G R E 
pcnerals, Thucydides was involved in this cruel fen- 
tence. In thefe propitious moments of general I'uccel's, 
the Spartans fent an ernbalTy to Athens to fiie for a 
truce, as a preliminary to a general peace. The Athe¬ 
nians readily entered into their views ; it was deter¬ 
mined that matters of Inch importance Ihould be dif- 
culfed with leifure and impartiality ; a truce was there¬ 
fore agreed on for a year between the contending re¬ 
publics. 
This tranfadtion was concluded in the ninth fummer 
of the. war, and in the year 423 before Clirift ; but it 
was totally unexpecfed by Bratidas, who received tlie 
voluntary fubmillion of Scione and Menda, two n.laces 
of con/iderable importance in the peninfula ot Pallene, 
before lie was acquainted with the fulpenfion of hohili- 
ties. While the adtive valour of this general prevent¬ 
ed the confirmation of peace, the conl'cious worthlefs- 
nefs of the Atltenian general Cleon, promoted the re¬ 
newal or rather the continuance of war. The glory of 
Athens was tl.e perpetual theme of his difeourfe. He 
exhorted his countrymen to punilh the perfidy of Sparta, 
in abetting the inloient revolt of Menda and Scione ; 
and to employ his own Ikili and bravery to repair their 
declining fortune in Macedonia. The Athenians lii'len- 
ed to the fpecious advice of tliis turbulent declaimer, 
who, in the enfuing fpring, failed to the Macedonian 
coalt with a fleet of thirty gallies, twelve hundred citi¬ 
zens heavy-armed, a fquadion of three hundred horfe, 
and a powerful body of light-armed auxiliaries. Tlie 
furrender of Menda and Torana, whofe inhabitants were 
treated with every excefsof cruelty, encouraged him to 
attack y\mphipolis. With tliis defign, having colledt- 
cd his forces at Eion, he waited the arrival of lome 
Macedonian troops, pi omifed by Perdiccas, who, having 
quarrelled with the Spartan general, now flattered the 
hopes of his antagonilt. 
The army of Cleon contained the flower of the Athe¬ 
nian youth, wliole ardent valour dildained a precarious 
dependence on barf;arian aid. They accufed the cow¬ 
ardice of their leader, w'hich was only equalled by his 
inciipacity, and lamented their own bard fate in being 
fubjccled to the autlioriry of a man fo unworiiiy to 
command them. Tlie impatient temper of an arrogant 
demagogue was ill fitted to endure thefe feditious com¬ 
plaints. He haflity led his troops before the place, 
wiihout previoully examining the flrength of the walls, 
the htuation of the ground, tlie number or difpofition of 
the enemy. Brafidas, meanwhile, had taken proper 
meafuies to avail himfelf of tlie known imprudence of 
his atlverlary. A confiderable body of men had been 
concealed in the woody mountain Cerdylium, which 
overliangs Amphipolis. 'I'he greater part of the army 
were drawn tip ready for action, at the feveral gates of 
the city. Clearidas, who commanded there, had or¬ 
ders to rulh ibrth at a given fignal, while Brafidas in 
^ perfon, conducting a feledl band of intrepid followers, 
watched the firlt opportunity for attack. The plan, 
contrived with lb much fkill, was executed w'ith equal 
dexterity and precilion. Confounded with the rapidity 
of fuch an unexpedted and complicated charge, the ene¬ 
my fled in all directions, abandoning their fliields, and 
expoling their naked backs to the fvvords and fpears of 
the ptirfuers. The forces on eitlier fide amounted to 
about three thoufand ; fix hundred Athenians fell vic¬ 
tims to tlie folly of Cleon, who, though foremoft in 
the flight, was killed by the hand of a Myrcinian 
targeieer. His death was more than compenfated by tlie 
lols of Brafidas, who received a mortal wound while he 
advanced to tlie attack. He was conveyed alive to 
Amphipolis, and enjoyed the confolation'of his lafl: 
victory, in vyhich only feveii men had periflied on the 
Spartan fide. 
1 he battle of Amphipolis, fought in the year before 
Chrilt 421, removed the principal obftacles to peace. 
There was not any Spartan general qualified to acGont- 
VOL. Vill. Ho. 
E C E. 877 
plifli the defigns of Brafidas-. The Athenians, dejected 
by defeat, and humbled by'difgrace, v/anted the bold 
impofing eloquence of Cleon, to difguife their weaknefs, 
and varnifli their misfortunes. With tlie diflieartened 
remains of an enfeebled armament, they defpaired of re¬ 
covering their Macedonian pofftllions ; and the greater 
part returned home, well difpqfed for an acconiiiToda- 
tion with tlie enemy. Thefe difpofitions were confirm¬ 
ed by the pacific temper of Nicias, who fucceeded to 
tile command, and fortunately difeovered in tlic mode¬ 
ration of Pleiltoanax, king of Sparta, a coadjutor ex¬ 
tremely folicitous to promote his views. During win¬ 
ter, feveral friendly conferences were held between the 
commiilioners of the two republics ; and, towards the 
commencement of tiie enfuing fpring, a treaty of peace, 
and foon afterwards a defenfive" alliance, for fifty years, 
was ratified by the kings and ephori of Sjiarta on the 
one fide, and by the archons and generals of Athens on 
the other. In confequence of this negociation, which 
was intended to comprehend the refpeclive allies of th.e 
contracting powers, all places and prifoners, taken in 
the cdurfe of the war, were to be mutually reftored j 
the revoltedTities in Macedon were fpecified by name-; 
and it tvas regulated tliat tlie Athenians Ihould not re¬ 
quire from tiiem any higher revenue than that appor¬ 
tioned by the jtiltice of Ariftides. 
From the PEACE of NICIAS, to the fall of 
ATHENS, AND TERMINATION of the PELO- 
PONJIBSIAN WAR. 
The turbulent citizens of Corinth have the odium of 
renewing a war, which their intrigues and animolities had 
firft kindled. Under pretence of having taken an oath 
never to abandon the Macedonian cities, they declined 
being parties in the general treaty of peace. Fully 
bent on war, tliey hafiened to Argos, in order to ani¬ 
mate tiiat republic with the fame paflions which rankled 
in their own breafls. I'lie Argives wanted neither 
power nor inclination to enter upon hoftilities ; and 
the Eleans, long hoftileto Sparta, eagerly promoted the 
Argive alliance, which was farther ftrengthened by 
the fpeedy acceflioii of the Macedonian allies. But 
this democratical alfociation foon acquired an acceflion 
flill more important, even the republic of Athens. 
This extraordinary event happened in the year follow¬ 
ing the negociation between Athens and Sparta, and 
was effected through the interefl of Alcibiudes. Though 
he had not yet reached his tliirtieth year, the age re¬ 
quired by the wifdom of Solon for being entitled to 
Ipeak in the alfembly ; yet he poirelfcd every advan¬ 
tageous circumflance of birth and fortune, talents natu¬ 
ral and acquired, accomplilhmeiits of mind and body, 
tliat pleaded an exception in favour of this extraordi¬ 
nary cliaraCter, which, producing at once flowers and 
fruit, united with the blooming vivacity of youth the 
ripened wifdom of experience. His father, the rich and 
generous Clinias, derived his extraftion from the he¬ 
roic Ajax, and had difiinguiflied his own valour and 
patriotifm in the glorious I’cenes of the Perfian war. 
,The tender years of Alcibiades were at firfl: committed 
to the illiberal difeipline of mercenary preceptors; he 
became, however, the pupil and favourite of the im¬ 
mortal Socrates. Tiie fage, wliofe company was court¬ 
ed by his other difciples, himfelf courted the company 
of Alcibiades. At tlie battle of Potidasa he faved the 
life of his pupil ; and, in order to gratify the love of mi¬ 
litary glory wliich already animated liis youtiiful bo- 
fom, the fage obtained for Alcibiades the prize of va¬ 
lour, which tlie tiniverfal conlent of the Athenians 
thought due to hinii'elf. At the fatal engagement of 
Delium, Alcibiades, it is laid, had an opportunity of 
returning the more fubftantial favour, by laving the life 
of Socrates; and it may well be fuppdfed tliat andnter- 
change of fuch important favours would , llraiteii the 
bands oi' their mutual friendfhip, during which tiie 
JO O powers. 
