Page:History of Greece Vol VIII.djvu/118

96 HISTORY OF GREECE. tempt broi/gLt about, with little -telay, the great democratical manifestation, and solemn collective oath, of the Athenian arma- ment, coupled with the nomination of new, cordial, and unani mous generals. They were now in high enthusiasm, anxious fcr battle with the enemy, and Strombichides had been sent for im- mediately, that the fleet might be united against the main enemy at Miletus. That officer had recovered Lampsakus, but had failed in his attempt on Abydos. 1 Having established a central fortified station at Sestos, he now rejoined the fleet at Samos, which by his arrival was increased to one hundred and eight sail. He arrived in the night, when the Peloponnesian fleet was preparing to re- iiew its attack from Mykale the next morning. It consisted of one hundred and twelve ships, and was therefore still superior in number to the Athenians. But having now learned both the ar- rival of Strombichides, and the renewed spirit as well as unanimity of the Athenians, the Peloponnesian commanders did not venture to persist in their resolution of fighting. They returned back to Miletus, to the mouth of which harbor the Athenians sailed, and had the satisfaction of offering battle to an unwilling enemy. 2 Such confession of inferiority was well calculated to embitter still farther the discontents of the Peloponnesian fleet at Miletus. Tissaphernes had become more and more parsimonious in furnish- ing pay and supplies ; while the recall of Alkibiades to Samos, which happened just now, combined with the uninterrupted ap- parent intimacy between him and the satrap, confirmed their belief that the latter was intentionally cheating and starving them in the interest of Athens. At the same time, earnest invi- tations arrived from Pharaabazus. soliciting the cooperation of the fleet at the Hellespont, with liberal promises of pay and main- tenance. Klearchus, who had been sent out with the last squadron from Sparta, for the express purpose of going to aid Pharna- bazus, claimed to be allowed to execute his orders ; while Astyo- chus also, having renounced the idea of any united action, thought it now expedient to divide the fleet, which he was at a loss how to support. Accordingly, Klearchus was sent with forty triremes from Miletus to the Hellespont, yet with instructions to evade the Athenians at Samos, by first stretching out westward into the 1 Thucyd. viii, 62. * Thi^eyd. viii, 79.