Corcyraean armament
that were within hearing immediately called out to take them and kill
them. But the Athenians answered as follows: "Neither are we beginning
war, Peloponnesians, nor are we breaking the treaty; but these
Corcyraeans are our allies, and we are come to help them. So if you want
to sail anywhere else, we place no obstacle in your way; but if you are
going to sail against Corcyra, or any of her possessions, we shall do
our best to stop you."

Receiving this answer from the Athenians, the Corinthians commenced
preparations for their voyage home, and set up a trophy in Sybota, on
the continent; while the Corcyraeans took up the wrecks and dead that
had been carried out to them by the current, and by a wind which rose in
the night and scattered them in all directions, and set up their trophy
in Sybota, on the island, as victors. The reasons each side had for
claiming the victory were these. The Corinthians had been victorious
in the sea-fight until night; and having thus been enabled to carry
off most wrecks and dead, they were in possession of no fewer than a
thousand prisoners of war, and had sunk close upon seventy vessels. The
Corcyraeans had destroyed about thirty ships, and after the arrival of
the Athenians had taken up the wrecks and dead on their side; they had
besides seen the Corinthians retire before them, backing water on sight
of the Athenian vessels, and upon the arrival of the Athenians refuse to
sail out against them from Sybota. Thus both sides claimed the victory.

The Corinthians on the voyage home took Anactorium, which stands at the
mouth of the Ambracian gulf. The place was taken by treachery, being
common ground to the Corcyraeans and Corinthians. After establishing
Corinthian settlers there, they retired home. Eight hundred of the
Corcyraeans were slaves; these they sold; two hundred and fifty they
retained in captivity, and treated with great attention, in the hope
that they might bring over their country to Corinth on their return;
most of them being, as it happened, men of very high position in
Corcyra. In this way Corcyra maintained her political existence in the
war with Corinth, and the Athenian vessels left the island. This was
the first cause of the war that Corinth had against the Athenians,
viz., that they had fought against them with the Corcyraeans in time of
treaty.

Almost immediately after this, fresh differences arose between the
Athenians and Peloponnesians, and