approach
further off, was thrown into utter disorder; and the whole Athenian
army narrowly escaped being defeated. For that day, as the Mendaeans and
their allies showed no signs of yielding, the Athenians retreated and
encamped, and the Mendaeans at nightfall returned into the town.

The next day the Athenians sailed round to the Scione side, and took the
suburb, and all day plundered the country, without any one coming out
against them, partly because of intestine disturbances in the town; and
the following night the three hundred Scionaeans returned home. On the
morrow Nicias advanced with half the army to the frontier of Scione and
laid waste the country; while Nicostratus with the remainder sat down
before the town near the upper gate on the road to Potidaea. The arms
of the Mendaeans and of their Peloponnesian auxiliaries within the wall
happened to be piled in that quarter, where Polydamidas accordingly
began to draw them up for battle, encouraging the Mendaeans to make a
sortie. At this moment one of the popular party answered him factiously
that they would not go out and did not want a war, and for thus
answering was dragged by the arm and knocked about by Polydamidas.
Hereupon the infuriated commons at once seized their arms and rushed
at the Peloponnesians and at their allies of the opposite faction. The
troops thus assaulted were at once routed, partly from the suddenness
of the conflict and partly through fear of the gates being opened to the
Athenians, with whom they imagined that the attack had been concerted.
As many as were not killed on the spot took refuge in the citadel,
which they had held from the first; and the whole, Athenian army, Nicias
having by this time returned and being close to the city, now burst into
Mende, which had opened its gates without any convention, and sacked it
just as if they had taken it by storm, the generals even finding some
difficulty in restraining them from also massacring the inhabitants.
After this the Athenians told the Mendaeans that they might retain their
civil rights, and themselves judge the supposed authors of the revolt;
and cut off the party in the citadel by a wall built down to the sea
on either side, appointing troops to maintain the blockade. Having thus
secured Mende, they proceeded against Scione.

The Scionaeans and Peloponnesians marched out against them, occupying a
strong hill in front of the town, which had to be captured by the enemy
before they