29.
The Thracians, therefore, that came too late to go with Demosthenes, they presently sent back, as being unwilling to lay out money in such a scarcity, and gave the charge of carrying them back to Diitrephes, with command as he went along those coasts (for his way was through the Euripus), if occasion served, to do somewhat against the enemy.
[2]
He accordingly landed them by Tanagra and hastily fetched in some small booty.
Then going over the Euripus from Chalcis in Euboea, he disbarked again in Boeotia and led his soldiers towards Mycalessus, and lay all night at the temple of Mercury undiscovered, which is distant from Mycalessus about sixteen furlongs.
[3]
The next day he cometh to the city, being a very great one, and taketh it;
for they kept no watch nor expected that any man would have come in and assaulted them so far from the sea.
Their walls also were but weak, in some places fallen down, and in others low-built, and their gates open through security.
[4]
The Thracians, entering into Mycalessus, spoiled both houses and temples, slew the people without mercy on old or young, but killed all they could light on, both women and children, yea, and the labouring cattle, and whatsoever other living thing they saw.
For the nation of the Thracians, where they dare, are extreme bloody, equal to any of the barbarians.
Insomuch as there was put in practice at this time, besides other disorder, all forms of slaughter that could be imagined;
[5]
they likewise fell upon the schoolhouse, which was in the city a great one, and the children newly entered into it;
and killed them every one.
And the calamity of the whole city, as it was as great as ever befell any, so also was it more unexpected and more bitter.
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Thucydides. Thomas Hobbes. translator. London. Bohn. 1843.
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