s and Stagirus hastened to open their gates to him； and early in the ensuing winter； by means of forced marches； he suddenly and unexpectedly appeared before the important Athenian colony of Amphipolis on the Strymon。 In that town the Athenian party sent a message for assistance to Thucydides； the historian； who was then general in those parts。 Thucydides hastened with seven ships from Thasos； and succeeded in securing Eion at the mouth of the Strymon； but Amphipolis； which lay a little higher up the river； allured by the favourable terms offered； had already surrendered to Brasidas。 For his want of vigilance on this occasion； Thucydides was； on the motion of Cleon； sentenced to banishment； and spent the following twenty years of his life in exile。 Torone； Scione； and other towns also revolted from Athens。
In the following year （B。C。 422） Cleon was sent to Macedonia to recover the Athenian dependencies； and especially Amphipolis。 He encamped on a rising ground on the eastern side of the town。 Having deserted the peaceful art of dressing hides for the more hazardous trade of war； in which he was almost totally inexperienced； and having now no Demosthenes to direct his movements； Cleon was thrown completely off his guard by a very ordinary stratagem on the part of Brasidas； who contrived to give the town quite a deserted and peaceful appearance。 Cleon suffered his troops to fall into disorder； till he was suddenly surprised by the astounding news that Brasidas was preparing for a sally。 Cleon at once resolved to retreat。 But his skill was equal to his valour。 He conducted his retreat in the most disorderly manner。 His left wing had already filed off and his centre with straggling ranks was in the act of following； when Brasidas ordered the gates of the town to be flung open； and； rushing out at the head of only 150 chosen soldiers； charged the retreating columns in flank。 They were immediately routed； but Brasidas received a mortal wound and was carried off the field。 Though his men were forming on the hill； Cleon fled as fast as he could on the approach of the enemy； but was pursued and slain by a Thracian peltast。 In spite； however； of the disgraceful flight of their general； the right wing maintained their ground for a considerable time； till some cavalry and peltasts issuing from Amphipolis attacked them in flank and rear； and compelled them to fly。 On assembling again at Eion it was found that half the Athenian hoplites had been slain。 Brasidas was carried into Amphipolis； and lived long enough to receive the tidings of his victory。 He was interred within the walls with great military pomp in the centre of what thenceforth became the chief agora； he was proclaimed oecist； or founder of the town； and was worshipped as a hero with annual games and sacrifices。
By the death of Brasidas and Cleon the two chief obstacles to a peace were removed； for the former loved war for the sake of its glory； the latter for the handle which it afforded for agitation and for attacking his political opponents。 The Athenian Nicias； and the Spartan king Pleistoanax； zealously forwarded the negotiations； and in the spring of the year B。C。 421 a peace for 50 years； commonly called the PEACE OF NICIAS； was concluded on the basis of a mutual restitution of prisoners and places captured during the war。
CHAPTER XII。
THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR。SECOND PERIOD； FROM THE PEACE OF NICIAS TO THE DEFEAT OF THE ATHENIANS IN SICILY； B。C。 421…413。
Several of the allies of Sparta were dissatisfied with the peace which she had concluded； and soon afterwards some of them determined to revive the ancient pretensions of Argos； and to make her the head of a new confederacy； which should include all Greece； with the exception of Sparta and Athens。 The movement was begun by the Corinthians； and the league was soon joined by the Eleans； the Mantineans； and the Chalcidians。
Between Sparta and Athens themselves matters were far from being on a satisfactory footing。 Sparta confessed her inability to compel the Boeotians and Corinthians to accede to the peace； or even to restore the town of Amphipolis。 Athens consequently refused to evacuate Pylus； though she removed the Helots and Messenians from it。 In the negotiations which ensued respecting the surrender of Pylus； Alcibiades took a prominent part。 This extraordinary man had already obtained immense influence at Athens。 Young； rich； handsome； profligate； and clever； Alcibiades was the very model of an Athenian man of fashion。 In lineage he was a striking contrast to the plebeian orators of the day。 He traced his paternal descent from Ajax； whilst on his mother's side he claimed relationship with the Alcmaeonidae and consequently with Pericles。 On the death of his father Clinias Pericles had become his guardian。 From early youth the conduct of Alcibiades was marked by violence； recklessness； and vanity。 He delighted in astonishing the more sober portion of the citizens by his capricious and extravagant feats。 He was utterly destitute of morality； whether public or private。 But his vices were partly redeemed by some brilliant qualities。 He possessed both boldness of design and vigour of action； and； though scarcely more than thirty at the time of which we are now speaking； he had already on several occasions distinguished himself by his bravery。 His more serious studies were made subservient to the purposes of his ambition； for which some skill as an orator was necessary。 In order to attain it he frequented the schools of the sophists； and exercised himself in the dialectics of Prodicus； Protagoras； and above all of Socrates。
Such was the man who now opposed the application of the Lacedaemonian ambassadors。 Their reception had been so favourable； that Alcibiades alarmed at the prospect of their success； resorted to a trick in order to defeat it。 He called upon the Lacedaemonian envoys； one of whom happened to be his personal friend； and he advised them not to tell the Assembly that they were furnished with full powers； as in that case the people would bully them into extravagant concessions； but rather to say that they were merely come to discuss and report。 He promised； if they did so； to speak in their favour； and induce the Assembly to grant the restitution of Pylus； to which he himself had hitherto been the chief obstacle。 Accordingly on the next day； when the ambassadors were introduced into the Assembly； Alcibiades； assuming his blandest tone and most winning smile； asked them on what footing they came and what were their powers。 In reply to these questions； the ambassadors； who only a day or two before had told Nicias and the Senate that they were come as plenipotentiaries； now publicly declared； in the face of the Assembly； that they were not authorized to conclude； but only to negotiate and discuss。 At this announcement； those who had heard their previous declaration could scarcely believe their ears。 A universal burst of indignation broke forth at this exhibition of Spartan duplicity； whilst； to wind up the scene； Alcibiades； affecting to be more surprised than any； distinguished himself by being the loudest and bitterest in his invectives against the perfidy of the Lacedaemonians。
Shortly afterwards Alcibiades procured the completion of a treaty of alliance for 100 years with Argos； Elis； and Mantinea （B。C。 420）。 Thus were the Grecian states involved in a complicity of separate and often apparently opposite alliances。 It was evident that allies so heterogeneous could not long hold together； nevertheless； nominally at least； peace was at first observed。
In the July which followed the treaty with Argos； the Olympic games； which recurred every fourth year； were to be celebrated。 The Athenians had been shut out by the war from the two previous celebrations； and curiosity was excited throughout Greece to see what figure Athens would make at this great Pan…Hellenic festival。 War； it was surmised； must have exhausted her resources； and would thus prevent her from appearing with becoming splendour。 But from this reproach she was rescued by the wealth and vanity； if not by the patriotism； of Alcibiades。 By his care； the Athenian deputies exhibited the richest display of golden ewers； censers； and other plate to be used in the public sacrifice and procession； whilst for the games he entered in his own name no fewer than the unheard…of number of seven four…horsed chariots； of which one gained the first； and another the second prize。 Alcibiades was consequently twice crowned with the olive； and twice proclaimed victor by the herald。
The growing ambition and success of Alcibiades prompted him to carry his schemes against Sparta into the very heart of Peloponnesus； without； however； openly violating the peace。
The Lacedaemonians now found it necessary to act with more vigour； and accordingly in B。C。 418 they assembled a very large army； under the command of the Spartan king； Agis。 A decisive battle was fought near Mantinea； in which Agis gained a brilliant victory over the Argives and their allies。 This battle and that of Delium were the two most important engagements that had yet been fought in the Peloponnesian war。 Although the Athenians had fought on the side