ide of
a war whose rapidity defied precaution, they lived in constant fear
of internal revolution, and now took the unusual step of raising four
hundred horse and a force of archers, and became more timid than ever
in military matters, finding themselves involved in a maritime struggle,
which their organization had never contemplated, and that against
Athenians, with whom an enterprise unattempted was always looked upon
as a success sacrificed. Besides this, their late numerous reverses
of fortune, coming close one upon another without any reason, had
thoroughly unnerved them, and they were always afraid of a second
disaster like that on the island, and thus scarcely dared to take the
field, but fancied that they could not stir without a blunder, for
being new to the experience of adversity they had lost all confidence in
themselves.

Accordingly they now allowed the Athenians to ravage their seaboard,
without making any movement, the garrisons in whose neighbourhood the
descents were made always thinking their numbers insufficient, and
sharing the general feeling. A single garrison which ventured to resist,
near Cotyrta and Aphrodisia, struck terror by its charge into the
scattered mob of light troops, but retreated, upon being received by the
heavy infantry, with the loss of a few men and some arms, for which the
Athenians set up a trophy, and then sailed off to Cythera. From thence
they sailed round to Epidaurus Limera, ravaged part of the country,
and so came to Thyrea in the Cynurian territory, upon the Argive and
Laconian border. This district had been given by its Lacedaemonian
owners to the expelled Aeginetans to inhabit, in return for their good
offices at the time of the earthquake and the rising of the Helots; and
also because, although subjects of Athens, they had always sided with
Lacedaemon.

While the Athenians were still at sea, the Aeginetans evacuated a fort
which they were building upon the coast, and retreated into the upper
town where they lived, rather more than a mile from the sea. One of the
Lacedaemonian district garrisons which was helping them in the work,
refused to enter here with them at their entreaty, thinking it dangerous
to shut themselves up within the wall, and retiring to the high ground
remained quiet, not considering themselves a match for the enemy.
Meanwhile the Athenians landed, and instantly advanced with all their
forces and took Thyrea. The town they burnt, pillaging what w