I
The negotiations for peace, begun in the previous year; had been
interrupted by the brilliant successes of Brasidas, and the factious
opposition of Cleon, and after their death the main obstacle to a
pacific understanding was removed. The high hopes conceived by the
Athenians after the capture of the Spartans at Pylos had been damped by
their disastrous defeat at Delium, and by the revolt of their allies in
Thrace; and, above all, they were anxious to recover Amphipolis. Still
more depressed was the temper of the Spartans. They had entered on the
war in a spirit of sanguine confidence, expecting to make an end of the
conflict by a single invasion of Attica; and now, after ten years of
fighting, their great rival remained almost untouched in the chief
sources of her power. Their coasts were exposed to continual ravage by
the Athenian fleets, and Pylos was still occupied by their bitter
enemies, the Messenians, attracting all the discontented elements in
Sparta, and keeping the Helots in a continual ferment. And finally a
hundred and twenty of their noblest citizens were immured in the
dungeons of Athens, and they were ready to make great sacrifices to
procure their release.
Accordingly, in the winter after the battle of Amphipolis, negotiations
were resumed, and early in the following spring a treaty of peace was
concluded between Athens and Sparta, on the understanding that all
places taken by force of arms should be restored, and all prisoners set
at liberty. Such was the Peace of Nicias, named after its chief
promoter, the former rival of Cleon, and now the leading politician at
Athens. It was really a private agreement between Athens and Sparta,
for the most important of the Spartan allies, who thought that their
interests were neglected, refused to sign the treaty. Alarmed by this,
the Spartans immediately concluded a second treaty with Athens, binding
both sides to mutual aid and defence, in case their territories were
attacked. The prisoners taken at Sphacteria were now restored, but
owing to the bungling of Nicias, the Athenians failed to regain
Amphipolis.