History of the Peloponnesian War

Setting out from the islands, the Athenians sailed the same day to Crommyon in Corinthian territory, which is distant a hundred and twenty stadia from the city, and coming to anchor ravaged the land and bivouacked during the night.

The next day sailing along the coast they came first to the territory of Epidaurus, where they made a landing, and then to Methana, between Epidaurus and Troezen, where they walled off the neck of the peninsula on which Methana lies. Here they left a garrison, which afterward occupied itself with marauding excursions into the territory of Troezen, Halieis, and Epidaurus. But the fleet sailed back to Athens as soon as the fortifications at Methana had been completed.

It was at this time, while these events were occurring, that Eurymedon and Sophocles,[*](cf. 4.8.3; 4.29.1.) setting sail from Pylos for Sicily with an Athenian fleet, arrived at Corcyra. There they took part with the men from the city[*](The democrats who had held the city since 427 B. C. (cf. 1.lxxxv.).) in an expedition against the Corcyraeans who had established themselves on Mt. Istone, and who at this time, after crossing over thither subsequently to the revolution, were dominating the country and doing a great deal of damage.

The stronghold was taken by assault, but the men in it fled in a body to some high ground and there capitulated, on condition that they should surrender their mercenary troops and give up their arms, leaving it to the Athenian people to decide upon their own fate.

The generals accordingly conveyed the men under truce to the island of Ptychia[*](cf. iii. lxxv. 5; now called Vido.) to be kept under custody there until they should be sent to Athens, and the understanding was that if anyone should be caught trying to run away the truce should be regarded as broken for them all.

But the leaders of the popular party at Corcyra were afraid that the Athenians would not put them to death on their arrival at Athens, and therefore resorted to the following stratagem.