DEFEAT OF THE ATHENIAN FLEET 29$ iron, which could be so let fall as to crush any ship entering i 1 any Athenian trireme which might be hard-pressed, would thug be enabled to get through this opening where no enemy could fol- low, and choose her own time for sailing out again. Before night these arrangements were completed, and at the earliest dawn of next day, the Syracusans reappeared, with the same demonstrations both of land force and naval force as before. The Athenian fleet having gone forth to meet them, several hours were spent in the like indecisive and partial skirmishes, until at length the Syracusan fleet sailed back to the city again without bringing on any general or close combat. The Athenians, con- struing this retirement of the enemy as evidence of backward- ness and unwillingness to fight,2 and supposing the day's duty at an end, retired on their side within their own station, disem- barked, and separated to get their dinners at leisure, having tasted no food that day. But ere they had been long ashore, they were astonished to see the Syracusan fleet sailing back to renew the attack, in full battle order. This was a manoeuvre suggested by the Corinthian Aristo, the ablest steersman in the fleet ; at whose instance, the Syracu- san admirals had sent back an urgent request to the city author- ities, that an abundant stock of provisions might for that day be brought down to the sea-shore, and sale be rendered compulsory ; so that no time should be lost, when the fleet returned thither, in taking a hasty meal without dispersion of the crews. Accordingly the fleet, after a short but sufficient interval allowed for refresh- ment thus close at hand, was brought back 'unexpectedly to the enemy's station. Confounded at the sight, the Athenian crews forced themselves again on board, most of them yet without re- freshment, and in the midst of murmurs and disorder. 3 On sail- ing out of their station, the indecisive skirmishing again com- 1 Thucyd. vii, 41. ai Kepalai dEA<j>tvo<j>6poi : compare Pollux, i, 85, and Fragment vi, of the comedy of the poet Fherekrates, entitled "Aypioi Mcineke, Fragm. Comic. Grace, vol. ii, p. 258. and the Scholiast, acl Aris- toph. Equit. 759.
- Thucyd. vii, 40. Oi t5' 'Atir/vaioi, vofiiaavT aiiroi>f f ffO<rtiftvoo{ <r<i<S
rpbr rr/v Kokiv uvaKpoi'aaa'dai, etc.
2 Thncvd. vii, 40.
