18.
While they were thus engaged, the Peloponnesian army was advancing: it arrived first of
all at1 Oenoè, a fortress on the confines of Attica and Boeotia, which was
garrisoned by the Athenians whenever war broke out, and was the point at which the
Peloponnesians intended to enter the enemy's country.
[2]
There they encamped and prepared to assault the walls by means of engines and siege
works.
But these and other measures took up time and detained them in the neighbourhood.
[3]
Archidamus was severely blamed for the delay; he was also thought not to have been
energetic enough in levying war, and to have done the Athenians good service by
discouraging vigorous action.
After the muster of the forces he had been accused of delay at the isthmus, and of
loitering on the march.
But his reputation was most affected by his halt at Oenoè.
For the Athenians employed the interval in getting away their property;
[4]
and the Peloponnesians fancied that, if they had advanced quickly and he had not
lingered, they could have seized everything before it was conveyed within the walls.
[5]
Such were the feelings entertained towards Archidamus by his troops during the halt.
He is said to have held back in the belief that the Athenians, while their lands were
still unravaged2, would yield, and that the thought of allowing them to be devastated would be
too much for them.
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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