Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/185

112-116] SIEGE AND SURRENDER OF MELOS I'J^ The Athenian garrison in Pylos took much spoil from the Lacedaemonians ; nevertheless the Inroad of Argives latter did not renounce the peace and '«'" Pf^li»sia. Athett- . , • z' 1 L »«"* rt^ Pylos. Ouarrcl go to war, but only notified by a pro- ^^^^^^,, ^^^^,,^ ^„^ clamatlon that if any one of their own Connth. Check of people had a mind to make reprisals A thenians before Mehs. on the Athenians he might. The Corinthians next de- clared war upon the Athenians on some private grounds, but the rest of the Peloponnesians did not join them. The Melians took that part of the Athenian wall which looked towards the agora by a night assault, killed a few men, and brouglit in as much corn and other necessaries as they could ; they then retreated and remained inactive. After this the Athenians set a better watch. So the summer ended. In the following winter the Lacedaemonians had intended ii6 to make an expedition into the Argive The Lacedaemonians territory, but finding that the sacrifices intending to invade Ar- which they offered at the frontier were soi'^ are again deterred r 111 , J 1- A>' '/'^ sacrifices. unfavourable'^ they returned home. The Argives, suspecting that the threatened invasion was instigated by citizens of their own, apprehended some of them ; others however escaped. About the same time the Melians took another part of the Athenian wall ; for the fortifications j^j^jos taken and the were insufficiently guarded. Where- male inhabitants put to upon the Athenians sent fresh troops, ""'^'• under the command of Philocrates the son of Demcas. The place was now closely invested, and there was treachery among the citizens themselves. So the Melians were induced to surrender at discretion. The Athenians thereupon put to death all who were of military age, and made slaves of the women and children. They then colonised the island, sending thither five hundred settlers of their own. » Cp. V. 54, 55.