THE ENVOYS OF LIFE AND DEATH. 201

clared themselves absolved from all allegiance to the
league.

The news greatly disturbed the Athenians. They
had their hands full of war. But Mitylene had
asked aid from Sparta, and unless brought under
subjection to Athens it would become an ally of her
enemy. No time was therefore to be lost. A fleet
was sent in haste to the revolted city, hoping to take
it by surprise. This failing, the city was blockaded
by sea and land, and the siege kept up until starva-
tion threatened the people within the walls. Until
now hope of Spartan aid had been entertained. But
the Spartans came not, the provisions were gone,
death or surrender became inevitable, and the city
was given up. About a thousand prisoners were
sent to Athens, and Mitylene was held till the pleas-
ure of its conquerors should be known.

This pleasure was a tragic one. The Athenians
were deeply incensed against Mitylene, and full of
thirst for revenge. Their anger was increased by the
violent speeches of Cleon, a new political leader who
had recently risen from among the ranks of trade,
and whose virulent tongue gave him controlling in-
fluence over the Athenians at that period of public
wrath. When the fate of Mitylene and its people was
considered by the Athenian assembly this demagogue
took the lead in the discussion, wrought the people
up to the most violent passion by his acrimonious
tongue, and proposed that the whole male popula-
tion of the conquered city should be put to death,
and the women and children sold as slaves. This
frightful sentence was in accord with the fecling of