93.
While the new colonists were collecting at Heraclea, the Athenians grew alarmed;
the1 scheme appeared to be aimed at Euboea, for Cape Cenaeum on the opposite coast is
within a short sail.
But their fears were not realized; no harm whatever ensued.
[2]
The reasons were these:—In the first place the Thessalians are strong in that part of the country, and fearing that Heraclea, which was built to
control them, would be a powerful and dangerous neighbour, they carried on uninterrupted
war against the young colony until they completely wore the settlers out, although
originally they had been very numerous.
For every one joined without hesitation, encouraged by the promise of security which a
Lacedaemonian colony seemed to offer.
But another great cause of the ruin and depopulation of the place was the conduct of
the governors sent out from Lacedaemon, who frightened the people away by their severe
and often unjust administration2.
Thus the Heracleans fell an easy prey to their neighbours.
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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