n of observation upon
Cerdylium, a place situated in the Argilian country on high ground
across the river, not far from Amphipolis, and commanding a view on all
sides, and thus made it impossible for Cleon's army to move without
his seeing it; for he fully expected that Cleon, despising the scanty
numbers of his opponent, would march against Amphipolis with the
force that he had got with him. At the same time Brasidas made
his preparations, calling to his standard fifteen hundred Thracian
mercenaries and all the Edonians, horse and targeteers; he also had
a thousand Myrcinian and Chalcidian targeteers, besides those in
Amphipolis, and a force of heavy infantry numbering altogether about two
thousand, and three hundred Hellenic horse. Fifteen hundred of these he
had with him upon Cerdylium; the rest were stationed with Clearidas in
Amphipolis.

After remaining quiet for some time, Cleon was at length obliged to do
as Brasidas expected. His soldiers, tired of their inactivity, began
also seriously to reflect on the weakness and incompetence of their
commander, and the skill and valour that would be opposed to him, and on
their own original unwillingness to accompany him. These murmurs coming
to the ears of Cleon, he resolved not to disgust the army by keeping it
in the same place, and broke up his camp and advanced. The temper of
the general was what it had been at Pylos, his success on that occasion
having given him confidence in his capacity. He never dreamed of any one
coming out to fight him, but said that he was rather going up to view
the place; and if he waited for his reinforcements, it was not in order
to make victory secure in case he should be compelled to engage, but
to be enabled to surround and storm the city. He accordingly came and
posted his army upon a strong hill in front of Amphipolis, and proceeded
to examine the lake formed by the Strymon, and how the town lay on the
side of Thrace. He thought to retire at pleasure without fighting, as
there was no one to be seen upon the wall or coming out of the gates,
all of which were shut. Indeed, it seemed a mistake not to have brought
down engines with him; he could then have taken the town, there being no
one to defend it.

As soon as Brasidas saw the Athenians in motion he descended himself
from Cerdylium and entered Amphipolis. He did not venture to go out in
regular order against the Athenians: he mistrusted his strength, and
thought it inadequate to the