95.
But the Peloponnesian galleys, being now gone by and gotten about the promontory of Sunium, cast anchor between Thoricus and Prasiae and put in afterwards at Oropus.
[2]
The Athenians with all speed, constrained to make use of tumultuary forces, such as a city in time of sedition might afford, and desirous with all haste to make good their greatest stake (for Euboea, since they were shut out of Attica, was all they had), sent a fleet under the command of Timocharis to Eretria.
[3]
Which arriving, with those galleys that were in Euboea before, made up the number of six-and-thirty sail.
And they were presently constrained to hazard battle;
for Hegesandridas brought out his galleys from Oropus when he had first there dined.
Now Oropus is from Eretria about threescore furlongs of sea.
[4]
Whereupon the Athenians also, as the enemy came towards them, began to embark, supposing that their soldiers had been somewhere near unto the galleys.
But it fell out that they were gone abroad to get their dinner, not in the market (for by set purpose of the Eretrians, to the end that the enemy might fall upon the Athenians that embarked slowly before they were ready and force them to come out and fight, nothing was there to be sold), but in the utmost houses of the city.
[5]
There was besides a sign set up at Eretria to give them notice at Oropus at what time to set forward.
The Athenians, drawn out by this device and fighting before the haven of Eretria, made resistance nevertheless for a while;
but afterwards they turned their backs and were chased ashore.
[6]
Such as fled to the city of the Eretrians, taking it for their friend, were handled most cruelly and slaughtered by them of the town;
but such as got to the fort in Eretria, holden by the Athenians, saved themselves;
and so did so many of their galleys as got to Chalcis.
[7]
The Peloponnesians, after they had taken twenty-two Athenian galleys with the men, whereof some they slew and some they took prisoners, erected a trophy;
and not long after, having caused all Euboea to revolt save only Oreus, which the Athenians held with their own forces, they settled the rest of their business there.
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury. Thucydides. Thomas Hobbes. translator. London. Bohn. 1843.
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