hearing the refusal of the Platæans.—Commencement of the siege of Platæa.—Operations of attack and defence—the besiegers make no progress, and are obliged to resort to blockade.—Wall of circumvallation built round Platæa—the place completely beleaguered and a force left to maintain the blockade.—Athenian armament sent to Potidæa and Chalkidic Thrace—it is defeated and returns.—Operations on the coast of Akarnania.—Joint attack upon Akarnania, by land and sea, concerted between the Ambrakiots and Peloponnesians.—Assemblage of the Ambrakiots, Peloponnesians, and Epirotic allies—divisions of Epirots.—They march to attack the Akarnanian town of Stratus.—Rashness of the Epirots—defeat and repulse of the army.—The Peloponnesian fleet comes from Corinth to Akarnania—movements of the Athenian Phormio to oppose it.—Naval battle between Phormio and the Peloponnesian fleet—his complete victory.—Reflections upon these two defeats of the Peloponnesians.—Indignation of the Lacedæmonians at the late naval defeat: they collect a larger fleet under Knêmus to act against Phormio.—Inferior numbers of Phormio—his manœuvring.—The Peloponnesian fleet forces Phormio to a battle on the line of coast near Naupaktus. Dispositions and harangues on both sides.—Battle near Naupaktus. The Peloponnesian fleet at first successful, but afterwards defeated.—Retirement of the defeated Peloponnesian fleet.—Phormio is reinforced—his operations in Akarnania—he returns to Athens.—Attempt of Knêmus and Brasidas to surprise Peiræus, starting from Corinth.—Alliance of the Athenians with the Odrysian king Sitalkês.—Power of the Odrysians in Thrace—their extensive dominion over the other Thracian tribes.—Sitalkês, at the instigation of Athens, undertakes to attack Perdikkas and the Chalkidians of Thrace.—His vast and multifarious host of Thracians and other barbarians.—He invades and ravages Macedonia and Chalkidikê.—He is forced to retire by the severity of the season and want of Athenian coöperation. 153-221 CHAPTER L. FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE FOURTH YEAR OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR DOWN TO THE REVOLUTIONARY COMMOTIONS AT KORKYRA.