CHAPTER LXIV
THE SENTENCE OF DEATH
In the fourth year of the Peloponnesian War the city of
Mytilene threw off the yoke of Athens. Mytilene was the
capital of Lesbos, an island near the coast of Asia. The city
had belonged to the Delian league, and when the league
became the empire of Athens, the city remained faithful
to the empire. But as time passed the Mytileneans
became afraid lest Athens should treat them as she had
treated the Samians, and should make them subjects
instead of allies.
While Athens was at war with Sparta she would have little time, thought the Mytileneans, to trouble about their small island, so they revolted and asked the Spartans to support them, if that should be necessary. The Spartans promised to help the Mytileneans if the Athenians should punish their disloyalty, but, as so often happened, they did not attempt to keep their promise until it was too late.
Athens was angry when she heard of the revolt at Mytilene. Although she could ill spare the men, she sent an army under a general named Paches to blockade the town by sea and by land and so to starve her into submission. At all costs Mytilene must not fall into the hands of Sparta.
Before long, so strict was the blockade, food began to run short in the hapless island, and the Spartans failed to send the help they had promised.
But when the citizens were desperate with hunger, a messenger from Sparta reached the town. He had passed
