25,26] APPROACH OF FLEET UNDER HERMOCRATES 353 Milesians, who, after routing the Argives, when they saw their other wing defeated, returned to the city. The Athenians, having won the day, took up a position close under the walls of Miletus, In this engagement the lonians on both sides had the advantage of the Dorians ; for the Athenians vanquished the Peloponnesians who were opposed to them, and the Milesians vanquished the Argives"*. The Athenians now raised a trophy, and pre- pared to build a wall across the isthmus which separates the city from the mainland, thinking that, if they could reduce Miletus, the other cities would quickly return to their allegiance. But meanwhile, late in the afternoon, news was brought 26 to them that a fleet of fifty-five ships Approach of thirty- from Peloponnesus and Sicily was three Pelopotmesian ami close at hand. Hermocrates the Syra- tiventy - two Sialian , , r^. •!. , • . vessels iitider Hcrnio- cusan had urged the Sicilians to assist ^,.^/^^ Alabiades ad- in completing the overthrow of Athens, vises them to go in- Twenty ships came from Syracuse, stantly to the reliej of two from Selinus, and with them the Peloponnesian ships which had been in preparation ^. The two squadrons were entrusted to Theramenes, who was to conduct them to Astyochus the admiral. They sailed first to Lerosc, an island lying off Miletus. Thence, finding that the Athenians were at Miletus, they sailed away to the lasian Gulf, wanting to ascertain the fate of the town. Alcibiades came on horseback to Teichiussa in the Milesian territory, the point of the gulf at which the fleet had passed the night, and from him they received news of the battle. For he had been present, and had fought on the side of the Milesians and Tissaphernes. And he recommended them, if they did not mean to ruin their cause in Ionia and everywhere else, to assist Miletus at once, and break up the blockade. » Cp iv. 12 fin. Cp. viii. 6 fin. *■ Accordinp; to the reading of the Vatican MS. adopted by Bekker : cp. infra, 27 init. Other MSS."'E,€o»', a name otherwise unknown.
