue them charge for to appoynct with them for and vpon the lesser euyll that they myght prouyded that the appoynctmente shulde be tollerable And this did they for feare that they had aswell of those that were at Athens as of those whiche were at Samie And as touchynge the wall that they repaired and heighthenened at Eetione they dyd it as Theramenes sayed and those that were wyth hym not somuche for to empesche that they whiche were at Samie might not enter into the porte Pyreus as for to receiue the army by sea and by lande of the ennemyes whaÌ„ they would forsomuch as the same place of Eetione ys at the entrynge into the poorte of Pyreus in manner of a cressente or half a circle whereby the walle whyche they made for the coaste of the lande rendred the place so fortefyed that it shulde be in their power wyth a small nomber of people that they myght putt wythin yt to suffer the shyppes that shulde comme to enter or for to empescher or kepe theym fourth for that that the same place ioigneth to the other tower of the poorte whyche hathe a veray straite entrynge and besydes that reparation which they made at Eetione they repayred the olde walle that was wythoute Pyreus of the coaste of the lande and buylded a newe wall wythin yt of the coaste of the sea and bitwene both made great halles and Stoarehouses into the whiche they constraynedde euerye one of the towne to brynge and bestowe the corne whiche he had in hys house and also the same that was from without by sea they caused to be discharged there and they that were mynded to haue therof were constrayned to go and buy it there Theramenes had already bifore that the later ambassadours wente frome the foore houÌ„dred to Lacedemonie diuulged and opened theis thinges to witt that the foore houndred did make the sayd reparations prouisions for to receyue the enemys But after that they were retourned without doing any thing he did speake publishe more openly that the same wall which was caused to be made shulde be cause of puttinge the estate of the cytie into danger for at the self tyme dyd come thider xlii ships of the ennemis wherof the one parte were Italians Siciliens that came froÌ„ Peloponese to witt of those that were sente into Eubea certene other were of those that were lefte in the porte of Ye in the countrey of Laconie of whom Agisandridas sonne of Egisander the Spartian was chief wherupon Theramenes sayd that they were not arryued there somuche to saylle their voiage of Eubea as for to ayde those that made the sayed walle of Eetione and that if they made not verye good watche there was greate danger leaste they shoulde take Pyreus secreatly or by stealthe And that whyche Theramenes and those that were wyth hym dyd speake was not wholy lyes nor sayed for enuye For truely those whyche helde the estate of a small nomber at Athens would gladly if they myghte haue gouerned the cytie in lybertie and vnder their auctoritie and to haue bene hable to commaunde the subiectes in the name of the sayd cytie as representing the common welth But if they coulde not defende and maigteigne their auctoritie they were determined hauing the porte the ships and the forteresse of Pyreus in their hande to lyue there in suertie fearing least if the people dyd retourne vnto their former common estate they shulde furst be destroyedde And if than they myght not saue and defende theymeself there rather than to fall into the handes of the people they determyned to lett the ennemyes into Pyreus but so that they shulde not haue nother the shypps nor the fortresses in their handes and to capitulate and conferre wyth them â—ouchynge the estate of the cytie the beste that they coulde so that their parsones myght be saued For thies respectes they kept good watche and warde on the walles in the portes and in the reste they aduaunced theymself the moste that they myght to buylde the places where the ennemyes myght haue entryng and passage forth fearyng to be soubdainly takene and preuented the which enterpryses and delyberations were furst deuysed and treated vpon amonge a fewe people But sithens Phrynicus after hys retourne oute of Lacedemonie was hurte in the myddest of the markett place by one of those that warded wheeupon anone after hys retourne frome the Palais he dyed and the same man that dyd hurte hym fledde awaye But an Argiue that had ayded hym was by order of the foore houndred taken who beynge racked and demaunded to tell who had caused hym to do it coulde name no parsone And he sayd that he knewe none othere thynge but that in the house of the capytayne of the watche and of manye other cytizeins a great nomber of people dydde oftentymes assemble Whereupon and throughe occasion of that same newes Theramenes Aristocrates and the other whiche were of their confederatie aswell of the nomber of foore houndredde as other were the more chaffed and heated in their enterpryse And somouche the more that the armye by sea the whiche was at Ye hauyng takene the poorte and soiourne at Epidaure made manye coursynges and pillages in the lande of Egyne Wherefore Theramenes sayd that it was not to be bileued that if the sayd armye had bene wyllynge to saille into Eubea that it woulde haue come coursynge vntyll the goulphe of Egyne for afterwardes to retourne to Epidaure except that they had bene called by those whyche helde and fortefyed Pyreus lyke as he had alwayes said For this cause after
manye declarations made vnto the people for to cause the comons to reise agaynst theym it was fynally determyned to take Ye by force Ensuyng the which delyberation they that were busyed at the fortefyinge of Fetione ouer whome Aristocrates was chief did take one of the nomber of foore hoūdred whiche neuerthelas helde secretly the contrary parte named Alexicles and warded hym in hys oune house and after the same they toke many of them and amonge other one of the capytaynes that had the wardyng of Munichie named Hermon and that was done by consente of the greateste partie of the souldyars The whyche thynge beyng signefyed to the foore houndred whych at that tyme were in the pallais of the towne resarued those that was not pleased wyth the gouernemente determyned to take their armure weapons for to geue charge vpon Theramenes and those whiche were wyth hym Who excusynge hymselfe sayd that he was ready for to saille to Ye to apprehēde and take those that made suche nouelties And so he dyd take one of the capytaynes whyche was of hys wyll and mynde wyth hym and went to Pyreus Unto whom Aristarchus and the horsemen were aydynge whereby a greate and horrible tumulte was incontinently stirred vp For they that were wythin the cytie sayd playnly that Pyreus was taken and all those that were founde wythin yt were slayne And on the other syde those whiche were wythin Pyreus thought that al those that were in the cytie had come against them So that the auntyente of the cytie had ynough to do for to kepe the cytizeins frome puttynge theymeselfe alle into armure and therin Thucidides the Pharsalien trauaylled greatly with them Who hauyng had greate amytie and acquaintance wyth manye amongeste them laboured to appaise theyme wyth swete woordes requyrynge and exhortynge theyme that they shoulde not wylle to putt the cytie into danger of destruction hauynge the ennemyes so nyghe whyche layde in wayte for theyme by meanes of whyche declarations the furye was appaysedde and all wythdrewe theymeselues into their houses Durynge thys tyme Theramenes who was officier wyth the othere beynge at Pyreus made semblante wyth woordes onely to be angrye agaynste the footemen well armedde But Aristarchus and those of hys bende whiche were of the contrary faction or secte were for trouth throughly displeased agaynste theym The whyche for all that ceassed not to procede in their busynes and worke vntylle that some of theym demaunded of Theramenes whider yt semed vnto hym for the beste to fynyshe the walle or to rase it downe For beynge by hym aunswered that if it pleased theym to grynde it downe he woulde not therewyth be angry incontynently all those whiche wrought and manye of the othere that were in Pyreus mountedde vpon the sayed walle and in a veray shorte tyme broughte it to grounde And in that doynge to thintente to encouraige the people vnto their purpose and wyll they sayd with a lowde voyce vnto the standers by thies wordes Whosoeuer hath more desyre that the fyue thousande shall gouerne rather than the foore houndred he oughte to doo this whiche we doo And that dyd they saye for to declare that they were not wyllyng to sette vp agayne the common estate but rather shewed theymself concented that the fyue thousande shoulde gouerne fearynge leaste that it shulde eskape to any of those whyche pretended to haue anny gouernaunce in the sayd comon estate for to name it by errour or ouersyght by speakynge the one to other wherof the foore houndred were muche astonyed for that that they were not contente that the sayd fyue thousande shoulde haue auctorytie nor also vnderstande that they shulde be deposed For in that doyng it shulde come agayne to the comon estate also in geuynge theym the auctorytie yt shoulde in manner be all one the auctorytie beynge in so great nomber of men And so this facion of not declarynge the thynge helde the men in feare asmuche of the one syde as of the other The morowe followynge the foore houndredde althoughe that they were yet in greate trouble assembled togiders in the pallais On the other syde those whiche were in armure in Pyreus hauynge rased downe the walle and releassed Alexicles whome they had bifore apprehended they went into the Theatre or guylde hall of Dyonisius that is to saye of Bacchus whyche is bifore Munichie within Pyreus So they helde there their counseylle and after hauynge debated vpon that whyche they had to doo they concluded for to goo into the cytye and there to bestowe their armure in the place accustomed whyche thynge they dyd And they beynge vnarmed came manye cytizeins sente secretly frome the foore houndred whyche addressed and repayred to those whyche they knewe to be moste tractable prayinge theym that they shoulde kepe the peace wythoute makynge annye trouble or tumulte in the cytie and also to defende that the othere dydde yt not shewynge theyme that they all togiders myghte name the fyue thowsande that shulde haue the gouernance and putt into the same nomber the foore houndred to suche charge and aucthoritie as they shoulde thynke good for to kepe the cytye frome danger of comymnge into the power of the ennemyes Throughe whiche declarations and requestes whiche were made by dyuers men in dyuers places and to dyuers personaiges the people was greatly quyetted fearynge leaste their dissention shulde come to the ruyne and destruction of the cytie And in effecte yt was generallye agreede that at a certene day an vniuersall assemblie of the people shoulde be made wythin the temple of Bacchus Howe the Peloponesians had a vicorye by sea agaynst the Athenyans nigh to Erithree And afterwardes howe the gouernance of the foore houndredde was abrogated and the sedition in the cytie by that meane appaised ☞ The .xiii. Chapter THe people beyng at the day assigned assembled in the temple of Bacchus bifore that any thyng had bene proponed and declared newes came that xlii shyppes were departed frome Megare for to comme to Salamyne vnder the conducte of Agisandridas Which thyng semed to the people to be the effecte of that whiche Theramenes and his followers had sayd bifore that the armye by sea of the ennemyes would come straight to the walle whyche was in buyldynge and that for the same cause it was expediente for to rase it downe And yt myghte be that Agisandridas kept hymself aboutes Epidaure and other nygh places of a sett purpose knowyng the dissension wherein the Athenyans were for to execute some good thynge if he myghte see occasion and oportunitie The Athenyans vnderstanding than theis newes departed all ronnyng into Pyreus reputyng the same domesticall and intestyne warre more greate and more dangerous than the same of the ennemyes and beyng bifore their poorte more than if it had bene in anny other place further of For thys cause some dyd caste theymself into the shippes whiche were ready and tacled within the poorte the other they did bringe to