History of the Peloponnesian War

and that if any one were caught doing so, he should be the slave of him who caught him. The Lacedaemonians had also before this a Pythian response made to them,

to let go the suppliant of Jupiter at Ithome.

So they went out, themselves, and their children, and their wives; and the Athenians received them, on the strength of the hatred they now felt for the Lacedaemonians, and settled them at Naupactus, which they had lately taken from the Locri Ozolae who held it.

The Megareans also came over into alliance with the Athenians, having revolted from the Lacedaemonians, because the Corinthians were pressing them with war about the boundaries of their territory. And the Athenians received possession of Megara and Pegae, and built for the Messenians the long walls from the city to Nisaea, and themselves manned them. And it was chiefly from this that their excessive hatred of the Athenians first began to be felt by the Corinthians.

Now Inarus, the son of Psammetichus, the Libyan king of the Libyans bordering on Egypt, having his headquarters at Maraea, the city above Pharos, caused the greater part of Egypt to revolt from king Artaxerxes, and being himself made ruler of it, invited the Athenians to his aid.

They, happening to be engaged in an expedition against Cyprus with two hundred ships of their own and of the allies, left Cyprus and came to him; and having sailed up from the sea into the Nile, and being masters of the river and two thirds of Memphis, proceeded to hostilities against the third division, which is called the White-castle, and in which were those of the Persians and Medes who had fled there for refuge, and those of the Egyptians who had not joined in the revolt.

The Athenians, having with their fleet made a descent on Haliae, had a battle with the Corinthians and Epidaurians, and the Corinthians gained the victory. Afterwards this Athenians had a sea-fight with the fleet of the Peloponnesians off Cecryphalea, and the Athenians gained the victory.

After this, war having been commenced by the Athenians on the aeginetans, a great sea-fight took place off aegina, between the Athenians and the aeginetans, and the allies were present on both sides; and the Athenians gained the victory, and having taken seventy of their ships, made a descent on the country, and besieged them, under the command of Leocrates, the son of Straebus.

Then the Peloponnesians, wishing to assist the aeginetans, sent over to aegina three hundred heavy-armed, who were before auxiliaries of the Corinthians and Epidaurians. And the Corinthians with their allies seized the heights of Geranea, and marched down into the Megarid, thinking that the Athenians would be unable to succour the Megareans, while a large force was absent at aegina and in Egypt; but that if they did assist them, they would raise the siege of aegina.

The Athenians, however, did not remove the army that was at aegina, but the oldest and the youngest of those who had been left behind in the city came to Megara under the command of Myronides.

After an indecisive battle had been fought with the Corinthians, they separated, each side thinking that they had not had the worst in the action.

And the Athenians (for they notwithstanding [*]( i.e. notwithstanding the claim to it made by the Corinthians.) had the advantage rather [than their opponents]) on the departure of the Corinthians erected a trophy; but the Corinthians, being reproached by the elder men in the city, made preparations for about twelve days after, and went out and proceeded to set up a counter-trophy on their side also, as having been victorious. And the Athenians, having sallied out from Megara, cut to pieces those who were erecting the trophy, and engaged and defeated the rest.

The conquered forces commenced a retreat;