History of the Peloponnesian War

But when their ships were near—the enemy, scattered here and there, two of them deserted immediately, while in others the crews were fighting one another;

and there was no order in anything they did. And when the Peloponnesians saw their confusion they arrayed only twenty ships against the Corcyraeans, and all the rest against the twelve Athenian ships, among which were the two sacred ships, the Salaminia and the Paralos.

Now the Corcyraeans, since they were attacking in disorder and with few ships at a time, were having trouble in their part of the battle; and the Athenians, fearing the enemy's superior numbers and seeing the danger of being surrounded, did not attack the whole body together nor the centre of the ships that were arrayed against them, but charged upon one of the wings and sank a single ship.

And then, when the Peloponnesians after this move formed their ships in a circle, they kept sailing round the Peloponnesian fleet, trying to throw it into confusion. But those who were facing the Corcyraeans, perceiving this manoeuvre and fearing a repetition of what happened at Naupactus,[*](cf. 2.84.) came to the rescue, and the whole fleet, now united, advanced simultaneously upon the Athenians.

Thereupon the Athenians began to retire, backing water,[*](ie. keeping their faces to the enemy.) hoping at the same time that the Corcyraean ships might as far as possible escape into harbour,[*](ie. with as many ships as possible; as it was they lost thirteen ships.) as they themselves retired slowly and the enemy's attacks were directed only against them.

Such then was the course of the battle, which lasted till sunset.

The Corcyraeans, fearing that the enemy, confident of victory, might sail against the city and either take on board the prisoners on the island or commit some other act of violence, transferred these prisoners once more to the temple of Hera and then took measures to protect the city.

The Peloponnesians, however, although they were the victors in the naval battle, did not venture to attack the city, but with thirteen Corcyraean ships which they had taken sailed back to the harbour on the mainland from which they had set out.