57.
These measures of precaution were taken by the Athenians immediately after the
sea-fight1 off Corcyra.
[2]
The hostility of the Corinthians was no longer doubtful, and Perdiccas, king of
Macedon, the son of Alexander, hitherto the friend and ally of Athens, had now become an
enemy.
[3]
He had quarrelled with the Athenians because they had made an alliance with his brother
Philip and with Derdas, who were league against him.
[4]
Alarmed by their attitude, he sent envoys to Sparta and did all he could to stir up a
war between Athens and the Peloponnese.
He also sought the alliance of Corinth, for he had an eye to the revolt of Potidaea;
[5]
and he proposed to the Chalcidians and to the Bottiaeans that they should join in the
revolt, thinking, that if he had the assistance of the neighboring peoples, the
difficulties of the war would be diminished.
[6]
The Athenians became aware of his designs and resolved to forestall the revolt of the
cities. They were already intending to send against Perdiccas thirty ships and a thousand
hoplites under the command of Archestratus the son of Lycomedes, and2 ten others, and they told their admirals to take
hostages from the Potidaeans and to demolish their wall. They were also to keep a watch over the towns in the neighbourhood and prevent any
attempt at rebellion.
Thucydides translated into English; with introduction, marginal analysis, notes, and indices. Volume 1. Thucydides. Benjamin Jowett. translator. Oxford. Clarendon Press. 1881.
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