ut either side having gained
a decisive advantage, the Boeotians returning to their army and the
Athenians to Nisaea.

After this Brasidas and the army came nearer to the sea and to Megara,
and taking up a convenient position, remained quiet in order of battle,
expecting to be attacked by the Athenians and knowing that the Megarians
were waiting to see which would be the victor. This attitude seemed
to present two advantages. Without taking the offensive or willingly
provoking the hazards of a battle, they openly showed their readiness to
fight, and thus without bearing the burden of the day would fairly
reap its honours; while at the same time they effectually served their
interests at Megara. For if they had failed to show themselves they
would not have had a chance, but would have certainly been considered
vanquished, and have lost the town. As it was, the Athenians might
possibly not be inclined to accept their challenge, and their object
would be attained without fighting. And so it turned out. The Athenians
formed outside the long walls and, the enemy not attacking, there
remained motionless; their generals having decided that the risk was too
unequal. In fact most of their objects had been already attained; and
they would have to begin a battle against superior numbers, and if
victorious could only gain Megara, while a defeat would destroy the
flower of their heavy soldiery. For the enemy it was different; as even
the states actually represented in his army risked each only a part of
its entire force, he might well be more audacious. Accordingly, after
waiting for some time without either side attacking, the Athenians
withdrew to Nisaea, and the Peloponnesians after them to the point from
which they had set out. The friends of the Megarian exiles now threw
aside their hesitation, and opened the gates to Brasidas and the
commanders from the different states--looking upon him as the victor
and upon the Athenians as having declined the battle--and receiving
them into the town proceeded to discuss matters with them; the party in
correspondence with the Athenians being paralysed by the turn things had
taken.

Afterwards Brasidas let the allies go home, and himself went back
to Corinth, to prepare for his expedition to Thrace, his original
destination. The Athenians also returning home, the Megarians in the
city most implicated in the Athenian negotiation, knowing that they had
been detected, presently disappeared; w