101.
Sitalces now held a conference with Perdiccas touching the matters which gave
occasion1 to the war.
The fleet which the Athenians had promised never arrived; for not believing that
Sitalces would come they only sent gifts and envoys to him.
After waiting for them in vain he despatched a part of his army against the Chalcidians
and Bottiaeans, and, driving them within their walls, devastated the country.
[2]
While he was encamped in these parts, the Thessalians, who lie towards the south,
the Magnesians and other dependants of the Thessalians, and all the
Hellenes as far as Thermopylae were afraid that his army would move on them, and took
measures of precaution.
[3]
Those independent Thracian tribes to the north beyond the Strymon who dwelt in the
plains, namely the Panaeans, Odomantians, Droans, and Dersaeans, were also in great
alarm.
[4]
A belief arose, which spread far and wide among the enemies of Athens, that the
Athenians meant to lead their Odrysian allies against the rest of Hellas.
[5]
Meanwhile Sitalces overran and ravaged Chalciicè, Botticè, and
Macedonia, but could not effect his objects; and, his army being without food and
suffering from the winter, he was persuaded by his nephew, who next to himself had the
greatest authority, Seuthes the son of Spardacus2, to return home at once.
Now Perdiccas had secretly gained over Seuthes, promising to give him his sister in
marriage, with a portion.
[6]
And so Sitalces and his army, having remained thirty days in all, of which eight were
passed among the Chalcidians, returned home in haste.
Perdiccas in fulfilment of his promise gave his sister Stratonicè in
marriage to Seuthes.
Thus ended the expedition of Sitalces.
1 Sitalces holds a conference with Perdiccas, and after an unsuccessful campaign in Botticè and Chalcidicè, is persuaded by his nephew Seuthes (who had been gained over by Perdiccas) to return home. Alarm in Hellas.
2 Cp. 4.101 fin.
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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