Then, if the
Spartans agreed to restore to the Athenians Nisaea and Pegae,
[Footnote: The harbour-towns of Megara.] and some other places which
they had held before the Thirty Years' Truce, peace might be made, and
the prisoners restored. The Spartan envoys were somewhat startled by
these demands, which involved a gross breach of faith to their own
allies; so they affected to ignore the proposal, and suggested a
private conference between themselves and select Athenian
commissioners. It is not impossible that the terms offered, infamous
as they were to Sparta, might have been accepted; but the whole
negotiation was frustrated by the violence of Cleon, who, on hearing
the suggestion of the envoys, overwhelmed them with abuse, accusing
them of double-dealing and bad faith. The envoys were confounded by
this specimen of Athenian manners, and seeing that they were wasting
their time to no purpose, they turned their backs on the city of free
speech.
On their return to Pylos the truce expired, and the Spartans demanded
back their ships, but the Athenians refused to restore them, on the
ground of some alleged violation of the conditions laid down.
Thereupon hostilities were resumed with vigour on both sides. The
Spartans made repeated attacks on the fort, and watched for an
opportunity of bringing off their men from the island: and the
Athenians kept a vigilant guard to prevent their escape.
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