This spirited conduct produced the desired
effect. For the Spartans, who were still waiting for their allies at
the Isthmus, saw themselves baffled in all their calculations, and
concluded that they had been misinformed by the Lesbians as to the
state of affairs at Athens; and hearing that their own coast-lands
were being ravaged by the Athenian fleet, they hastily decamped, and
the plan of a second invasion came to nothing.
The summer was now drawing to a close, and as yet no progress had been
made with the siege of Mytilene. The town was still blockaded by sea,
but the Mytilenaeans had free egress on the land-side, and marched up
and down the island, confirming the other towns which had joined in
the revolt, and threatening Methymna, which still remained loyal to
the Athenian alliance. When the Athenians were informed of this state
of things, they sent a thousand hoplites under Paches to reinforce the
besieging army; and on their arrival the investment of Mytilene was
completed by a wall drawn from sea to sea, and cutting off the town
from the rest of the island. The Mytilenaeans now began to despair,
for their supplies were failing, and there seemed no hope of relief.
But during the winter a ray of hope reached them from outside, and
encouraged them to persevere in their resistance.
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