Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/220

 212 ////:: ATHENIANS CROSS THE SEA [vi will send messengers to the neighbouring cities in order to obtain information, and for any other purpose which may be necessary. Some precautions we have taken already, and whatever comes to our notice we will com- municate to you.' When the general had thus spoken, the assembly dispersed. 42 The Athenians and their allies were by this time gathered The Athenians at at Corcyra. There the generals began Corcym make a final ^ holding a final review of the ships, review of their arnia-, ,. ., , . n,ent, which is formed ^nd disposed them in the order in into three divisions. which they Were to anchor at their stations. The fleet was divided into three squadrons, and one of them assigned by lot to each of the three generals, in order to avoid any difficulties which might occur, if they sailed together, in finding water, anchorage, and provisions where they touched ; they also thought that the presence of a general with each division would pro- mote good order and discipline throughout the fleet. They then sent before them to Italy and Sicily three ships, which had orders to find out what cities in those regions would receive them, and to meet them again on their way, that they might know before they put in. 43 At length the great armament proceeded to cross from At length they cross Corcyra to Sicily. It consisted of a the sea in a hundred hundred and thirty-four triremes in all, c»id thirty -four triremes besidcs two Rhodian vessels of fifty and two pcntecontcrs, /-Nr.i 1 11 » ■ conveying five thousand ^ars. Ofthesc a hundred were Athen- one hundred ho/>/ifes, ian ; sixty being swift vessels, and four hundred andeighty the remaining forty transports: the archers, sei'en hundred .^ c ^ n^ r -iii .1 , I ] J ] rest ot the ileet was lurnished by the slntgcrs, a htinared ami -' twenty Megarian light- Chians and Other alHcs. The hoplites armed, and thirty horse- numbered in all five thousand one "^^"' hundred, of whom fifteen hundred were Athenians taken from the roll, and seven hundred who served as marines were of the fourth and lowest class of Athenian citizens. The remainder of the hoplites were furnishe-d by the allies, mostly by the subject states;