CHAPTER XLIX.

FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND YEAR DOWN TO THE END OF THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR.

Barren results of the operations during the first year of war.—Second invasion of Attica by the Peloponnesians—more spreading and ruinous than the first.—Commencement of the pestilence or epidemic at Athens.—Description of the epidemic by Thucydidês—his conception of the duty of exactly observing and recording.—Extensive and terrible suffering of Athens.—Inefficacy of remedies—despair and demoralization of the Athenians.—Lawless recklessness of conduct engendered.—Great loss of life among the citizens—blow to the power of Athens.—Athenian armament sent first against Peloponnesus, next, against Potidæa—it is attacked and ruined by the epidemic.—Irritation of the Athenians under their sufferings and losses—they become incensed against Periklês—his unshaken firmness in defending himself.—Athenian public assembly—last speech of Periklês—his high tone of self-esteem against the public discontent. Powerful effect of his address—new resolution shown for continuing the war—nevertheless, the discontent against Periklês still continues. He is accused and condemned in a fine.—Old age of Periklês—his family misfortunes and suffering. He is reëlected stratêgus—restored to power and to the confidence of the people.—Last moments and death of Periklês. His life and character.—Judgment of Thucydidês respecting Periklês.—Earlier and later political life of Periklês—how far the one differed from the other.—Accusation against Periklês of having corrupted the Athenian people—untrue, and not believed by Thucydidês.—Great progress and improvement of the Athenians under Periklês.—Periklês is not to blame for the Peloponnesian war.—Operations of war languid, under the pressure of the epidemic.—Attack of the Ambrakiots on the Amphilochian Argos: the Athenian Phormio is sent with a squadron to Naupaktus.—Injury done to Athenian commerce by Peloponnesian privateers—The Lacedæmonians put to death all their prisoners taken at sea, even neutrals.—Lacedæmonian envoys seized in their way to Persia and put to death by the Athenians.—Surrender of Potidæa—indulgent capitulation granted by the Athenian generals.—Third year of the war—king Archidamus marches to Platæa—no invasion of Attica.—Remonstrance of the Platæans to Archidamus—his reply—he summons Platæa in vain.—The Platæans resolve to stand out and defy the Lacedæmonian force.—Invocation and excuse of Archidamus on hearing the refusal of the Platæans.—Commencement of the siege of Platæa.—Operations of attack and defence—the besiegers make no progress, and are obliged to resort to blockade.—Wall of circumvallation built round Platæa—the place completely beleaguered and a force left to maintain the blockade.—Athenian armament sent to Potidæa and Chalkidic Thrace—it is defeated and returns.—Operations on the coast of Akarnania.—Joint attack upon Akarnania, by land and sea, concerted between the Ambrakiots and Peloponnesians.—Assemblage of the Ambrakiots, Peloponnesians, and Epirotic allies—divisions of Epirots.—They march to attack the Akarnanian town of Stratus.—Rashness of the Epirots—defeat and repulse of the army.—The Peloponnesian fleet comes from Corinth to Akarnania—movements of the Athenian Phormio to oppose it.—Naval battle between Phormio and the Peloponnesian fleet—his complete victory.—Reflections upon these two defeats of the Peloponnesians.—Indignation of the Lacedæmonians at the late naval defeat: they collect a larger fleet under Knêmus to act against Phormio.—Inferior numbers of Phormio—his manœuvring.—The Peloponnesian fleet forces Phormio to a battle on the line of coast near Naupaktus. Dispositions and harangues on both sides.—Battle near Naupaktus. The Peloponnesian fleet at first successful, but afterwards defeated.—Retirement of the defeated Peloponnesian fleet.—Phormio is reinforced—his operations in Akarnania—he returns to Athens.—Attempt of Knêmus and Brasidas to surprise Peiræus, starting from Corinth.—Alliance of the Athenians with the Odrysian king Sitalkês.—Power of the Odrysians in Thrace—their extensive dominion over the other Thracian tribes.—Sitalkês, at the instigation of Athens, undertakes to attack Perdikkas and the Chalkidians of Thrace.—His vast and multifarious host of Thracians and other barbarians.—He invades and ravages Macedonia and Chalkidikê.—He is forced to retire by the severity of the season and want of Athenian coöperation. 153-221