kes place, no one knowing
much of anything that does not go on in his own immediate neighbourhood;
but in a night engagement (and this was the only one that occurred
between great armies during the war) how could any one know anything for
certain? Although there was a bright moon they saw each other only as
men do by moonlight, that is to say, they could distinguish the form of
the body, but could not tell for certain whether it was a friend or an
enemy. Both had great numbers of heavy infantry moving about in a small
space. Some of the Athenians were already defeated, while others were
coming up yet unconquered for their first attack. A large part also
of the rest of their forces either had only just got up, or were still
ascending, so that they did not know which way to march. Owing to the
rout that had taken place all in front was now in confusion, and
the noise made it difficult to distinguish anything. The victorious
Syracusans and allies were cheering each other on with loud cries, by
night the only possible means of communication, and meanwhile receiving
all who came against them; while the Athenians were seeking for one
another, taking all in front of them for enemies, even although they
might be some of their now flying friends; and by constantly asking
for the watchword, which was their only means of recognition, not only
caused great confusion among themselves by asking all at once, but also
made it known to the enemy, whose own they did not so readily discover,
as the Syracusans were victorious and not scattered, and thus less
easily mistaken. The result was that if the Athenians fell in with a
party of the enemy that was weaker than they, it escaped them through
knowing their watchword; while if they themselves failed to answer they
were put to the sword. But what hurt them as much, or indeed more than
anything else, was the singing of the paean, from the perplexity which
it caused by being nearly the same on either side; the Argives and
Corcyraeans and any other Dorian peoples in the army, struck terror into
the Athenians whenever they raised their paean, no less than did the
enemy. Thus, after being once thrown into disorder, they ended by coming
into collision with each other in many parts of the field, friends with
friends, and citizens with citizens, and not only terrified one another,
but even came to blows and could only be parted with difficulty. In the
pursuit many perished by throwing themselves dow