Ii.
THE KNIGHTS.

The campaign which followed the production of the Acharnians
greatly encouraged the war party, and dashed the hopes of the advo-
cates of peace. The most important victory of the year is referred to
in the story about to be told, and must be briefly described. As the
result of a series of operations, which it is needless to relate in detail,
a body of four hundred and twenty Spartan soldiers were blockaded in
Sphacteria, an island close to Pylos on the western coast of the Pelopon-
nesus (near the modern Navarino). For some time the siege dragged
on, the Athenian generals seeming unable to bring it to a successful
issue. The demagogue, Cleon, censured their incompetency in the
Assembly at Athens, and declared that were he in command, he would ©
bring the Spartans to Athens within a few days. He was taken at his
word, almost compelled to go, and, strange to say, whether from trick,
skill, or the audacity of ignorance, accomplished his task. Such a dis-
aster had never before happened to Sparta. The men whose lives were
in danger were a considerable part of the fighting power of the state.
The Spartan authorities at once asked for an armistice, and to secure it
consented to hand over their fleet to the Athenian admiral in command
on the spot. This done, they sent an embassy to Athens and opened
negotiations for peace, offering most favourable terms, all, in fact, that
could reasonably have been expected. These, however, were rejected,
and the war went on. Aristophanes exhibited the play of the nights
(so called from the chorus, which was supposed to consist of the “ Gen-
tlemen” of Athens, a class next to the wealthiest). We are told that_
Cleon was at this time so powerful and so much dreaded that the peo-
ple who manufactured masks for the theatre refused to make one that
would represent the demagogue’s features. Aristophanes, who acted
the character himself, possibly because he could not find an actor will-
ing to undertake it, had to “make up” for the part by smearing his
face with the lees of wine.

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