a smaller history of greece-第23部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


a　was　transferred　to　the　Thebans；　who　a　few　months　afterwards　levelled　all　the　private　buildings　to　the　ground。　Thus　was　Plataea　blotted　out　from　the　map　of　Greece　（B。C。　427）。　In　recording　the　fall　of　Plataea　we　have　anticipated　the　order　of　chronology。

The　most　important　event　in　the　fourth　year　of　the　war　（B。C。　428）　was　the　revolt　of　Mytilene；　the　capital　of　Lesbos；　and　of　the　greater　part　of　that　island。　　The　Athenians　sent　out　a　fleet　which　blockaded　Mytilene　both　by　sea　and　land；　The　Peloponnesians　promised　their　assistance；　but　from　various　causes　their　fleet　was　unable　to　reach　the　place。　　Meanwhile　the　provisions　of　the　town　were　exhausted；　and　it　was　therefore　resolved；　as　a　last　desperate　expedient；　to　make　a　sally；　and　endeavour　to　raise　the　blockade。　　With　this　view　even　the　men　of　the　lower　classes　were　armed　with　the　full　armour　of　the　hoplites。　　But　this　step　produced　a　very　different　result　from　what　had　been　expected　or　intended。　　The　great　mass　of　the　Mytileneans　regarded　their　own　oligarchical　government　with　suspicion　and　now　threatened　that；　unless　their　demands　were　complied　with；　they　would　surrender　the　city　to　the　Athenians。　　In　this　desperate　emergency　the　Mytilenean　government　perceived　that　their　only　chance　of　safety　lay　in　anticipating　the　people　in　this　step。　　They　accordingly　opened　a　negotiation　with　Paches；　the　Athenian　commander；　and　a　capitulation　was　agreed　upon　by　which　the　city　was　to　be　surrendered　and　the　fate　of　its　inhabitants　to　be　decided　by　the　Athenian　Assembly。

At　Athens　the　disposal　of　the　prisoners　caused　great　debate。　　It　was　on　this　occasion　that　the　leather…seller　Cleon　first　comes　prominently　forward　in　Athenian　affairs。　　If　we　may　trust　the　picture　drawn　by　the　comic　poet　Aristophanes；　Cleon　was　a　perfect　model　of　a　low…born　demagogue；　a　noisy　brawler；　insolent　in　his　gestures；　corrupt　and　venal　in　his　principles。　　Much　allowance　must　no　doubt　be　made　for　comic　licence　and　exaggeration　in　this　portrait；　but　even　a　caricature　must　have　some　grounds　of　truth　for　its　basis。　　It　was　this　man　who　took　the　lead　in　the　debate　respecting　the　disposal　of　the　Mytileneans；　and　made　the　savage　and　horrible　proposal　to　put　to　death　the　whole　male　population　of　Mytilene　of　military　age；　and　to　sell　the　women　and　children　into　slavery。　　This　motion　he　succeeded　in　carrying　and　a　trireme　was　immediately　despatched　to　Mytilene；　conveying　orders　to　Paches　to　carry　the　bloody　decree　into　execution。　　This　barbarous　decree　made　no　discrimination　between　the　innocent　and　the　guilty；　and　on　the　morrow　so　general　a　feeling　prevailed　of　the　horrible　injustice　that　had　been　committed；　that　the　magistrates　acceded　to　the　prayer　of　the　Mytilenean　envoys　and　called　a　fresh　assembly。　　Notwithstanding　the　violent　opposition　of　Creon；　the　majority　of　the　assembly　reversed　their　former　decree　and　resolved　that　the　Mytileneans　already　in　custody　should　be　put　upon　their　trial；　but　that　the　remainder　of　the　population　should　be　spared。　　A　second　trireme　was　immediately　despatched　to　Mytilene；　with　orders　to　Paches　to　arrest　the　execution。　　The　utmost　diligence　was　needful。　　The　former　trireme　had　a　start　of　four…and…twenty　hours；　and　nothing　but　exertions　almost　superhuman　would　enable　the　second　to　reach　Mytilene　early　enough　to　avert　the　tragical　catastrophe；　The　oarsmen　were　allowed　by　turns　only　short　intervals　of　rest；　and　took　their　food；　consisting　of　barley…meal　steeped　in　wine　and　oil；　as　they　sat　at　the　oar。　　Happily　the　weather　proved　favourable；　and　the　crew；　who　had　been　promised　large　rewards　in　case　they　arrived　in　time；　exerted　themselves　to　deliver　the　reprieve；　whilst　the　crew　of　the　preceding　vessel　had　conveyed　the　order　for　execution　with　slowness　and　reluctance。　　Yet　even　so　the　countermand　came　only　just　in　time。　　The　mandate　was　already　in　the　hands　of　Paches；　who　was　taking　measures　for　its　execution。　　The　fortifications　of　Mytilene　were　razed；　and　her　fleet　delivered　up　to　the　Athenians。

The　fate　of　the　Plataeans　and　Mytileneans　affords　a　fearful　illustration　of　the　manners　of　the　age；　but　these　horrors　soon　found　a　parallel　in　Corcyra。　　A　fearful　struggle　took　place　in　this　island　between　the　aristocratical　and　democratical　parties。　The　people　at　length　obtained　the　mastery；　and　the　vengeance　which　they　took　on　their　opponents　was　fearful。　　The　most　sacred　sanctuaries　afforded　no　protection；　the　nearest　ties　of　blood　and　kindred　were　sacrificed　to　civil　hatred。　　In　one　case　a　father　slew　even　his　own　son。　　These　scenes　of　horror　lasted　for　seven　days；　during　which　death　in　every　conceivable　form　was　busily　at　work。

The　seventh　year　of　the　war　（B。C。　425）　was　marked　by　an　important　event。　　An　Athenian　fleet　was　detained　by　bad　weather　at　Pylus　in　Messenia；　on　the　modern　bay　of　Navarino。　　Demosthenes；　an　active　Athenian　officer；　who　was　on　board　the　fleet；　thought　it　an　eligible　spot　on　which　to　establish　some　of　the　Messenians　from　Naupactus；　since　it　was　a　strong　position；　from　which　they　might　annoy　the　Lacedaemonians；　and　excite　revolt　among　their　Helot　kinsmen。　　As　the　bad　weather　continued　for　some　time；　the　soldiers　on　board　amused　themselves；　under　the　directions　of　Demosthenes；　in　constructing　a　sort　of　rude　fortification。　　The　nature　of　the　ground　was　favourable　for　the　work；　and　in　five　or　six　days　a　wall　was　throws　up　sufficient　for　the　purposes　of　defence。　　Demosthenes　undertook　to　garrison　the　place；　and　five　ships　and　200　hoplites　were　left　behind　with　him。

This　insult　to　the　Lacedaemonian　territory　caused　great　alarm　and　indignation　at　Sparta。　　The　Peloponnesian　fleet　was　ordered　to　Pylus；　and　the　Lacedaemonian　commander；　on　arriving　with　the　fleet；　immediately　occupied　the　small　uninhabited　and　densely　wooded　island　of　Sphacteria；　which；　with　the　exception　of　two　narrow　channels　on　the　north　and　south；　almost　blocked　up　the　entrance　of　the　bay。　　Between　the　island　and　the　mainland　was　a　spacious　basin；　in　which　the　fleet　took　up　its　station。　　The　Lacedaemonians　lost　no　time　in　attacking　the　fortress；　but　notwithstanding　their　repeated　attempts　they　were　unable　to　effect　a　landing。

Whilst　they　were　preparing　for　another　assault；　they　were　surprised　by　the　appearance　of　the　Athenian　fleet。　　They　had　strangely　neglected　to　secure　the　entrances　into　the　bay：　　and；　when　the　Athenian　ships　came　sailing　through　both　the　undefended　channels；　many　of　their　triremes　were　still　moored；　and　part　of　their　crews　ashore。　　The　battle　which　ensued　was　desperate。　　Both　sides　fought　with　extraordinary　valour；　but　victory　at　length　declared　for　the　Athenians。　　Five　Peloponnesian　ships　were　captured；　the　rest　were　saved　only　by　running　them　ashore；　where　they　were　protected　by　the　Lacedaemonian　army。

The　Athenians；　thus　masters　of　the　sea；　were　enabled　to　blockade　the　island　of　Sphacteria；　in　which　the　flower　of　the　Lacedaemonian　army　was　shut　up；　many　of　them　native　Spartans　of　the　highest　families。　　In　so　grave　an　emergency　messengers　were　sent　to　Sparta　for　advice。　　The　Ephors　themselves　immediately　repaired　to　the　spot；　and　so　desponding　was　their　view　of　the　matter；　that　they　saw　no　issue　from　it　but　a　peace。　　They　therefore　proposed　and　obtained　an　armistice　for　the　purpose　of　opening　negotiations　at　Athens。　　But　the　Athenians；　at　the　instigation　of　Cleon；　insisted　upon　the　most　extravagant　demands；　and　hostilities　were　accordingly　resumed。　　They　were　not　however　attended　with　any　decisive　result。　　The　blockade　of　Sphacteria　began　to　grow　tedious　and　harassing。　　The　force　upon　it　continually　received　supplies　of　provisions　either　from　swimmers；　who　towed　skins　filled　with　linseed　and　poppy…seed　mixed　with　honey；　or　from　Helots；　who；　induced　by　the　promise　of　large　rewards；　eluded　the　blockading　squadron　during　dark　and　stormy　nights；　and　landed　cargoes　on　the　back　of　the　island。　　The　summer；　moreover；　was　fast　wearing　away；　and　the　storms　of　winter　might　probably　necessitate　the　raising　of　the　blockade　altogether。　　Under　these　circumstances；　Demosthenes　began　to　contemplate　a　descent　upon　the　island；　with　which　view　he　sent　a　message　to　Athens　to　explain　the　unfavourable　state　of　the　blockade；　and　to　request　further　assistance。

These　tidings　were　very　distasteful　to　the　Athenians；　who　had　looked　upon　Sphacteria　as　their　certain　prey。　　They　began　to　regret　having　let　slip　the　favourable　opportunity　for　making　a　peace；　and　to　vent　their　displeasure　upon　Cleon；　the　director　of　their　conduct　on　that　occasion。　　But　Cleon　put　on　a　face　of　brass。　　He　abused　the　Strategi。　　His　political　opponent；　Nicias；　was　then　one　of　those　officers；　a　man　of　quiet　disposition　and　moderate　abilities；　but　thoroughly　honest　and　incorruptible。　　Him　Cleon　now　singled　out　for　his　vituperation；　and；　pointing　at　him　with　his　finger；　exclaimed〃It　would　be　easy　enough　to　take　the　island　if　our　generals　were　MEN。　　If　I　were　General；　I　would　do　it　at　once！〃　　This　burst　of　the　tanner　made　the　assembly　laugh。　He　was　saluted　with　cries　of　〃Why　don't　you　go；　then？〃　　and　Nicias；　thinking　probably　to　catch　his　opponent　in　his　own　trap；　seconded　the　voice　of　the　assembly　by　offering　to　place　at　his　disposal　whatever　force　he　might　deem　necessary　for　the　enterprise。　　Cleon　at　first　endeavoured　to　avoid　the　dangerous　honour　thus　thrust　upon　him。　　But　the　more　he　drew　back　the　louder　were　the　assembly　in　calling　upon　him　to　accept　the　office；　and　as　Nicias　seriously　repeated　his　proposition；　he　adopted　with　a　good　grace　what　there　was　no　longer　any　possibility　of　evading；　and　asserted　that　he　would　take　Sphacteria　within　twenty　days；　and　either　kill　all　the　Lacedaemonians　upon　it；　or　bring　them　prisoners　to　Athens。

Never　did　general　set　out　upon　an　enterprise　under　circumstances　more　singular；　but；　what　was　still　more　extraordinary；　fortune　enabled　him　to　make　his　promise　good。　　In　fact；　as　we　have　seen；　Demosthenes　had　already　resolved　on　attacking　the　island；　and　when　Cleon　arrived　at　Pylus　he　found　everything　prepared　for　the　assault。　　Accident　favoured　the　enterprise。　　A　fire　kindled　by　some　Athenian　sailors；　who　had　landed　for　the　purpose　of　cooking　their　dinner；　caught　and　destroyed　the　woods　with　which　the　island　was　overgrown；　and　thus　deprived　the　Lacedaemonians　of　one　of　their　principal　defences。　　Nevert