eus, king of the Lyncestians. It
had been less difficult for them to get an army to leave Peloponnese,
because of the ill fortune of the Lacedaemonians at the present moment.
The attacks of the Athenians upon Peloponnese, and in particular upon
Laconia, might, it was hoped, be diverted most effectually by annoying
them in return, and by sending an army to their allies, especially
as they were willing to maintain it and asked for it to aid them in
revolting. The Lacedaemonians were also glad to have an excuse for
sending some of the Helots out of the country, for fear that the present
aspect of affairs and the occupation of Pylos might encourage them to
move. Indeed fear of their numbers and obstinacy even persuaded the
Lacedaemonians to the action which I shall now relate, their policy at
all times having been governed by the necessity of taking precautions
against them. The Helots were invited by a proclamation to pick out
those of their number who claimed to have most distinguished themselves
against the enemy, in order that they might receive their freedom; the
object being to test them, as it was thought that the first to claim
their freedom would be the most high-spirited and the most apt to
rebel. As many as two thousand were selected accordingly, who crowned
themselves and went round the temples, rejoicing in their new freedom.
The Spartans, however, soon afterwards did away with them, and no one
ever knew how each of them perished. The Spartans now therefore gladly
sent seven hundred as heavy infantry with Brasidas, who recruited the
rest of his force by means of money in Peloponnese.

Brasidas himself was sent out by the Lacedaemonians mainly at his
own desire, although the Chalcidians also were eager to have a man so
thorough as he had shown himself whenever there was anything to be done
at Sparta, and whose after-service abroad proved of the utmost use to
his country. At the present moment his just and moderate conduct towards
the towns generally succeeded in procuring their revolt, besides
the places which he managed to take by treachery; and thus when the
Lacedaemonians desired to treat, as they ultimately did, they had places
to offer in exchange, and the burden of war meanwhile shifted from
Peloponnese. Later on in the war, after the events in Sicily, the
present valour and conduct of Brasidas, known by experience to some,
by hearsay to others, was what mainly created in the allies of Athens a
feeling for