History of the Peloponnesian War

Meanwhile Mindarus and the Peloponnesian ships at Chios, having spent only two days in provisioning and having received from the Chians three Chian tessaracosts[*](Literally “fortieths” of some local coin, possibly the golden stater; about 4d.; 8 cents.) for each man, on the third day set sail in all haste from Chios, avoiding the open sea that they might not fall in with the Athenian fleet at Eresus, but keeping Lesbos on their left, and making for the mainland.

They first touched at the harbour of Cartereia in the territory of Phocaea, where they dined, and then, sailing along the Cymaean coast, supped at Arginussae[*](If τῆς ἠπείρου is genuine, there must have been a town Arginussae on the mainland opposite the islands of that Name. The Schol. on Ar. Frags. 33 mentions a town Arginusa. Deleting τῆς ἠπείρου, as Krüger suggests, we should have, “at the Arginussae, opposite Mytilene.” With Hude's text (adding καὶ) the meaning would be that they supped, some at the islands, others on the mainland.) on the mainland opposite Mytilene.

Thence they proceeded long before dawn along the coast until they came to Harmatus, on the mainland opposite Methymna; there they breakfasted in haste and then sailed along the coast past Lectum, Larisa, Hamaxitus and the other places in that region, arriving at Rhoeteum before midnight. Some of the ships even made harbour at Sigeium and other places in that neighbourhood.

But the Athenians who were at Sestus with eighteen ships, when their signallers gave them notice and they observed the sudden blaze of numerous fires on the hostile shore, realized that the Peloponnesians were entering the straits. So that same night, making what speed they could and keeping close to the shore of the Chersonesus, they sailed toward Elaeus, wishing to get by the enemy's ships and out into the open water.

And they did elude the sixteen ships at Abydos,[*](cf. ch. xcix. (end).) although these had been cautioned by a friendly boat that sailed[*](The passage was so understood by the Scholiast (τῷ φιλίῳ ἐπίπλῳ ὑπὸ τοῦ φιλίου ἐπίπλου, τουτέστιν ὑπὸ τοῦ στόλου τοῦ μετὰ μινδάρου.) But commentators find the construction harsh and unexampled in Thucydides with προειρῆσθαι. Tucker explains: “They escaped the notice of the ships at Abydos, who had given warning to their approaching friends (Mindarus) to keep a watch for them in case of their trying to sail out.” So also Goodhart.) up to be on the alert in case the Athenians should try to leave the straits; but the ships commanded by Mindarus, which they descried at dawn—and these immediately gave chase—they could not outstrip with their entire fleet, but though most of their ships made good their escape to Imbros and Lemnos, four of them that brought up the rear were overtaken near Elaeus.