Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/159

63-65] BLOCKADE OF POTIDAEA 43 the Athenians ; and when the signals were torn down the Olynthian auxiliaries retired within the walls, and the Macedonians rejoined the Athenians : thus on neither side did the cavalry take any part in the action. The Athenians raised a trophy and granted the Potidaeans a truce for the burial of their dead. Of the Potidaeans and their allies, there fell somewhat less than three hundred ; of the Athenians, a hundred and fifty, and their general Callias. The Athenians instantly blockaded the town on the side 64 towards the isthmus, raising a wall. The Athenians bhck- which they guarded; but the side ade Potidaea: at first towards Pallene was left open. They only on the side towards . the isthmus; after- were conscious that they were too weak ^^^j^^ ly ti,e help of both to guard the isthmus and, crossing reinforcements under over to Pallene, there to build another Pi'ormio on the side ,, , - , , , . r -i-j- towards Pallene. wall; they feared that their forces 11 di- vided would be attacked by the Potidaeans and their allies. Afterwards, when the Athenians at home heard that on the side towards Pallene Potidaea was not invested, they sent out sixteen hundred hoplites of their own under the com- mand of Phormio the son of Asopius. On his arrival in Pallene he made Aphytis his head-quarters, and brought his army by slow marches up to Potidaea, wasting the country as he went along. No one came out to meet him, and so he built a wall towards Pallene. Potidaea was now closely invested on both sides, while the Athenian ships, lying off the city, cut off all communication from the sea. Aristeus despaired of saving the place unless aid came 65 from Peloponnesus or he was relieved Aristeus leaves Po- rn some unforeseen manner. Being tidaea and carries on anxious to husband provisions, he pro- ' ;*""■ ""'^'^^ '^" posed to the garrison that they should avail themselves of the first favourable wind and sail away, leaving behind five hundred men, of whom he offered to be one. But they would not listen to him ; so, wanting to do the best he could, and to further the Peloponnesian interests beyond the walls, he sailed out undiscovered by