Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/198

180 180 HISTORY OF GREECE. discussions ; and in spite of all the reassuring effect of the unri- valled armament before them, the relatives now separating at the water's edge could not banish the dark presentiment that they were bidding each other farewell for the last time. The moment immediately succeeding this farewell when all the soldiers were already on board, and the keleustes was on the point of beginning his chant to put the rowers in motion was peculiarly solemn and touching. Silence having been enjoined and obtained by sound of trumpet, both the crews in every ship and the spectators on shore followed the voice of the herald in praying to the gods for success, and in singing the paean. On every deck were seen bowls of wine prepared, out of which the officers and the epibatae made libations, with goblets of silver and gold. At length the final signal was given, and the whole fleet quitted Peiraeus in single file, displaying the exuberance of their yet untried force by a race of speed as far as .ZEgina. 1 Never in Grecian history was an invocation more unanimous, emphatic, and imposing, addressed to the gods ; never was the refusing nod of Zeus more stern or peremptory. All these details, given by Thucydides, of the triumphant promise which now issued from Peirseus, derive a painful interest from their contrast with the sad issue which will hereafter be unfolded. The fleet made straight for Korkyra, where the contingents of the maritime allies, with the ships for burden and provisions, were found assembled. The armament thus complete was passed in review, and found to comprise one hundred and thirty-fou. triremes with two Rhodian pentekonters ; five thousand one hun- dred hoplites ; four hundred and eighty bowmen, eighty of them Kretan ; seven hundred Rhodian slingers ; and one hundred and twenty Megarian exiles serving as light troops. Of vessels of burden, in attendance with provisions, muniments of war, bakers, masons, and carpenters, etc., the number was not less than five hundred ; besides which, there was a considerable number of pri- vate trading-ships, following it voluntarily for purposes of profit. 3 Three fast-sailing triremes were despatched in advance to ascer- tain which of the cities in Italy and Sicily would welcome the arrival of the armament ; and especially to give notice at Egesta, 1 Thucyd. vi, 32 Diodor. xiii, 3 * Thucyd. vi. 4-1