Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/85

102-104] BRASIDAS AT AMPHIPOLIS 77 night. The weather was wintry and somewhat snowy ; and so he pushed on all the quicker ; he was hoping that his approach might be known at Amphipolis only to those who were in the secret. There dwelt in the place settlers from Argilus, a town which was originally colonised from Andros ; these and others aided in the attempt, instigated some by Perdiccas, others by the Chalcidians. The town of Argilus is not far off, and the inhabitants were always suspected by the Athenians, and were always conspiring against Amphipolis. For some time past, ever since the arrival of Brasidas had given them an opportunity, they had been concerting measures with their countrymen inside the walls for the surrender of the city. They now revolted from the Athenians on that very night, and received him into their town, and before dawn=' they conducted the army to the bridge over the river, which is at some distance from the town. At that time no walls had been built down to the river, as they have since been ; a small guard was posted there. Brasidas easily overcame the guard, owing partly to the plot within the walls, partly to the severity of the weather and the suddenness of his attack ; he then crossed the bridge, and at once was master of all the possessions of the Amphipolitans outside the walls. For they lived scattered about in the country. The passage of the river was a complete surprise to the 104 citizens within the walls. Many who . I he country oiilsttle happened to be outside were taken. ii,e walls is now at his Others fled into the town. The Am- mercy. He is anxious phipolitans were in great consternation, to take the place before , - Thucyaides arrives, lor they suspected one another. "It is even said that Brasidas, if, instead of allowing his army to plunder, he had marched direct to the place, would probably have captured it. But he merely occupied a position, and overran the country outside the walls ; " Reading irpu tw. *• Or, ' It is said to have been the impression that Brasidas' Sec, omitting 'probably.'