CHAPTER CXXXV
ὁ Βρασίδας—the singular order of the words in this sentence seems due to a wish to bring in the subject of the verb. The concluding sentence of
iii. 90 is very similar.
πρὸς ἔαρ—
v. 56,
τελευτῶντος τοῦ χειμῶνος πρὸς ἔαρ ἤδη:
v. 17,
πρὸς τὸ ἔαρ ἤδη.
μέχρι μὲν τούτου—sc.
τοῦ κλίμακα προσθεῖναι. Krüger suggests
μέχρι μέν του, ‘to a certain point’, citing
Dem. i. Olynth. 11 etc.
κώδωνος—here the bell was passed by each sentry in turn to the next in order. Another practice was for an officer to go on his rounds with a bell, as noted in Ar. Av. 842,
κωδωνοφορῶν περίτρεχε. τὸ διάκενον is explained by
πρὶν ἐπανελθεῖν, i.e. before the sentry who was then carrying the bell on could return to his regular post.
αἰσθομένων—gen. abs. as in ch. 3, 8.
προσβῆναι implies not merely approach, but ‘getting at’ or ‘getting on’ the ramparts: so
iii. 22,
ἕπως προσβαίνοιεν, of the Plataean attempt to force the enemy's lines.