Athenians.—Enormities committed by Pachês at Mitylênê—his death before the Athenian dikastery.—Surrender of Platæa to the Lacedæmonians.—The Platæan captive garrison are put upon their trial before Lacedæmonian judges.—Speech of the Platæan deputies to these judges on behalf of themselves and their comrades.—Reply of the Thebans.—The Platæans are sentenced to death by the Lacedæmonian judges, and all slain.—Reason of the severity of the Lacedæmonians—cases of Platæa and Mitylênê compared.—Circumstances of Korkyra—the Korkyræan captives are sent back from Corinth, under agreement to effect a revolution in the government and foreign politics of the island.—Their attempts to bring about a revolution—they prosecute the democratical leader Peithias—he prosecutes five of them in revenge—they are found guilty.—They assassinate Peithias and several other senators, and make themselves masters of the government—they decree neutrality—their unavailing mission to Athens.—The oligarchical party at Korkyra attack the people—obstinate battle in the city—victory of the people—arrival of the Athenian admiral Nikostratus.—Moderation of Nikostratus—proceedings of the people towards the vanquished oligarchs.—Arrival of the Lacedæmonian admiral Alkidas, with a fleet of fifty-three triremes. Renewed terror and struggle in the island.—Naval battle off Korkyra between Nikostratus and Alkidas.—Confusion and defenceless state of Korkyra—Alkidas declines to attack it—arrival of the Athenian fleet under Eurymedon—flight of Alkidas.—Vengeance of the victorious Demos in Korkyra against the prostrate oligarchs—fearful bloodshed.—Lawless and ferocious murders—base connivance of Eurymedon.—Band of oligarchical fugitives escape to the mainland—afterwards land again on the island and establish themselves on Mount Istônê.—Political reflections introduced by Thucydidês on occasion of the Korkyræan massacre.—The political enormities of Korkyra were the worst that occurred in the whole war.—How these enormities began and became exaggerated. Conduct of the opposing parties.—Contrast between the bloody character of revolutions at Korkyra and the mild character of analogous phenomena at Athens.—Bad morality of the rich and great men throughout the Grecian cities. 221-285 CHAPTER LI. FROM THE TROUBLES IN KORKYRA, IN THE FIFTH YEAR OF THE PELOPONNESIAN WAR, DOWN TO THE END OF THE SIXTH YEAR.