History of the Peloponnesian War

This armament which [*](παρασκευὴ αὕτη πρώτη.] I have followed Göller's and Arnold's interpretation of these words in preference to that of Poppo, who joins πρώτη with πολυτελεστάτη δὴ and renders the passage thus: hic enim fuit apparatus primus sumptuosissimus profectus; which appears to imply that there could be more than one expedition that was the most costly of all up to that time.—Unless primus is intended by him to express quality, and not time; which does not seem probable.) first sailed out, going from a single city, and consisting of a Grecian force, was the most costly and splendid of all up to that time. Yet in number of ships and of heavy—armed, that against Epidaurus under Pericles, and the same when going against Potidaea under Hagnon, was not inferior to this: for there were in it four thousand heavy-armed of the Athenians themselves, three hundred horse, and a hundred triremes, with fifty of the Lesbians and Chians, while many allies besides joined in the expedition.

But they were despatched on a short voyage and with scanty preparation: whereas this expedition started with the expectation of its being a long one, and was equipped for both kinds of service, whichever might be required, with ships and land forces at the same time. The fleet was elaborately fitted out, at great expense both on the part of the captains and of the state.