History of the Peloponnesian War

Thrasyllus therefore now sailed thither with all his fleet, intending to assault the town. Thrasybulus also had already arrived there from Samos with five ships, after word had been brought to him of the crossing of the exiles; but being too late to save Eresus, he had merely anchored there on his arrival.

The Athenian fleet was likewise reinforced by two vessels that were returning home from the Hellespont and by five[*](Or, reading αἱ μηθυμναῖαι, with B, “(all) the Methymnaean ships.”) Methymnaean ships, so that there were present in all sixty-five ships. It was with the troops from these ships that they were preparing to take Eresus by assault, with the aid of engines or in any way they could.

Meanwhile Mindarus and the Peloponnesian ships at Chios, having spent only two days in provisioning and having received from the Chians three Chian tessaracosts[*](Literally “fortieths” of some local coin, possibly the golden stater; about 4d.; 8 cents.) for each man, on the third day set sail in all haste from Chios, avoiding the open sea that they might not fall in with the Athenian fleet at Eresus, but keeping Lesbos on their left, and making for the mainland.

They first touched at the harbour of Cartereia in the territory of Phocaea, where they dined, and then, sailing along the Cymaean coast, supped at Arginussae[*](If τῆς ἠπείρου is genuine, there must have been a town Arginussae on the mainland opposite the islands of that Name. The Schol. on Ar. Frags. 33 mentions a town Arginusa. Deleting τῆς ἠπείρου, as Krüger suggests, we should have, “at the Arginussae, opposite Mytilene.” With Hude's text (adding καὶ) the meaning would be that they supped, some at the islands, others on the mainland.) on the mainland opposite Mytilene.