osed to imminent danger, which was even seen by
Alcibiades, in his forts opposite, on the Chersonese. He expostulated with
the Athenian admirals, but to no purpose, and urged them to retire to
Sestos. As he feared, the Athenian fleet was surprised, at anchor, on this
open shore, while the crews were on shore in quest of a meal. One hundred
and seventy triremes were thus ingloriously captured, without the loss of
a man--the greatest calamity which had happened to Athens since the
beginning of the war, and decisive as to its result. The captive generals
were slaughtered, together with four thousand Athenian prisoners. Conon,
however, made his escape. So disgraceful and unnecessary was this great
calamity, that it is supposed the fleet was betrayed by its own
commanders; and this supposition is strengthened by its inactivity since
the battle of Arginusae. This crowning disaster happened in September, B.C.
405, and caused a dismay at Athens such as had never before been felt--not
even when the Persians were marching through Attica. Nothing was now left
to the miserable city but to make what preparation it could for the siege,
which everybody foresaw would soon take place. The walls were put in the
best defense it was possible, and two of the three ports were blocked up.
Not only was Athens deprived of her maritime power, but her very existence
was now jeopardized.

(M568) Lysander was in no haste to march upon Athens, since he knew that
no corn ships could reach the city from the Euxine, and that a famine
would soon set in. The Athenian empire was annihilated, and nothing
remained but Athens herself! The Athenians now saw that nothing but union
between the citizens could give them any hope of success, and they made a
solemn pledge in the Acropolis to bury their dissensions and cultivate
harmonious feelings.

(M569) In November, Lysander, with two hundred triremes, blockaded the
Piraeus. The whole force of Sparta, under King Pausanias, went out to meet
him, and encamped at the gates of Athens. The citizens bore the calamity
with fortitude, and, when they began to die of hunger, sent propositions
for capitulation. But no proposition was received which did not include
the demolition of the long walls which Pericles had built. As famine
pressed, and the condition of the people had become intolerable, Athens
was obliged to surrender on the hard conditions that the Piraeus should be
destroyed, the long walls demolished, all forei