Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/41

 41-43] BATTLE OF SOLYGEA 33 and a-half, the city of Corinth about seven miles, and the isthmus about two miles and a quarter. The Corin- thians, having had early intimation from Argos of the intended invasion, came in good time to the isthmus. The whole population, with the exception of those who dwelt to the north of the isthmus and five hundred troops who were employed in protecting Ambracia and Leu- cadia' was on the watch to see where the Athenians would land. But, having sailed in before daylight, they were not discovered ; the Corinthians however were soon informed by signals of their landing ; and so, leaving half their troops at Cenchreae in case the Athenians should attack Crommyon, they came to the rescue with all speed, Battus, one of the two generals who were present in the 43 engagement, taking a single division ^^^^^.^^^^ ^^^^^.^^ ^^^ of the force, went to Solygea, intend- thchiliofSolygea. The ing to protect the village, which was 'w<) armies drive one . r ,•£• J T 1 'ii iU anotlut backivards and not fortined ; Lycophron with the re- ,., ' -' ' jonvaras. mainder of the army attacked the enemy. The Corinthians first of all assailed the right wing of the Athenians, which had only just landed in front of the Chersonesus, and then engaged with the rest. The con- flict was stubborn, and all hand to hand. The Athenians, who were on the right wing, and the Carystians, who were on the extreme right, received the Corinthians, and with some difficulty drove them back. They retired behind a loose stone wall, and the whole place being a steep hill-side, threw the stones down from above ; but soon they raised the paean and again came on. Again the Athenians received them, and another hand-to-hand fight ensued, when a division of the Corinthians coming to the aid of their left wing, forced back the right wing of the Athenians and pursued them to the sea ; but the Athenians and Carystians in their turn again drove them back from
 * Cp. iii. 114 fin.