Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/241

 70-72] RETURN OF ATHENIANS TO CATANA 233 they saw hoplites advancing from the ranks attacked and drove them back. The Athenians pursued in a body as far as they safely could, and then returned and raised a trophy. The Syracusans rallied on the Hclorine road, and did their best to reform after their defeat. They did not neglect to send some of their forces as a guard to the Olympieum, fearing lest the Athenians should plunder the treasures of the temple. The rest of the army returned to the city. The Athenians, however, did not go to the temple at 71 all, but collecting their dead, and laying j,^^ Athenians, sen- them on a pyre, they passed the night sibk of timr dcfidmcy where they were. On the following '" f«i'«/':v. 'etnni to, , I 1 <^ 11 Cataita and Naxos, day they gave back the Syracusan dead ^^.^^^^.^ ^/,^^ .„/^,,^ ^^ under a flag of truce, and gathered ivintcnvhile they obtain from the pyre the bones of their own rdnfoirewents from dead. There had fallen of the Syra- ^«««« '"^• cusans and of their allies about two hundred and sixty; of the Athenians and their allies not more than fifty. The Athenians then taking with them the spoils of their enemies, sailed back to Catana, Winter had now set in, and they thought that before they could do anything more at Syracuse they must send for horsemen from Athens, and collect others from their Sicilian allies ; without them they would be at the mercy of the Syracusan cavalry. They also wanted to obtain both in Sicily and from Athens a supply of money, and to gain over some of the Sicilian cities. These would be more willing to listen to them after their victory. They had likewise to provide supplies, and to make the other requisite preparations for attacking Syracuse in the spring. Accordingly they sailed away to 72 Naxos and Catana, intending to winter. The Syracusans, after burying their dead, called an assembly. Hermocrates the son of Hermon, a man of first-rate ability, of distinguished bravery, and also of great military experience, came forward and encouraged them. He told them not to be disheartened at the result of the R 2