He accordingly came and posted his army upon a strong hill in front of Amphipolis, and proceeded to examine the lake formed by the Strymon, and how the town lay on the side of Thrace.

He thought to retire at pleasure without fighting, as there was no one to be seen upon the wall or coming out of the gates, all of which were shut.

Indeed, it seemed a mistake not to have brought down engines with him; he could then have taken the town, there being no one to defend it.
As soon as Brasidas saw the Athenians in motion he descended himself from Cerdylium and entered Amphipolis.

He did not venture to go out in regular order against the Athenians: he mistrusted his strength, and thought it inadequate to the attempt; not in numbers--these were not so unequal--but in quality, the flower of the Athenian army being in the field, with the best of the Lemnians and Imbrians.

He therefore prepared to assail them by stratagem.