At last, when both sides were sorely
distressed by the long conflict under a burning sun, an officer who
was in command of the Messenian troops came to the generals, and
offered, if they would place a few light-armed soldiers at his
disposal, to lead them up the precipitous cliffs at the northern end
of Sphacteria, and take the Spartans in the rear. Permission being
readily granted, he chose his men, and taking care that his movements
were not perceived by the enemy, made his way with them along the
perilous and slippery face of the cliffs to the rear of the
beleaguered garrison, scaled the steep ascent, and suddenly appearing
on the heights, struck terror into the Spartans, and gave fresh
courage to their assailants.
The situation of the Spartans was now similar to that of their
ancestors when they made their last stand at Thermopylae. They were
attacked in front and rear, and hemmed in on both sides by the natural
difficulties of the place. In their weak and exhausted condition it
would have been an easy task to make an end of them. But the great
object of Cleon and Demosthenes was to take them alive. They therefore
suspended the attack, and sent a herald, and summoned them to lay down
their arms. When they heard the proclamation, most of them lowered
their shields, and waved their hands in the air, to show that they had
dropped their weapons.
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