Textus Originalis

Traduzione

the city on account of the war, and the plague was the result of their change of abode and their un- wonted manner of living.) For all these things Nicias was free from blame, while as general he captured Cythera, an island favourably situated for the com- mand of Laconia and inhabited by Lacedaemonians ; he captured also many places in Thrace which had revolted, and brought them back to their allegiance ; having shut up the Megarians in their city he straightway seized the island of Minoa, and shortly after, from this base of operations, got possession of Nisaea; he also made a descent upon the territory of Corinth, defeated the Corinthians in battle and slew many of them, including Lycophron their general. Here it befell him, when his dead were taken up for burial, that two of his men were left unnoticed on the field. As soon as he was madc aware of this, he halted his armament and sent a herald back to the enemy asking leave to take up his dead. And yet by usage and unwritten law the side which secured the right to take up its dead by a truce, was thought to renounce all claims to victory, and for those who so obtained this right, the erection of a trophy of victory was unlawful, since they are victors who possess the field; but petitioners do not possess the field, since they cannot take what they want. Notwithstanding this, Nicias endured rather to abeudon the honour and reputation of his