History of the Peloponnesian War

the fields; then, attacking a stronghold of the Syracusans without success, they went back again along the coast with both land-force and fleet to the river Terias, and going inland ravaged the plain and set fire to the grain. Meeting with a small force of Syracusans, they killed some of them and after setting up a trophy withdrew to their ships. Having sailed back then to Catana and supplied themselves with provisions from there, they advanced with their whole army to Centoripa,[*](Now Centorbi, twenty-seven miles north-west from Catana and near Mt. Aetna.) a

Sicel town; and when they had brought it over by capitulation they returned, burning at the same time the grain of the Inessians[*](The site of Inessa is doubtful (cf. 3.103.1).)

and Hyblaeans.[*](Hybla Gelcatis (6.62.5).) On their arrival at Catana they found that the horsemen had come from Athens, two hundred and fifty in number—with accoutrements but without the horses, for it was expected that horses would be procured in Sicily—as well as thirty mounted archers and three hundred talents[*](£60,000, $291,600.) of silver.

During the same summer the Lacedaemonians, making an expedition to Argos, got as far as Cleonae, but when an earthquake occurred they retired. After this the Argives invaded the Thyreatis, which lies on their borders, and took much booty from the Lacedaemonians, which was sold for not less than twenty-five talents.[*](£5,000, $24,300.)

And in the course of the same summer, not long afterwards, the people of Thespiae attacked the government but did not succeed; for succour came from Thebes and some were arrested, while others fled for refuge to Athens.