Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/289

 91,92] VICTORY OF THE ATHENIANS 173 vessel, round which the Athenian ship rowed just in time, struck the Leucadian amidships, and sank her. At this sudden and unexpected feat the Peloponnesians were dismayed; they had been carrying on the pursuit in disorder because of their success. And some of them dropping the blades of their oars, halted, intending to await the rest, which was a foolish thing to do when the enemy were so near and ready to attack them. Others, not knowing the coast, ran aground. When the Athenians saw what was going on their hopes 92 revived, and at a given signal they _ , 1 ,1 ■ • -1 1 The Athenians, tak- charged their enemies with a shout. ,„„ advantage of the The Lacedaemonians did not long confusion, turn upon resist, for they had made mistakes and "" ^""'iand gain a, ,. ^ ., „ t complete victory. were all in contusion, but lied to Panormus, whence they had put to sea. The Athenians pursued them, took six of their ships which were nearest to them, and recovered their own ships which the Pelo- ponnesians had originally disabled and taken in tow near the shore. The crews of the captured vessels were either slain or made prisoners. Timocrates the Lacedaemonian ^ was on board the Leucadian ship which went down near the merchant vessel ; when he saw the ship sinking he killed himself; the body was carried into the harbour of Naupactus. The Athenians then retired and raised a trophy on the place from which they had just sailed out to their victory. They took up the bodies and wrecks which were floating near their own shore, and gave back to the enemy, under a flag of truce, those which belonged to them. The Lacedaemonians also set up a trophy of the victory which they had gained over the ships destroyed by them near the shore ; the single ship which they took they dedicated on the Achaean Rhium, close to the trophy. Then, fearing the arrival of the Athenian reinforcements, they sailed away at nightfall to the Crisaean Gulf and to " Cp. ii. 85 init.