wadays, so
perpetually were they robbed and plundered by the Thracians; whereas
the peninsula needed only to be walled across from sea to sea, and there
would be abundance of good land to cultivate--enough for themselves and
as many others from Lacedaemon as cared to come. "So that it would not
surprise us," continued the envoys, "if a Lacedaemonian were actually
sent out from Sparta with a force to carry out the project." Dercylidas
kept his ears open but his counsel close, and so sent forward the
commissioners to Ephesus. (5) It pleased him to picture their progress
through the Hellenic cities, and the spectacle of peace and prosperity
which would everywhere greet their eyes. When he knew that his stay was
to be prolonged, he sent again to Pharnabazus and offered him once more
as an alternative either the prolongation of the winter truce or war.
And once again Pharnabazus chose truce. It was thus that Dercylidas was
able to leave the cities in the neighbourhood of the satrap (6) in peace
and friendship. Crossing the Hellespont himself he brought his army
into Europe, and marching through Thrace, which was also friendly, was
entertained by Seuthes, (7) and so reached the Chersonese.

(5) See Grote, "H. G." ix. 301.

(6) Or, reading after Cobet, {tas peri ekeina poleis}--"the cities of
that neighbourhood."

(7) See "Anab." VII. vii. 51.

This district, he soon discovered, not only contained something like a
dozen cities, (8) but was singularly fertile. The soil was of the best,
but ruined by the ravages of the Thracians, precisely as he had been
told. Accordingly, having measured and found the breadth of the isthmus
barely four miles, (9) he no longer hesitated. Having offered sacrifice,
he commenced his line of wall, distributing the area to the soldiers in
detachments, and promising to award them prizes for their industry--a
first prize for the section first completed, and the rest as each
detachment of workers might deserve. By this means the whole wall begun
in spring was finished before autumn. Within these lines he established
eleven cities, with numerous harbours, abundance of good arable land,
and plenty of land under plantation, besides magnificent grazing grounds
for sheep and cattle of every kind.

(8) Lit. "eleven or twelve cities." For the natural productivity, see
"Anab." V. vi. 25.

(9) Lit. "thirty-seven stades." Mod. Gallipoli. See Herod. vi. 36;
Plut. "Pericl." xix.

Having fi