cause one ray of prosperity shone on them, were they at once to prefer claims which justified the accusations of their intended spread of dominion, in consequence of which the Peloponnesian war was declared? Finally, the Athenians sought from the Spartans impossible things, because the aforesaid cities belonged not to them, but to their allies. Thus the answer of the assembly was a virtual rejection of peace.

The Lacedæmonians, observing that on such a basis negotiation was impossible, and hoping that they might perhaps attain the desired end if they should discuss the question, not before the multitude excited by Kleon, but before a few prominent citizens, proposed to the assembly to appoint commissioners who might consider with them freely and deliberately suitable terms for a pacification. Upon that, Kleon violently attacked them. He knew from the first, he said, that they came with dishonest purposes, but now the thing was clear; they were unwilling to treat before the people, but wished to meet a few chosen individuals. If they had any honest and fair proposition to make, he called upon them to proclaim it openly to all. The Lacedæmonians remained silent, "abashed by the speaker and intimidated by the temper of the assembly." Their mission was terminated, and they were reconveyed in the trireme to Pylos.

Capture of Sphakteria.

The generals of the Athenians now refused to surrender the vessels to the Peloponnesians, alleging that they had violated the treaty by a fraudulent attempt to surprise the rock of Pylos. But, though by this violent act the Peloponnesians were for the present deprived of a naval force, the success of the Athenians was not so sure as at first appeared. The men in Sphakteria appear to have economized their provisions issued during the armistice; and bold Helots, encouraged by generous rewards, together with emancipation,

succeeded at intervals, even now, in landing provisions upon the island. On the other hand, the Athenians suffered from want of corn and water; watches were with difficulty maintained. They were also afraid lest winter should overtake them, and, instead of the expected trophies and booty, there arrived at Athens news of distress and pressing appeals for aid.

These tidings caused much disturbance among the Athenians at home. They regretted that they had not accepted the treaty. Kleon was the person most of all discomposed, as he saw that the people were displeased with him for misleading them. He at first declared that the informants from the camp had misrepresented the state of affairs. The latter replied that, if their accuracy were mistrusted, commissioners might be sent to verify it. The assembly at once chose Kleon and Theogenes for this duty. This, of course, did not suit the purpose of the former, who well knew that the facts were precisely as represented. He accordingly altered his tone at once. "If," said he, "ye really believe the report, do not send commissioners, nor delay and waste your opportunity, but sail at once against the men." Here, with his usual shamelessness, he attempted to take the part of a prosecutor instead of a culprit, and, alluding to Nikias, who was general at that time, tauntingly remarked' that "it was easy, if their generals were men, to sail with a force and capture the soldiers in the island. If he had himself been an officer, he would have done so."

These remarks excited strong indignation against Kleon. "And why then," was shouted on all sides, "do not you immediately set sail, if you suppose the matter so easy?" Nikias and his fellow generals also asserted that they were ready to grant any force which the orator might choose to ask.

Kleon, supposing that Nikias was merely pretending to give up the command to him, was ready to accept it. But

as soon as he saw that that general really wished to transfer it, he tried to retreat from his position, saying: "It is your duty to sail, not mine; you are the general, and not myself." Nikias, however, again urged him, formally renouncing the command of the forces against Sphakteria, and calling upon the Athenians to attest to it. They, as the multitude is ever wont to do,* the more Kleon tried to evade the duty, pressed Nikias the louder to give up the command to him, and called upon Kleon to sail. At last, seeing that there was no possibility of escape, and making a virtue of necessity, he came boldly forth, and said: "Do not think that I am afraid of the Lacedæmonians. I shall sail, taking with me no hoplites from the regular Athenian muster-roll, but only the Lemnian and Imbrian soldiers that are here, together with some peltasts from Enos in Thrace, and four hundred bowmen. With this force, in addition to the soldiers at Pylos, I engage in the space of twenty days either to bring the Lacedæmonians in Sphakteria as prisoners, or to kill them on the spot."

The Athenians were filled with laughter at this boast, but the prudent men were pleased, reflecting that they should gain one of two advantages: either to get rid of Kleon, which they rather hoped, or, if deceived in their opinion, to get the Lacedæmonians into their hands. The vote was accordingly passed for the immediate departure of Kleon. The latter caused Demosthenes to be named as his colleague in command, and information was also dispatched to Pylos that Kleon was coming with the desired rcënforcements.

The capture of the men was not so difficult as was supposed. With the reënforcements success was certain. The Athenians could obtain provisions and water from the coasts of the Peloponnesus and from the adjacent islands. Demosthenes had prepared everything necessary for the assault,

* Thucydides, iv, 28.

and as soon as he had received the assistance brought by Kleon he pushed the work eagerly. Sphakteria had recently become more open to assault, in consequence of an accidental conflagration of the wood which covered the island.

The Lacedæmonians resisted bravely for an entire day, but, after many had fallen, the remainder, surrounded on all sides, were asked by the Athenians to surrender. Most of them, incapable of further resistance, immediately signified compliance by dropping their shields and waving their hands above their heads. They were accordingly made prisoners, and were carried to Athens within the twenty days which Kleon had specified. The captives amounted to 292, the survivors of the original total of 420. Of these, 120 were Spartans, and had remained in the island seventy-two days.

Kleon, as may be supposed, now improved his opportunity. Since Demosthenes kept silent, and Kleon continued his boasting, the honor of the achievement was granted to this demagogue, who hence became all-powerful; he imagined himself a great general, and continued to urge the people to war. In vain did the Lacedæmonians submit repeated proposals of peace. The Athenians, animated by Kleon, were full of ardor for the prosecution of the war, and turned a deaf ear to them. For some time the Athenians were prosperous; they occupied and fortified the peninsula of Methone; deprived the Megarians of their harbor; became masters of Kythera, situated on the southern coast of Laconia; and with the coöperation of the Messenians continued to plunder the coasts and threaten a new Messenian war.

CHAPTER IV.

DEFEAT OF THE ATHENIANS.

Brasidas.

WE have already mentioned the name of Brasidas in connection with the hostilities at Pylos. This young Spartan had often distinguished himself during the war. In bravery, in adventurous valor, and in the exercise of arms and military tactics, he stood second to none in Hellas. Brasidas possessed the true military genius, which Sparta neither produced nor had any desire to produce. Her affairs were managed by an oligarchical association, which as a body could sometimes plan and execute great things; but no citizen was allowed any individual supremacy, because it would have become dangerous to the power of the rest. Thus, while the policy of Sparta was wholly selfish, Brasidas showed himself honest and sincere toward the allies, caring for their interests no less than for those of his own country, and as far as possible striving to harmonize their plans and purposes. Brasidas was in all respects a Panhellene, while the idea of Hellenism or of Hellenic nationality never prevailed at Sparta. In a word, Brasidas appeared rather a production of all Hellas than of the city to which he belonged by birth and education. If there was a city to which by genius and eloquence he would seem to be allied, that city was Athens and not Sparta.

How, then, from the education which the Spartan constitution fostered, and from that system which humbled every great thought and undertaking, was produced the greatest military mind of that epoch? Just as Athens, which gave birth to Aristeides, Kimon, and Perikles, now brought forth Kleon, the most depraved of the Greeks of that epoch. There are principles and sentiments which ennoble the most