daring attempt, undertaken shortly afterwards, to strike at the very
heart of the Athenian power. While the beaten crews of the
Peloponnesian fleet were waiting to be paid off at Lechaeum, they
suddenly received orders to take their oars and rowing-cushions, and
proceed to Nisaea, the port of Megara. The plan was to embark them on
forty vessels, which were lying in the dockyards, and make a night-
attack on Peiraeus. The suggestion came from the Megarians, but in
carrying it out the Peloponnesians were probably influenced by the
bold and enterprising spirit of Brasidas. And in fact, the meditated
descent on Peiraeus was neither so wild nor so rash as it may at first
sight appear. For the Athenians, never dreaming that they might be
taken by surprise, had not taken the precaution to close the entrance
of their harbour, or to station guard-ships for its defence.

Without delay, the officers in charge of the expedition mustered their
crews at Nisaea, and embarking by night, got their ships under way.
But at the last moment their hearts failed them, and instead of
sailing to Peiraeus, they landed on the island of Salamis, and after
attacking a sea-side fort, and capturing three triremes which were
riding at anchor near it, they spread themselves out, and began
ravaging and plundering the country.

Meanwhile fire-signals had been raised, conveying the alarm to
Peiraeus and Athens. A wild panic ensued, and a rumour ran through the
upper city that the enemy had sailed into Peiraeus, while in the
harbour-town it was generally supposed that Salamis was lost, and
Peiraeus on the point of being invaded. The Peloponnesians employed in
this adventure afterwards pretended that they had been hindered by
contrary winds from carrying out their original design. But this was a
mere excuse, and if they had chosen they might have sailed unopposed