Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/325

 6g, 70] FINylL STRUGGLE IN THE HARBOUR 317 the land-forces to the shore, extending the line as far as he could, so that they might be of the greatest use in en- couraging the combatants on board ship. Demosthenes, Menander, and Euthydemus, who had gone on board the Athenian fleet to take the command, now quitted their own station, and proceeded straight to the closed mouth of the harbour, intending to force their way to the open sea where a passage was still left. The Syracusans and their allies had already put out 70 with nearly the same number of ships Disposition of the as before. A detachment of them Syracusan fleet. The guarded the entrance of the harbour ; ^t'>^»'"»s rush to the . . J, . 111 1 month of the harbour. the remainder were disposed all round ^,^^ syracusans bear it in such a manner that they might doivn upon them. Fury fall on the Athenians from every side and disorder of the con- . jiiii.i'1 J c 'Ui fl'ct. Manattvres of at once, and that their land-forces might -^ ., , , ,/ ' _ ° puols, courage of the at the same time be able to co-operate marines, crash of wherever the ships retreated to the vessels, shouts of boat- shore. Sicanus and Agatharchus com- ^^^'""'.^' 'f r'f"'"!> ° fighting for life, the nianded the Syracusan fleet, each of Syracusans for glory. them a wing ; Pythen and the Corin- ^VtH (hey find a home thians occupied the centre. When the among thcirfoes? Will ^ they fiy from the /Iters ? Athenians approached the closed mouth of the harbour the violence of their onset overpowered the ships which were stationed there ; they then attempted to loosen the fastenings. Whereupon from all sides the Syracusans and their allies came bearing down upon them, and the conflict was no longer confined to the entrance, but extended throughout the harbour. No previous engagement had been so fierce and obstinate. Great was the eagerness with which the rowers on both sides rushed upon their enemies whenever the word of command was given ; and keen was the contest between the pilots as they manoeuvred one against another. The marines too were full of anxiety that, when ship struck ship, the service on deck should not fall short of the rest; every one in the place assigned to him was eager to be