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78. The Peloponnesians, having failed in this, as in their former attempts, sent away a part of1 their army but retained the rest,2 and dividing the task among the contingents of the several cities, surrounded Plataea with a wall. Trenches, out of which they took clay for the bricks, were formed both on the inner and the outer side of the wall. [2] About the rising of Arcturus3 all was completed. They then drew off their army, leaving a guard on one half of the wall, while the other half was guarded by the Boeotians; [3] the disbanded troops returned to their homes. The Plataeans had already conveyed to Athens4 their wives, children, and old men, with the rest of their unserviceable population. Those who remained during the siege were four hundred Plataeans, eighty Athenians, and a hundred and ten women to make bread. [4] These were their exact numbers when the siege began. There was no one else, slave or freeman, within the walls. In such sort was the blockade of Plataea completed.

1 Failing in their attempt, they draw a double wall round the city and retire, leaving a guard of themselves and the Boeotians.

2 Retaining in the text τὸ δὲ λοιπὸν ἀφἐντες.

3 i. e. about the middle of September.

4 2.6 fin.

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