o a revolt, and that, unless they were
immediately prevented, Athens would lose Lesbos.

However, the Athenians, distressed by the plague, and by the war that
had recently broken out and was now raging, thought it a serious matter
to add Lesbos with its fleet and untouched resources to the list of
their enemies; and at first would not believe the charge, giving too
much weight to their wish that it might not be true. But when an embassy
which they sent had failed to persuade the Mitylenians to give up the
union and preparations complained of, they became alarmed, and resolved
to strike the first blow. They accordingly suddenly sent off forty ships
that had been got ready to sail round Peloponnese, under the command
of Cleippides, son of Deinias, and two others; word having been brought
them of a festival in honour of the Malean Apollo outside the town,
which is kept by the whole people of Mitylene, and at which, if haste
were made, they might hope to take them by surprise. If this plan
succeeded, well and good; if not, they were to order the Mitylenians to
deliver up their ships and to pull down their walls, and if they did not
obey, to declare war. The ships accordingly set out; the ten galleys,
forming the contingent of the Mitylenians present with the fleet
according to the terms of the alliance, being detained by the Athenians,
and their crews placed in custody. However, the Mitylenians were
informed of the expedition by a man who crossed from Athens to Euboea,
and going overland to Geraestus, sailed from thence by a merchantman
which he found on the point of putting to sea, and so arrived at
Mitylene the third day after leaving Athens. The Mitylenians accordingly
refrained from going out to the temple at Malea, and moreover barricaded
and kept guard round the half-finished parts of their walls and
harbours.

When the Athenians sailed in not long after and saw how things stood,
the generals delivered their orders, and upon the Mitylenians refusing
to obey, commenced hostilities. The Mitylenians, thus compelled to go to
war without notice and unprepared, at first sailed out with their fleet
and made some show of fighting, a little in front of the harbour; but
being driven back by the Athenian ships, immediately offered to treat
with the commanders, wishing, if possible, to get the ships away for the
present upon any tolerable terms. The Athenian commanders accepted their
offers, being themselves fearful that they mi