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THe Lacedemonyans than holdinge theire siege bifore Pylus, and their people wythin the Islande being assieged by the Athenyans, like as hathe bene aboue declaredde, the armye of the Athenyans was in greate perplexytie and necessytie of victuailles, and of freshe water.
for there was but one onely well, which was in the toppe and height of ye towne of Pylus, whiche was also very smal. In such maner, that they were constrayned to dygge at the ebbyng of the sea, wythin the sande. Whereout they dyd drawe suche water, as might be drawin out of suche a place. and as for the rest, the place where they kept their campe on lande, was veary small. and the shyppes were not seure in the rode. By meane wherof, some of them kept along the land for to recouer vyctua••les, and the other dyd ancre in the meane sea. And moreouer they had greate displeasur and werynes, for that that the affayre indured longer, than they thought, frome the begynnynge that yt shuld haue done. For they thought ernestly that those that were wythin the Islande, not hauynge vyctua••les nor freshe water, coulde not so longe defende yt, as they dyd, by the prouysion that the Lacedemonyans dyd ordeyne for to succour them. Who dyd yt to be know∣in by publique and open proclamacyon, that whosoeuer wolde carrye to them that were wythin the Islande, meate, breade, wyne•• fleshe, or othere victuay∣les, shulde haue a certayne greate some of monnye. And y•• he were a bondeman he shulde haue lybertye. By meane wherof, many dyd put themselfe in daunger to carry yt thyder. And cheifly the sklaues, for the desyre that they had to acqui∣re and gett lybertye. And they passed by the sea of Peloponese, into the sayde Islande by all meanes that they myght. and the more parte by nyghte, and by y• coste of the meane sea, and pryncypallye whan the wynde came frome the sea agaynste the land. For by the same, they came easely wythout beynge perceyued by the gallyes of the ennemyes, that kepte the wa••che, for that that they coulde nott well kepe aboute the Islande, whan that same wynde reygned. And for them, that came vnto the Islande, yt was aduantagyous on that syde, for that that yt chased them vnto yt. And moreouer they, that were wyth••n the Islande, reyceyued them in armure. But all they, that aduentured themself to go thyd••r whan the sea was peasable and calme, were taken. There were also cormarant•• of the sea, that passed vnder the water from the poorte, vnto wythin the Islande. And they toke them wt a corde, made wythin of goate skyns & paper grynded wt honny and stamped wyth lyne sede. wherewythe they o•• the Islande repastedde themselfe and dyd so, longe byfore the Athenyans perceyued yt. But at lengthe parceyuynge yt, they sett there watches. And for effecte, euery one for hys parte vsed the beste dylygence, that he myght, to wytt, the one to b••ynge vyctuailes in¦to the Islande, and the other for to empesche yt. In thys meane tyme the Atheny∣ans that were in the cytie, vnderstandynge that their people whyche were asseged at the sayde place of Pylus, were in greate necessytie, a••d that those, that were in the Islande hadd vyctuailes, they were in greate care. For they doubted, that by the wynter, that came vpon them, their people shulde suffer muche, beynge in a desarte place, for that, that in that tyme yt shulde be veary harde to compasse aboute all Peloponese for to vyctuaile them. And yt was nott posseble in that tyme of sommer that remayned and was to come, to furnyshe theme of all that, that was necessarye for their suffysance. Also their shyppes had no••her porte nor abydinge place, where they myght be in suertye. On the other syde, they parcey∣ued well that whan they shulde dyscontynue and cease the watche aboute the Islande, they that were wythin yt, wolde saue themself in the same shippes that carryed them vyctuailes, espyinge the tyme, whan the sea shulde be roughe. And the thynge moste that they feared, was that they thought that the Lacedemoni¦ans, parceyuynge themselfe to haue the aduantage, woolde sende vnto theme no more to d••maunde peace. Wherefore they repented thems••lfe ryght soore, not to haue accepted yt•• whan they required it. And forsomuch as Cleon parceyued well that they had opiniō that he had bene cause of empesching it, he said yt the affaires
of tharmye was not in suche sorte, as they were done to be vnderstanded. And for that, that they, that had made reaporte, demaunded that men might be sent thider to parceue the trouth, it was determyned that he & Theogenes shuld go.* 1.1 But Cleon, parceuing that if they so did, they shuld be forced aither to say, as the furst: or that sayinge the contrary, they shuld afterwardes be foūde lyars: he per∣swaded the people, whome he sawe well animated to that battaile, to sende some strength of people, aboue the nōber, that they had determyned. Saying yt it was better to do so, than to lose tyme by tarying for them, yt shuld be sent, vntill they were retourned. For in the meane time if it were so as the other did say, ye freshe strength, that shulde be sent thider, might be arryued. And forsomuche as Ny∣cyas, sonne of Nyceratus, who had ye cōduct & the charge of that army that was at Pylus, was his enemye: he said that if, sending that same succours, they yt had the charge of that affaire, were men of courage, they might easely take them, that were in ye Islande, & that if he were there, he doubted not, but that he wolde ••one do it. Than Nycias, parceyuinge that the people had nowe conceyued some dis∣pleasure wt the said Cleon, for that, that if he did knowe the thinge so easye as he said, they thought yt he shuld not refuse to go thider: and also seinge that the said Cleon charged him, he said vnto him. That insomuch as he founde the thinge to be easy, it were good, that he toke the charge to leade the rēforte or freshe strēghe ••hider. And he remitted vnto him his place & hys puissance right wyllingly. And Cleon, thinking at the begynnynge that he did it not with good harte & ernestly, but iudgynge, that he wolde not do it, did not refuse it. But aftere that he par∣ceyued, that the other perseuered, he excused himself, saying yt the other was cho∣sene Capytaine for that, and not he. Notwythstandinge whan the people did see, that Nycyas wolde wythout any fayninge leaue his charge to the sayd Cleon & prouoked him to take it,* 1.2 (as euery cōmonaltie is ioyeful of a nouation & change) they commaunded the sayd Cleon to accepte it. who seinge that there was noo remedy to forsake it, sens that it was so offredde: he fynally accepted it. And said right gloriously, that he feared not the Lacedemonyans, and that he wolde goo thider wtout taking one man of Athens. But he wold cary the soldyars of Lem∣ne and Imbricie, whiche were than in the cytie, all well armed, and some othere armed wyth targattes, whyche were sente from Ene, with a certayn nomber of Archers, whome he wolde take in other places, to the nomber of foure houndred. Wyth the which, and those that were already at Pylus, he auaunted himself that wtin twenty daies, he wolde bryng the Lacedemonyans that were in the Island, prysonners into Athens, orels wolde slaye theym. At whyche so glorious spea∣kinge, the Athenyās did laughe: and yet they were glad therof, thinking yt one of two things shuld happene: aither that they shuld by yt meane be delyuered from the importunitie of Cleon, who was tedyous vnto them already, if he failled to do the thynge, wherof he auaunted hymself (as the moste parte thoughte, that yt shuld so be) orells if he did it, that he shuld bringe the Lacedemonyans into their power. Beinge than the thinges so deliberated and concluded in the assemblie of the common people, Cleon was by the voyce & opynyons of them chosene, made and created Empereur and Capytayne of the armye, in stede of Nycyas. And he named Demosthenes to be his adioyned compaignyon, who was in the campe, for that, that he parceued that he was of opynyon to go to assayle, wtin the Islāde, those, that were there. Also the souldyours, seyng the incommodytie of the place, and that they were more assieged, than those, whiche they did assiege, desired to hazarde the matter. And this also gaue them couraige therunto, that they parce∣ued the Islāde to be already discouered in many places, where the woodes were
burned. whiche at the beginning, whan the siege was there layde, it was so thick with woode, by reason that no man had haunted it, that it was in a manner im∣possible to passe through it. whyche was the cause whye Demosthenes feared at the begynning to enter into it. For it semed vnto him, that it was the aduaūtage of them, that were wythin. for somuche as whan he had landed there wyth great puissance those, that were within hydde & in couert in dyuers places mighte doo greate dōmaiges to hys people, whyche he coulde not do vnto them that were hid through the wood, and dyd know ye passages & paths therof. And by yt meane the faults that his people shuld cōmyt, shuld be discouered. In suche maner, yt it shuld be in ye facultie & power of the enemys to yssue fourth of their embushmēt & come to assaile them whan they did se their aduaūtage. And though that they were repoulsed into ye thick woode & being but a smal nōber, yet shuld they haue the aduaūtage, for the knowlaige, which they they had of the place. And moreo∣uer a certain nōber of the people that he had, could not cōme there, wher the grea∣test busynes shuld be. nother there, where succours shulde be set, for thimpesche∣ment of the wood. And besides all thies reasons, that moued Demosthenes, yet the ouerthrowe, whych he had at Ethiole, whiche chaunced him partely by lyke occasiō of woode, caused him mooste to feare. But it was happened, that some of of them yt were wtin the I••lande, being come to the shore for to watche: did kind••e a fyer for to sethe their meate, & that the wynde so arysed, that it kindled ye same fyer, in such sorte, that it did burne very farre into the Islāde. By meane wherof, Demosthenes parceiued yt there was a greater nōber of people, than he thought. And seing also, yt thentrie shuld be more easie by meane of the said fier, he thought it beste to assaile them, as sone as he might, and so he prepared to do it, & had al∣ready cōmaunded them that were next the Island, to come to his ayde. And in ye meane tyme he was aduertysed, by Cleon, that he had the charge of the army, & so he attended for him. And whan he was come, after that they had aduised togi∣ders, they sent an heraul••e to the Lacedemonyās that were in the campe bifore ye towne, for to knowe of them, if they would be content, to cause ••hose, that were in the Island, to render themself wt their armure, vnder cōdition, that they shuld be well & suer••y kept, vntill the tyme that it were determyned vpon thappoicte∣ment for all the warre. And vnderstanding by reporte of the heraulte, that they wold not accept the sayd partie they seiourned & taryed therupō, one whole day. And afterwardes cōminge the night, they bestowed the most parte of their peo∣ple wtin a ••mall nōber of ships. whome, they dyd sett wtin the Island about daw∣ning of the day on both sides to wit, on the syde of the hauone, & of the same of ye mayn sea. One part of whyche nōber, vnto eyght hoūdred or therabout inconty∣nētly as they were lāded, did ronne wt most diligēce yt they could, against the chie∣fest that kept watche that same nyght, whiche were about thirty. For the othere were ye m••st part in a place discouered, which was in a maner, in the middest of the Islāde enuironed wt water & Epitadas their captain wt them. One other part was at the other end of the Islāde on the side frō Pylus, which could not be assai∣led by the sea side, for that, yt the Island was on that side high & s••iepe vp, in suche maner, yt no man could skalen or enter there. And on the towne side it was vnea∣sie to assaile, by cause of an olde castell that had somtime bene there made wyth a raw wall. which they wtin the Islande resarued for their forte. if they were con∣straigned to habādone & forsake the reste. The affaires than being in this estate, as aboue, those that came to charge vpō the watche, came soubdainlp vpō them & found thē sleping, so that bifore they could arme thēself, they were all slayne by meane that they feared not their lāding. And though that they had parceued the
galleys to compasse aboute the bankes & coastes of the Island, yet they thought that it had bene those, yt kepte the watche, as they had nightly accustomed. After that, whan the daye beganne to be clere, the rest of the army, that was yet the in the shipps whyche were arryued at the Islande, that were to the nomber of foore skoore or theraboute, landed all in the Islande. To wytt, those whiche were at the furste siege, and those, that Cleon had brought, those resarued, that were lefte to kepe the campe and the munityons. Amonge whome, there was about eyght houndred Archers and as many caryinge targattes lightly armed, whyche De∣mosthenes did appoincte all in that same sorte. For he did sett theym in dyuers bendes, the one distant from the othere, at two houndred men for the bende, & in some parte lesse accordinge to the capacytie of the places. And he caused theym to gette euery where the hyghest of the place for to do the mooste displeasure to the ennemys. Compassing them on many sydes, to the ende, that they shuld not knowe on what parte to tourne themself for the great multitude of people, that they shulde see charged vpon them on all parties. For if they tournedde agaynst them, that assaylled them at their backe: they that were afore them, wold ronne vpon them. And the lyke thinge did those that were behinde, if they marchedde a∣gaynste them that were afore. And whan they tournedde vpon them that were on the sydes, they were assailled both by those from afore, and also by those, that were behynde. And by that meane on euery parte where they tourned, they were alwayes compassed behynde wyth those that were lightly armedde. who didde attainct and sett vpon them incōtynetly. And the Archers did hurte them afarre of wyth arrowes, wyth dartes, wythe stones, caste wyth hande, and with slin∣ges. And also they kepte not their standinge whan men charged on them. For it is their custome to vainquishe by flyinge, for that, that they did shote and caste without cessinge. And whan the ennemys did retourne, they were at their backe. Suche order dyd Demostenes kepe, aswel at the entry into the Islande, as also after that he was entred, in all that same fyght. whan Epitadas and those that were wyth him in middes of the Islande, whiche was the greatest nomber, par∣ceued that their watche, and those that were in the former strength were discom¦fyted, and that all the company came hastely agaynste them, they dyd putt thē∣self in battaille, and wolde haue marched agaynste the Athenyans that came in the fronte bifore them. But they coulde not come hande to hande, nother shewe their valyantnes against them. For the Archers & throwers, and those that were lightly armed, who came on the sydes and wynges, did empesche them. wherby, they parceyuynge that, marched not against the sayd Athenyans. But kept them selfe in theire order and remoued not, but whan the said light armed did appro∣che nighe vnto them. For than they repoulsed them, but in their flyinge they al∣wayes defended them, and so were dryuen to saue themself through the rockes and straight places, and the Lacedemonyans that were strongly armed, coulde not followe them. In suche sorte they didde fyghte a certayne space of tyme, in maner of a escharmushe. And afterwards the light armed, parceyuinge that the Lacedemonyans were already wery and slowe to follow them so oftene, did take more couraige and a••dacytie, and shewed themself in greater nomber, for that, that they founde not the Lacedemonyans so sharpe nother so vaillyant, as they thought them to be at begynnyng, whan they were entred into the Islande. For than they wente muche in greate feare agaynst them, for the greate renomme of their hardynes, and so they rushed wyth greate cryes, all at ones vpon them, ca∣stynge arrowes stones and othere shotte, suche as they hadde euerye one in his hande. At whyche crye and manner of combate and fighting, the Lacedemony∣ans,
who hadde not bene therunto accustomed, were all astonied. And on thoder parte, the powder of the ashes, that came from the places where ye fyer had bene, was so greate in the ayer, that they coulde nother see, nor by any meane auoyde the shot that was cast agaynst them. In maner that they were in great perplex∣itie. For theire sallettes and cappes of yrone coulde not couer them fro the shott, theire speares were brokene and frushed wyth stoanes that were caste agaynste them, and moreouer they beynge enuyroned and assayled on all sydes, dyd nott see those, yt assailed them, nother they coulde heare what thinge they were com∣maunded to do, for the greate crye yt thennymys did make. So that they knewe not what to do, and also did not se any meane to saue themselfe. Fynally ye more parte of them being alreadie hurt, they retyred all togeders towardes the castell, whiche was in the ende of the Islande, where there was one part of thair people. whiche parceyued by the light armed, they approched yet more boldely withe greate cryes and strokes of shott, and those that departed fro the trowpe, were slayne incontynently. But one great parte saued them self through the woodes, and came to ioygne wyth them, that were at kepynge of the castell. And all to∣geder prepared themselfe for to defende that syde thereof, that was assaultable. The Athenyans followed theym veary nighe. And neuerthelas seyng that they coulde not assiege the place on all sydes, for ye nature & dyficultie therof, bestowed them selfe in a place more higher. Fromewhence wyth force of shott, and by all meanes that they could, they parforced themself to chase ye other out of the castel. But they defended themself veary hardely. In such sorte that the combate endu∣red the greater parte of one day. Through occasion wherof, they were all ouer∣commed of the one part and of the other, wyth heate, drough and trayuaile. For the Lacedemonyans, had meane and power to defend themselfe, for that, yt they coulde not be enuyroned nor assayled by the sydes. The matters, beyng in thies termes, and the duke of Messenyans, seyng that there was no ende, came vnto Cleon and to Demosthenes and sayde vnto them that they trayuailed themself in vayne to thincke to take thennymies in that same sorte. But yf they delyuered hym a certayne nomber of footemen lightly armed and of Archers, he wold take payne to enter secreatly vpon the ennymies at their back in some maner. Whiche thing they dyd graunt hym. Who, hauyng the people that he had demaunded, ledde them the most secretly that he coulde throughe the rockes and through ye brokene places of the Islande, tournyng vntill he came to the quarter, whyche was not kept nor defended, for that, that yt semed to the Lacedemouyans, that yt defended yt self, by yt self, & wythe the most payne of the worlde, he mounted & skaled vp to ye height. Wherby, the Lacedemonyans, seing them to be taken be∣hynd them, were greatly astonyd & in maner withoute hope. And ye Athenians, yt assailed them afore, did all reioyce, as certayne of the victory. In this estate the Lacedemonyans founde themselfe enclosed & slayne on all sydes, as those, whiche did fyght agaynst Perses at Thermopiles, if comparyson may be made of grete thinges, vnto small. For as those, being there surprised by smal passages & paths of the moūteigne on all sydes, were al slayn: so thies, being here hurt on all parts, defended themself no longer. But perceyuing themself in so small nōber agaynst so great nōber of enemis, & being moreouer faint & ouercōme wt famine, droughe and wyth trauaylle: lefte and habandonned the defenses. In suche māner, that the Athenyans had nowe already gottone all the entrynges of the place. whych sene by Cleon & Demosthenes, & that, howmuch the lesse they defended thēself, so muche ye greater nōber of thē was slain: they caused their people to retire, desiring rather to cary thē, yt were yet lyuinge prysoners vnto Athens, if they wold render
themself to their wil, than to slay them. And so they caused them to be sōmoned by the herault with a lowde voyce to do it. And whan one partie did caste on the grounde their shielde clappinge theire handes, whyche was a tokene, that they accepted the partie. And so made treuese for a small space. Duringe the whiche, they came to parliament, to wit, Cleon & Demosthenes for the Athenyans, and Styphō of Pharacie for the Lacedemonyās, for that, that Epidatas, yt had bene their capitaine was deade, and Hippagretus, who was chosen in his stede, was hurte and lay on the groūde among the dead, though that he was yet liuing•• For thys cause had the same Hippagretus bene chosene after the lawe and custome of the Lacedemonyans for to ordeyne and commaunde according to the chaūce and as nede shulde require. who, beinge comme to the parlyamente with the said Cleon and Demosthenes, sayde vnto them on the bihalf of them that were with him and of his, that bifore accepting the partie, they would therin haue the ad∣uyse of their capytains & compaignions, that were in the mayne lande. And seing that the Athenyans wolde not agre vnto it, they called wyth a lowde voyce, the heraults that were wyth their said Capytains in the mayne land. And after that they had called thre tymes, one of the sayd heraulds came vnto them vpō a lad∣der, who shewed them from the other, that they shuld•• denyse and take partie in their affaire themself, so alwayes that they shulde not make anny shamefull ap∣poinctement. And therupon hauynge consulted amonge them what they had to do, they rendred thēself wt their armure to the pleasure of the enemys. & were all that night & the day folowing, kept as prysoners. The other day after, the Athe∣nyans hauynge sett vp their trophee in the Islāde in token of victorie, departed the saide prisoners amonge the bendes, delyuerynge them in kepynge vnto the Capytaynes of that same bendes. And afterwardes preparedde themselfe to re∣tourne vnto Athens. And rendred to the Lacedemonyans (who for that cause had sent their heraulte) the corpses of the dead. And of all the nōber o•• foure hoū∣dred & .xx. yt were passed into the Islande, there were foūde but two houndred & four skore, wherof there were syx skoore of Sparte, all the other were dead. Of the Athenyans there was no great nōber slayne, for that, that there was no ran∣ged battaille. The tyme, that the sayd Lacedemonyās had bene in the Islāde, f••ō the same by sea, vntill this the last battaile: were thre skore & twelue daies. wher they had prouisiō of victuailes during the .xx. dayes, that ye Ambassadours went to Athens for the appoictmēt. The rest of the time, they liued wt that, that was brought them secretly. And so there was founde in their campe wheate & othere victuailes, which they had yet in stoare. For Epitadas departed them so, as was requisitt for the necessitie. In this manner departed the Athenyans and the La∣cedemonyans frō Pylus, and euery one wēte to his house•• And the promes, that Cleō had made yt to Atheniās at his departure (though it were folish & glorious) was parfourmed & accomplished. For he broughte the ennemyes prisonners to Athens within the space of twenty dayes, lyke as he had promysed. whiche was the furste thynge that happened in that warre agaynst the opinyō of all the Gre∣kes. For they neuer thought, that the Lacedemonyās, nother for famyne nor for other necessitie, that they might haue: wolde haue rendred their armure. But ra∣ther than they wold do that, to fyghte vntill the death. And if those that yelded themself hadde bene lyke vnto them that hadde bene slayne, they hadde not bene so rendredde. whereby it thereupon chauncedde after that they were brought to Athens, that one amonge them beinge asked by an Athenyan, in manner of dery¦sion and mockage, if those that were slayne of theire compaignie, were people of estymacyon: he aunsweredde hym in thys manner. That the distaff was muche
to be made of, if it knewe men of honestie, wylling by the distaff to signefie the a∣rowe and shott. And to say, that those that were dead of their cōpaignions, were slayne by strokes of shot so as they came at aduenture. wherefore it coulde not be iudged if they dyed villaynously or no. Being than the sayd prisoners brought to Athens, it was ordeyned that they shuld be kepte in good prysons vntill that some appoinctement were takene wyth the Peloponesians. And if in the meane seasone, they came to ouerronne their lande, that they shulde be all slayne. To the reste the Athenyans did leaue their garnysone at Pylus. And moreouer the Mes∣senyens sente thider from Naupacte, some of their people, suche, as they thought moste conuenient and mete for to be in that same place. For that, that whā Mes∣sena was in his entier, that same place, was of his terrytorye. And they that kept it, were robbars and theues, and wente pillinge and robbing the countrey of La∣conie, and did there many other mischeues, somuche more easie, for that they did speake one self language. Of thys warre, the Lacedemonyans were astonied, for that they they were not accustomed to make it of like sorte. And also of this, that their sk••aues rendred themself to the ennemys. So they sente secretely Ambas∣sadours to the Athenyans for to vnderstande and knowe if ••hey might recouer Pylus and their prysonners. But the Athenyans, who desired and affected grea∣ter thinges, after mamy goynges and commynges, sente them agayne wythout doynge any thynge. This ende hadde the affayres at Pylus.
Theoge¦nes.
Nycyas