History of the Peloponnesian War

The Athenians, too, returned with their hundred ships, when they saw that the Lacedaemonians had done so.

[*]( The object of this chapter, as Arnold observes, "is merely to bring in what Thucydides had forgotten to mention in its proper place, namely, the greatest naval force, and the greatest war expenditure, which Athens had ever been able to employ and support; just as he had mentioned, II. 31. 3, the greatest stand army which she had ever sent cut on one service.) At the time that this squadron was at sea, they had about the largest number of ships they had ever possessed at once, [*]( Literally, effective, in fine condition; with handsomeness, as Bloomfield renders it; whose interpretation of the passage I prefer to either Göller's or Poppo's.) in effective and fine condition : (though they had as many, or even more, at the beginning of the war.)