History of the Peloponnesian War

Accordingly they despatched with all haste forty ships that happened to have been equipped for cruising round the Peloponnese, under the command of Cleïppides son of Dinias, and two colleagues.

For information had been brought them that there was a festival in honour of the Malean Apollo outside the city, at which all the people of the Mytilenaeans kept holyday; and there was reason to hope that by coming with all speed they would thus fall upon them by surprise. If then the attempt should succeed, [all would be well]; if not, they [*]( i. e. the commanders. The infinitive seems to depend upon ἐκέλευον or some such word, understood) should charge the Mytilenaeans to deliver up their fleet and dismantle their walls;