History of the Peloponnesian War

Thucydides

Thucydides. The history of the Peloponnesian War, Volume 1-2. Dale, Henry, translator. London: Heinemann and Henry G. Bohn, 1851-1852.

For it lies well for the voyage along shore to Italy and Sicily, so as both to prevent a navy from coming thence to the Peloponnesians, and to help on its way a fleet from these parts to those;

and in other respects it is most advantageous. But the shortest summary, [*]( This is Poppo's interpretation of the passage, and it is perhaps impossible to express its full meaning more literally. He considers τοῖς ξύμπασι and ἕκαστον as neuters.) both for general and particular statements, from which you may learn not to give us up, is the following: There being [*]( I have followed the explanation of those who suppose the conjunction δέ to be placed in the apodosis of the sentence. Göller and Poppo supply ἴστε from the preceding μάθοιτε.) but three navies worth mentioning amongst the Greeks, yours, ours, and that of the Corinthians. if you allow two of these to come together, and the Corinthians bring us under their power first, you will have to fight at sea with both Corcyraeans and Peloponnesians; but if you receive us you will be able to contend against them with the greater number of ships on your side.

[*]( Göller reads ἡμετέραις, making it depend upon πλείοσι, like πολλῷ in the phrase πολλῷ πλείονες, with more ships by ours, —i. e. with all the advantage in point of number that our ships would give you. Arnold thinks Bekker right in retaining the old reading.)

Thus spoke the Corcyraeans; and the Corinthians after them as follows.