History of the Peloponnesian War

Afterwards Asopius sent most of the ships back home, but had twelve with him when he reached Naupactus. Then later, having called out all the forces of the Acarnanians, he made an expedition against Oeniadae, sailing with the ships up the Achelous, while his army on land ravaged the country.

As, however, the inhabitants would not come over to him, he dismissed his army, but himself sailed to Leucas and made a descent upon Nericus. On his way back from Nericus he and part of his army were slain by the people of that place, who rallied to its defence, and by a few guards.[*](Foreigners (φρουρῶν as opposed to τῶν αὐτόθεν ξυνβοηθησάντων), possibly Corinthians.)

The Athenians first stood out to sea and then later recovered their dead from the Leucadians under a truce.

Meanwhile the Mytilenaean envoys who had been sent on the first ship, having been told by the Lacedaemonians to present themselves at Olympia, in order that the other members of the alliance also might hear them and take counsel, came to Olympia. It was the Olympiad in which Dorieus[*](Dorieus son of Diagoras was victor three times in succession at Olympia (Paus. 6.7.1), as well as in numerous other contests (Paus. 6.7.4). He fought in the Decelean war on the Spartan side (8.35.1; Xen. Hell. 1.1.2), and was captured by the Athenians, but on account of his fame as an athlete was released without ransom (Xen. Hell. I. v. 19; Paus. 6.7.4, 5).) the Rhodian won his second victory.

After the festival the Peloponnesians met in council, and the envoys spoke as follows:

"We are not unaware, men of Lacedaemon and members of the alliance, of the traditional feeling of the Hellenes towards men who revolt in time of war and abandon their former alliance: those who accept them as allies are indeed pleased with them in so far as they derive advantage, but they regard them as traitors to their former friends and therefore think the worse of them.