the main body as fast as they joined it. Want of zeal or daring was
certainly not the fault of the Syracusans, either in this or the other
battles, but although not inferior in courage, so far as their military
science might carry them, when this failed them they were compelled to
give up their resolution also. On the present occasion, although they
had not supposed that the Athenians would begin the attack, and although
constrained to stand upon their defence at short notice, they at once
took up their arms and advanced to meet them. First, the stone-throwers,
slingers, and archers of either army began skirmishing, and routed or
were routed by one another, as might be expected between light troops;
next, soothsayers brought forward the usual victims, and trumpeters
urged on the heavy infantry to the charge; and thus they advanced,
the Syracusans to fight for their country, and each individual for
his safety that day and liberty hereafter; in the enemy's army, the
Athenians to make another's country theirs and to save their own from
suffering by their defeat; the Argives and independent allies to help
them in getting what they came for, and to earn by victory another sight
of the country they had left behind; while the subject allies owed most
of their ardour to the desire of self-preservation, which they could
only hope for if victorious; next to which, as a secondary motive, came
the chance of serving on easier terms, after helping the Athenians to a
fresh conquest.

The armies now came to close quarters, and for a long while fought
without either giving ground. Meanwhile there occurred some claps of
thunder with lightning and heavy rain, which did not fail to add to
the fears of the party fighting for the first time, and very little
acquainted with war; while to their more experienced adversaries these
phenomena appeared to be produced by the time of year, and much more
alarm was felt at the continued resistance of the enemy. At last the
Argives drove in the Syracusan left, and after them the Athenians routed
the troops opposed to them, and the Syracusan army was thus cut in two
and betook itself to flight. The Athenians did not pursue far, being
held in check by the numerous and undefeated Syracusan horse, who
attacked and drove back any of their heavy infantry whom they saw
pursuing in advance of the rest; in spite of which the victors followed
so far as was safe in a body, and then went back and set up a trophy.