10.
When Brasidas had thus said, he both prepared to go out himself, and also placed the rest that were with Clearidas before the gates called the Thracian gates to issue forth afterwards as was appointed.
[2]
Now Brasidas having been in sight when he came down from Cerdylium and again when he sacrificed in the city by the temple of Pallas, which place might be seen from without, it was told Cleon [whilst Brasidas was ordering of his men] (for he was at this time gone off a little to look about him) that the whole army of the enemies was plainly to be discerned within the town, and that the feet of many men and horses, ready to come forth, might be discerned from under the gate.
[3]
Hearing this, he came to the place;
and when he saw it was true, being not minded to fight until his aids arrived, and yet making no other account but that his retreat would be discovered, he commanded at once to give the signal of retreat, and that as they went the left wing should march foremost, which was the only means they had to withdraw towards Eion.
[4]
But when he thought they were long about it, causing the right wing to wheel about and lay open their disarmed parts to the enemy, he led away the army himself.
[5]
Brasidas at the same time, having spied his opportunity and that the army of the Athenians removed, said to those about him and the rest: ‘These men stay not for us;
it is apparent by the wagging of their spears and of their heads;
for where such motion is, they use not to stay for the charge of the enemy;
[6]
therefore open me some body the gates appointed and let us boldly and speedily sally forth upon them.’ Then he went out himself at the gate towards the trench, and which was the first gate of the long wall, which then was standing;
and at high speed took the straight way, in which, as one passeth by the strongest part of the town, there standeth now a trophy, and charging upon the midst of the Athenian army, which was terrified both with their own disarray and the valour of the man, forced them to fly.
[7]
And Clearidas, as was appointed, having issued out by the Thracian gates, was withal coming upon them.
[8]
And it fell out that the Athenians, by this unexpected and sudden attempt, were on both sides in confusion;
and the left wing which was next to Eion, and which indeed was marching away before, was immediately broken off from the rest of the army and fled.
When that was gone, Brasidas coming up to the right wing, was there wounded.
[9]
The Athenians saw not when he fell;
and they that were near took him up and carried him off.
The right wing stood longer to it: and though Cleon himself presently fled (as at first he intended not to stay) and was intercepted by a Myrcinian targetier and slain, yet his men of arms, casting themselves into a circle on the [top of a little] hill, twice or thrice resisted the charge of Clearidas and shrunk not at all, till begirt with the Myrcinian and Chalcidean horse and with the targetiers, they were put to flight by their darts.
[10]
Thus the whole army of the Athenians, getting away with much ado over the hills and by several ways, all that were not slain upon the place or by the Chalcidean horse and targetiers, recovered Eion.
[11]
The other side taking up Brasidas out of the battle, and having so long kept him alive, brought him yet breathing into the city;
and he knew that his side had gotten the victory, but expired shortly after.
[12]
When Clearidas with the rest of the army were returned from pursuit of the enemy, they rifled those that were slain and erected a trophy.
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Thucydides. Thomas Hobbes. translator. London. Bohn. 1843.
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