] which singled
out the brave." His meaning was that the stones and arrows had dealt
out death among his comrades without distinction.
CAMPAIGNS OF BRASIDAS IN THRACE
I
One advantage which accrued to the Athenians from the possession of
the Spartan captives was the immunity from invasion. For if the
Spartans prepared to make any movement against Attica, they could
bring out their prisoners, and threaten to put them to death. And in
other directions the future looked brighter than it had done for many
years. They held Pylos, which was garrisoned by Messenian troops, and
served as an open door, through which they could carry havoc over the
whole western district of Laconia; and the occupation of Cythera,
which was effected in the following year, gave them increased facility
for harassing the commerce of Sparta, and making descents on her
eastern coast.
Elated by these successes, the Athenians determined on a bolder
flight, and forgetting the lessons of Pericles, thought of recovering
the possessions which they had held on the mainland thirty years
before. With this intention they planned an attack, which was to be
carried out from three different points at once, on Boeotia. But the
whole scheme proved a failure, and led to a severe defeat at Delium;
and about the same time news arrived from Thrace which showed that the
tide was turning, and should have warned them, if they were wise, to
set bounds to their restless ambition.
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