Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/355

 76-79] THE CORCYRAEAN SEDITION 239 The whole place was in an uproar ; the people dreaded 77 their enemies within the city no less ^ <■, , , . „ Confused battle of than the Peloponnesian fleet. They the Corcyraemts and hastened to equip sixty ships, and as Athenians against the fast as they were manned sent them out ^'^^''/"""'^««"^- against the Peloponnesians, although the Athenians en- treated to be allowed to sail out first, leaving them to follow as soon as they had got their fleet together. But when in this straggling fashion their ships approached the enemy, two of them at once deserted ; in others the crews were fighting with one another, and everything was in disorder. The Peloponnesians, seeing the confusion, employed twenty ships only against the Corcyraeans, and opposed the remainder of their fleet to the twelve Athenian ships, of which two were the Salaminia and Paralus, The Corcyraeans, coming up few at a time and in this 78 disorderly fashion, had trouble enough Diversion effected by among themselves. The Athenians, the Athenians, who afraid of being surrounded by superior '^°'"^y "'"• numbers, did not attack the main body nor the centre of those opposed to them, but fell upon the wings and sank a single ship ; then, the enemy forming in a circle, they sailed round them and endeavoured to throw them into confusion. But those who were opposed to the Corcy- raeans, seeing this movement and fearing a repetition of what happened at Naupactus, came to the rescue, and the united fleet charged the Athenians. Thereupon they rowed astern, hoping that by retreating very leisurely they might give the Corcyraeans time to escape, especially as the attack of the enemy was now directed against themselves. The naval engagement ended at sunset. The Corcyraeans, who were afraid that the victorious 79 enemy would sail to the city and have recourse to some decisive measure, such as taking on board the prisoners » Cp. ii. 84.