C.E. Graves, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 4

CHAPTER CXXXV

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.