Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/281

 83,84] DEFEAT OF THE PELOPONNESIANS 165 arranged their ships in such a manner as to make the largest possible circle without leaving Their ships form a space to break through, turning their "''<^'<'- prows outwards and their sterns inwards ; within the circle they placed the smaller craft which accompanied them, and five of their swiftest ships that they might be close at hand and row out at whatever point the enemy charged them. The Athenians ranged their ships in a single line and 84 sailed round and round the Pelopon- ^, .„ . ., '^ I he Athenians sail nesian fleet, which they drove into round and round till a narrower and narrower space, almost '^'^ morning wind rises touching as they passed, and leading "" "'ows le enemy s ° -f r » o ifessels into confusion, the crews to suppose that the^'^Were on when they make their the point of charging. But they had ""'■'^ f""^ "« « c<"«- been warned by Phormio not to begin ^^^^"^'"^'• until he gave the signal, for he was hoping that the enemy's ships, not having the steadiness of an army on land, would soon fall into disorder and run foul of one another ; they would be embarrassed by the small craft, and if the usual morning breeze, for which he continued waiting as he sailed round them, came down from the gulf, they would not be able to keep still for a moment. He could attack whenever he pleased, because his ships were better sailers ; and he knew that this would be the right time. When the breeze began to blow, the ships, which were by this time crowded into a narrow space and were distiessed at once by the force of the wind and by the small craft which were knocking up against them, fell into confusion ; ship dashed against ship, and they kept pushing one another away with long poles ; there were cries of 'keep off' and noisy abuse, so that nothing could be heard either of the word of command or of the cox- swains' giving the time ; and the difficulty which un- practised rowers had in clearing the water in a heavy sea made the vessels disobedient to the helm. At that moment Phormio gave the signal ; the Athenians, falling upon the