History of the Peloponnesian War

The Lacedaemonians, on their part, gave orders to those in Italy and Sicily who had chosen their side[*](Referring to the Dorian colonies in Italy and Sicily (cf. 3.86.2), which, however, contributed no ships till 412 B.C. (cf. 8.26.1.) to build, in proportion to the size of their cities, other ships, in addition to those which were already in Peloponnesian ports, their hope being that their fleet would reach a grand total of five hundred ships, and to provide a stated sum of money; but as to other matters, they were instructed to remain inactive and to refuse their ports to Athenians if they came with more than a single ship, until these preparations had been completed.

The Athenians, on the other hand, began to examine their existing list of allies and also sent embassies more particularly to the countries lying about the Peloponnesus—Corcyra, Cephallenia, Acarnania, and Zacynthus—perceiving that if they were sure of the friendship of these places they would be able to encircle the Peloponnesus and subdue it.

There was nothing paltry in the designs of either side; but both put their whole strength into the war, and not without reason, for men always lay hold with more spirit at the beginning, and at this time, in addition, the young men, who were numerous both in the Peloponnesus and in Athens, were unfamiliar enough with war to welcome it. All the rest of Hellas was in anxious suspense as its foremost cities came into conflict with each other.

And many were the prophecies recited and many those which oracle-mongers chanted, both among the peoples who were about to go to war and in the Hellenic cities at large.

Moreover, only a short time before this, Delos had been shaken, although it had not before been visited by an earthquake within the memory of the Hellenes.[*](Probably an intentional contradiction of Hdt. 6.98., where it is stated that an earthquake occurred shortly before the battle of Marathon, but none later.)This was said and believed to be ominous of coming events, and indeed every other incident of the sort which chanced to occur was carefully looked into.