184 THE CALL OF THE SEA 



Syracuse (b.c. 413) <:>• '*=2>' ''^i' 



(From The History of the Peloponnesian War', Bohn, 

 trans.) 



'T^HE Syracusans and their allies, having pre- 

 viously put out with pretty nearly the same 

 number of ships as before, proceeded to keep 

 guard with part of them at the passage out, and 

 also round the circumference of the whole harbour, 

 that they might fall upon the Athenians on all sides 

 at once, while their troops also at the same time 

 came to their aid at whatever part their vessels 

 might put in to shore. The commanders of the 

 Syracusan fleet were Sicanus and Agatharcus, each 

 occupying a wing of the whole force, with Pythen 

 and the Corinthians in the centre. When the 

 Athenians came up to the bar, in the first rush 

 with which they charged they got the better of the 

 ships posted at it, and endeavoured to break the 

 fastenings. Afterwards, when the Syracusans and 

 their allies bore down upon them from all quarters, 

 the engagement was going on no longer at the bar 

 alone, but over the harbour also ; and an obstinate 

 one it was, such as none of the previous ones had 

 been. For great eagerness for the attack was 

 exhibited by the seamen on both sides, when the 

 command was given ; and there was much 

 counter-manoeuvring on the part of the masters. 



