Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/280

262 2G2 HISTORY OF GREECE. monians and two Corinthians, and the Corinthian captain Pythen , leaving the Corinthian main squadron to follow as soon as it was ready. Intending then to act only in Italy, Gylippus did not fear falling in with the Athenian fleet. He first sailed to Taren- tuin, friendly and warm in his cause. From hence he undertook a visit to Thurii, where his father Kleandridas, exiled from Sparta, had formerly resided as citizen. After trying to profit by this opening for the purpose of gaining the Thurians, and finding nothing but refusal, he passed on farther southward, until he came opposite to the Terinasan gulf near the southeastern cape of Italy. Here a violent gust of wind off the land overtook him, exposed his vessels to the greatest dangers, and drove him out to sea, until at length, standing in a northerly direction, he was fortunate enough to find shelter again at Tarentum. 1 But 1 Thucyd. vi, 104. "Apaf (Tv^nnrof ) Traoe^Act rrjv ''-aKlav KOI p7raoi?f/{ r/r* uvfwv narti rbv Tepivalov Ko7i.ov, of iinrvti rainy fteyaf, Kara Hopeav laTtjKUf uTro^eperru tf rb irefaryof, not nu.7i.iv ^fj/zacn^f if TO. fiuhtOTa Though all the commentators here construe the words Kara Eopeav f-ffTTjKUf as if they agreed with of or uvefiog, I cannot but think that these words really agree with Tiifairirof. Gylippus is overtaken by this violent off-shore wind while he is sailing southward along the eastern shore of what is now called Calabria Ultra : " setting his ship towards the north or stand- ing to the north (to use the English nautical phrase), he is carried out to sea, from whence, after great difficulties, he again gets into Tarentnm." If Gylippus was carried out to sea when in this position, and trying to get to Tarcntnm, he would naturally lay his course northward. What is meant 'jy the words KOTU Bopeaf iornicur, as applied to the vrind, I confess I do not understand ; nor do the critics throw much light upon it. Whenever a point of the compass is mentioned in conjunction with any wind, it always seems to mean the point from whence the wind blows. Now, that KOTU Boptav eoTijKUf, means " a wind which blows steadily from the north," as the commentators affirm, I cannot believe without better authority than they produce. Moreover, Gylippns could never have laid his course for Taren- tum, if there had been a strong wind in this direction ; while such a wind would have forwarded him to Lokri, the very place whither he wanted to go. The mention of the Terinoean gulf is certainly embarrassing. If the words are right (which perhaps may be doubted ), the explanation of Dr. Arnold in his note seems the best which can be <yffcred. Perhaps, indeed, for though improbable, this is not wholly impossible, Thncydides may 1 imsclf have committed a geographical inadvertence, in supposing th Terinsean gulf to be on the east side of Calabria.