GetPassage urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.perseus-eng6:7.65.1-7.65.3 urn:cts:greekLit:tlg0003.tlg001.perseus-eng6:7.65.1-7.65.3

After this address Nicias at once gave orders to man the ships. Meanwhile Gylippus and the Syracusans could perceive by the preparations which they saw going on that the Athenians meant to fight at sea. They had also notice of the grappling-irons,

against which they specially provided by stretching hides over the prows and much of the upper part of their vessels, in order that the irons when thrown might slip off without taking hold.

All being now ready, the generals and Gylippus addressed them in the following terms:—