There was a disaffected party in Amphipolis, who had planned the
betrayal of the place, acting in concert with Argilus, through the
agency of certain Argilian citizens residing in the town. The traitors
now proposed that Brasidas and his army should be admitted, but they
were overruled by the general voice of the people, and it was agreed
that the Athenian Eucles, governor of Amphipolis, should send a
message for help to another Athenian officer, who was commissioned to
watch the interests of Athens in Thrace. That officer was Thucydides,
the historian, from whose work the materials for the present narrative
are taken. Thucydides was descended on his mother's side from the
royal family of Thrace, [Footnote: Such, at least, is the highly
probable conjecture of Classen.] and through this connexion he was the
owner of valuable working rights in the gold-mines of Mount Pangaeus,
and a man of great power and, influence in these districts. When the
message arrived from Amphipolis, he was engaged in some business at
Thasos, and postponing all other concerns he collected a small
squadron of seven ships and hastened to the rescue with all speed.
But Brasidas, who had received intelligence of his movements, was too
quick for him. He had valuable hostages in the persons of those
Amphipolitans who had been taken outside the walls.
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