of the invader, at once proceeded to equip
sixty vessels, which they sent out, as fast as they were manned, against
the enemy, in spite of the Athenians recommending them to let them sail
out first, and to follow themselves afterwards with all their ships
together. Upon their vessels coming up to the enemy in this straggling
fashion, two immediately deserted: in others the crews were fighting
among themselves, and there was no order in anything that was done; so
that the Peloponnesians, seeing their confusion, placed twenty ships to
oppose the Corcyraeans, and ranged the rest against the twelve Athenian
ships, amongst which were the two vessels Salaminia and Paralus.

While the Corcyraeans, attacking without judgment and in small
detachments, were already crippled by their own misconduct, the
Athenians, afraid of the numbers of the enemy and of being surrounded,
did not venture to attack the main body or even the centre of the
division opposed to them, but fell upon its wing and sank one vessel;
after which the Peloponnesians formed in a circle, and the Athenians
rowed round them and tried to throw them into disorder. Perceiving this,
the division opposed to the Corcyraeans, fearing a repetition of the
disaster of Naupactus, came to support their friends, and the whole
fleet now bore down, united, upon the Athenians, who retired before it,
backing water, retiring as leisurely as possible in order to give the
Corcyraeans time to escape, while the enemy was thus kept occupied. Such
was the character of this sea-fight, which lasted until sunset.

The Corcyraeans now feared that the enemy would follow up their victory
and sail against the town and rescue the men in the island, or strike
some other blow equally decisive, and accordingly carried the men
over again to the temple of Hera, and kept guard over the city. The
Peloponnesians, however, although victorious in the sea-fight, did not
venture to attack the town, but took the thirteen Corcyraean vessels
which they had captured, and with them sailed back to the continent
from whence they had put out. The next day equally they refrained
from attacking the city, although the disorder and panic were at their
height, and though Brasidas, it is said, urged Alcidas, his superior
officer, to do so, but they landed upon the promontory of Leukimme and
laid waste the country.

Meanwhile the commons in Corcyra, being still in great fear of the fleet
attacking them, came to a parle