Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 1.djvu/376

 26o BATTLE OF OLPAE [iii Acarnania, leaving the city and garrison of Stratus on the right hand, and the rest of Acarnania on their left. The land was deserted, for the inhabitants had gone to the assistance of Argos. Crossing the territory of Stratus they proceeded through Phytia and by the extreme border of Medeon, and so through Limnaea ; at last they left Acarnania, and reached the friendly territory of the Agraeans. Then taking to Mount Thyamus, which is open countr}'-, they marched on and descended into the plain of Argos after dark. Making their way unobserved between the city of Argos and the Acarnanian force stationed at the Wells, they at length reached the Am- braciots at Olpae. 107 The two armies having effected this junction moved at Athenian reinforce- ^""^^^ ^f day to a place Called Metro- ments arrive. Demo- polis, and there encamped. Soon after- sthenes takes the com- wards the Argives received the expected niaiid. lie encamps • r ^ c^ ^a^i • i- near Olpae, where pie- rcmforcement of twenty Atnenian ships, paring for action he which arrived in the Ambracian Gulf. places troops in an am. With them Came Demosthenes, who brought two hundred Messenian hop- lites and sixty Athenian archers. The ships anchored about the hill of Olpae, while the Acarnanians and a few of the Amphilochians (the greater part of them were prevented from stirring by the Ambraciots *), having mustered at Argos, were now preparing to give battle. They associated Demosthenes with their own generals in the command of the allied forces. He led them to the neighbourhood of Olpae, and there encamped at a place where they were divided from the enemy by a great ravine. During five days they remained inactive; on the sixth day both armies drew up in battle array. Demosthenes, fearing that he would be surrounded by the Peloponnesians who were more numerous and extended beyond his own line, placed hoplites and light-armed troops, ' Cp. iii. 114 fin.