Page 287 to Apollo) now polluted (as they conceiv'd) by burying many dead Bodies there. Therefore all the Graves of the Dead were dug up, and the Urns were transported into the next Island to Delos, call'd Rhene; and a Law was made, that it should not be lawful for any for the time to come, either to bury, or to bear any Child in Delos. They then likewise reviv'd the Panegyrick Festival in Delos, now for a long time disus'd. While the Athenians were thus religiously imploy'd, the Lacedemonians with their Confederates in Peloponesus, incamp'd in the Isthmos, and there consulted together concerning the invading of Attica again. But there then happening such terrible Earthquakes in several parts of Greece, that it so terrify'd and possess'd them with fear and awe of the Gods, that they all return'd to their respective Countries. For the horrible Concussions of the Earth were so great, that many Cities near the Sea were sunk and drown'd. And whereas that Tract of Land near Locris was before a Peninsula, by the violence of the Earthquake, a Channel was made through the Isthmos, and the Place turn'd into an Island now call'd Atalante.
While these things were doing, the Lacedemonians sent new Colonies into Trachin, and changed its Name into Heraclea. The Reason was, for that the Trachinians having had Wars with the Oeteans many Years, had lost most of their Citizens. And therefore being almost depopulated, they addressed themselves to the Lacedemonians (whose Colonies they were) to repeople their City. The Lacedemonians in regard they were their Countrymen, and Hercules their Ancestor in times long past, had resided at Trachin, resolved to make it a large and beautiful City: And to this end, they sent a Colony thither, out of their own City, and out of others in Peloponesus, to the number of Four Thousand; and out of the rest of Greece, as many as pleased, were receiv'd as Members of the Cololony. The whole number was little less than Six Thousand. To conclude, Trachin was at length so far inlarged, that it contain'd Ten Thousand Men; and when they had divided the Land adjoining by Lot, they call'd the City Heraclea.
Stratocles being Archon of Athens, the Consular dignity was conferr'd upon the Three Military Tribunes at Rome, Lucius FuriusMetellus,Lucius Pinarius, and S. Posthumius Albus. In the time of their Government, Demosthenes made Admiral of the Fleet by the Athenians, with Thirty Ships well man'd, join'd with Fifteen more from Corcyra, and other Aids from the Cephaleans, Acarnanians and Messenians inhabiting Naupactus, and so set sail for Leucas, and when he had harrased and wasted the Country of Leucadia, he bent his Course for Aetolia, and there burnt and destroy'd many of their Villages; but the Aetolians making head against them, routed the Athenians, who fled to Naupactus. The Aetolians incouraged with this Victory, with the aid of Three Thousand Lacedemonians, march'd against Naupactus (which the Messeneans then inhabited) but were repulsed. From thence they made an Expedition against Molycria, and took the City.
The Athenian General Demosthenes, fearing lest they should attack Naupactus, sent a Thousand Men out of Arcarnania to strengthen the Garrison. He himself continu'd in Acarnania, and fell upon a Thousand Ambraciots in their March, and cut them almost all off. Upon this the whole Strength of the City came out against him, and he destroy'd most of them likewise, so that the City was almost made desolate. Hereupon he entred into a Consultation of assaulting Ambracia, hoping it might be easily won by reason there were few left to defend it: But the Acarnanians fearing that if the Athenians were Masters of the Town, they should have more troublesome Neighbours than the Ambraciots were, refused to follow Demosthenes: Upon this Mutiny the Acarnanians became Friends with the Ambraciots, and entred into a League of Peace and Amity for an Hundred Years. Demosthenes thus deserted by the Acarnanians, returns with Twenty Sail to Athens. Presently after the Ambraciots (having lately smarted so much, and in great fear of the Athenians) desir'd a Garrison from the Lacedemonians.