History of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides

Thucydides. The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Hobbes, Thomas. translator. London: John Bohn, 1843.

For before, they went out from Pylus with the Argives and Mantineans but in the nature of freebooters, and that also not into Laconia, but other parts of Peloponnesus. Nay, when the Argives have often entreated them but only to land with their arms in Laconia, and having wasted never so little of their territory to return, they would not. But now, under the conduct of Pythodorus, Laespodius, and Demaratus, they landed in the territory of Epidaurus Limera and in Prasiae, and there and in other places wasted the country, and gave unto the Lacedaemonians a most justifiable cause to fight against the Athenians.

After this, the Athenians being departed from Argos with their galleys, and the Lacedaemonians gone likewise home, the Argives invaded Phliasia, and when they had wasted part of their territory, and killed some of their men, returned.

[*](THE PRINCIPAL CONTENTSGylippus arriveth at Syracuse, checketh the fortune of the Athenians, and cutteth off their works with a counter-wall. The Lacedaemonians invade Attica and fortify Deceleia.The confederates of each side are solicited for supplies to be sent to Syracuse.Two battles fought in the great haven: in the first of which the Syracusians are beaten, in the second superior.Demosthenes arriveth with a new army, and, attempting the works of the enemy in Epipolae by night, is repulsed with great slaughter of his men.They fight the third time, and the Syracusians, having the victory, block up the haven with boats.A catalogue of the confederates on each side.They fight again at the bars of the haven, where the Athenians, losing their galleys, prepare to march away by land.In their march they are afflicted, beaten, and finally subdued by the Syracusians.The death of Nicias and Demosthenes and misery of the captives in the quarry.Which happened in the nineteenth year of this war.)

Gylippus and Pythen, having repaired their galleys, from Tarentum went along the coast to Locri Epizephyrii. And upon certain intelligence now that Syracuse was not wholly enclosed, but coming with an army there was entrance still by Epipolae, they consulted whether it were better to take Sicily on their right hand and adventure into the town by sea, or on the left and so first to go to Himera, and then taking along both them and as many other as they could get to their side, to go into it by land.

And it was resolved to go to Himera, the rather because the four Attic galleys, which Nicias, though he contemned them before, had now when he heard they were at Locri sent to wait for them, were not arrived yet at Rhegium. Having prevented this guard, they crossed the strait, and touching at Rhegium and Messana by the way, came to Himera.