Book 7
18.2
But most important of all was the fact that a degree of confidence had come to the Lacedaemonians, because they believed that the Athenians, once they had on their hands a twofold war—with themselves and with the Siceliots—would be more easily overthrown, and because they regarded the Athenians as having been the first to break the treaty. In the former warThe Archidamian War, or the first decade of the Peloponnesian War. they felt that the transgression had been rather on their own part; for the Thebans had entered Plataea in time of truce,cf. 2.2.1. and, although it had been stipulated in the former agreementsReferring to Thirty Years' Truce; cf. 1.115.1. that neither party was to resort to arms if the other were willing to submit the question to arbitration, yet they themselves refused to respond to the summons when the Athenians invited them to arbitrate. On this account they considered that they deserved their misfortune, having in mind both the disaster at Pylosiv. 26-41. and any other that had befallen them.
18.3
But now the Athenians, setting out from Argos with thirty ships,cf. 1. had ravaged a part of Epidaurus and Prasiae and other places, and at the same time were making predatory excursions from Pylos; and as often as differences arose about any of the points of dispute in the treaty and the Lacedaemonians proposed arbitration, they were unwilling to resort to it; at this time, therefore, the Lacedaemonians, considering that the unlawful conduct, of which they had themselves formerly been guilty, had shifted round and now rested upon the Athenians, were zealous for the war.
