31.
About the end of the summer the entire Athenian force, including the metics, invaded
the1 territory of Megara, under the command of Pericles the son of Xanthippus.
The Athenian fleet had reached Aegina on its way home, and when the commanders heard
that the whole armed force of the city was in Megara, they sailed thither and joined
them.
This was the largest army which the Athenians ever had in one place;
[2]
for the city was still in her full strength, and had not as yet suffered from the
plague.
The Athenians themselves numbered not less than ten thousand hoplites, exclusive of the
remaining three thousand who were engaged at Potidaea.
A force of metic hoplites amounting to at least three thousand took part in the
invasion, and also a large number of light-armed troops.
[3]
After ravaging the greater part of the country they retired.
They repeated the invasion, sometimes with cavalry, sometimes with the whole Athenian
army, every year during the war until Nisaea was taken2.
1 The Athenians under the command of Pericles march into the Megarid and ravage the country.
2 Cp. 4.66 init., 69 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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