II

The authorities at Sparta were highly indignant at the failure of their

expedition in Acarnania, and the defeat of the Peloponnesian fleet by

so inferior a force. For this was their first experience of a sea-fight

since the outbreak of the war, and they made no allowance for the want

of skill in their own crews, attributing the disaster to mere

cowardice. They did not reflect how vast was the difference between raw

sailors, lately transferred from the plough to the oar, and the veteran

seamen of Athens, trained under a system which had been slowly

perfected in the course of half a century. So they sent three

commissioners to Cnemus, with peremptory orders to prepare for another

sea-fight, and not allow himself to be shut up in harbour by the feeble

squadron of Phormio. One of these commissioners was Brasidas, a

brilliant young officer, who had gained distinction two years before by

saving the harbour-town of Methone, on the coast of Messenia, from

being captured by the Athenians. We shall hear much more of him in the

sequel.

On the arrival of Brasidas and his colleagues, the ships lying at

Cyllene were made ready for immediate service, and orders were sent

round to the allied cities for other ships. Phormio also sent an urgent

despatch to Athens announcing his victory, and asking for

reinforcements; and the Athenians sent twenty triremes to his aid.

These vessels, however, arrived too late, for the admiral, acting on

instructions from Athens, sailed first to Crete, where he was delayed a

long time by contrary winds. Phormio, with his twenty triremes, was

therefore compelled to engage the whole Peloponnesian fleet, numbering

seventy-seven ships, which had now sailed round from Cyllene, and taken

up its station just within the strait, close to the Achaean town of

Panormus. A strong force of Peloponnesian soldiers was encamped on the

shore, to co-operate with the fleet. Phormio anchored his ships just

outside the strait, being resolved, if it were in any way possible, not

to fight the Peloponnesians in the narrow waters. As the

Peloponnesians, on their side, were equally determined not to be lured

out into the open sea, the two fleets remained confronting each other

for a whole week, without attempting any aggressive movement. At last

the Peloponnesian leaders decided to give battle with Phormio at once,

fearing that if they delayed any longer he would be reinforced from

Athens.

It was the universal custom of Greek commanders to wind up the courage

of their men on the eve of a battle by a short and pithy address,

calculated to inspire them with confidence, by giving them a reasonable

hope of victory. Such a practice, strange as it may seem to us, was

natural among a people whose armies and fleets were recruited from the

general body of the citizens, accustomed to free speech in their public

assemblies. They were not men of war by profession, trained in habits

of blind obedience, but sensitive Greeks, who carried into the camp the

noble freedom of civic life, and were not prepared to shed their blood

without sufficient cause, and a fair prospect of success.

Seldom was there greater need of this sort of military eloquence than

on the present occasion. On both sides there was much discouragement,

and a general reluctance to begin the fight. The Peloponnesians were

cowed by their recent defeat, and dreaded the naval skill of the

Athenians, which seemed to them almost supernatural; and Phormio's men

shrank from an encounter with such enormous odds. Accordingly the

Peloponnesian captains on one side, and Phormio on the other, did what

they could to argue their crews into a more hopeful frame of mind. The

Peloponnesian seamen who had taken part in the first battle were

reminded that they had been caught unprepared, and assured that this

time every precaution would be taken to prevent a second reverse. They

were flattered by the confident assertion that the superior skill of

the Athenians was far outweighed by their own superior courage. "Look,"

said one of the admirals, speaking to his own division, "at this

powerful armament, outnumbering the enemy by four to one--look at the

army drawn up on the shore, ready to lend aid to any who are hard

pressed--and you will see that with such advantages defeat is

impossible. Do your duty like men, and expect to be rewarded or

punished according to your deserts." Similar addresses, combining

encouragement with threats, were heard in the other parts of the fleet.

Among the Athenian sailors there had been much jesting about the

land-lubbers of Peloponnesus, and in the first flush of their victory

they had been ready to face any odds on the sea. But now, seeing

themselves confronted by such overwhelming numbers, they had lost heart

for the moment, and were seen standing about in little groups, shaking

their heads and whispering fearfully together. It was an anxious moment

for Phormio; he knew the immense importance of maintaining, at any

cost, the naval reputation of Athens, and if his men went into battle

in their present temper, they were certain to suffer a crushing defeat.

Determining, therefore, if possible, to allay the panic which was fast

spreading throughout the fleet, he summoned the crews into his

presence, and harangued them as follows:--

"Comrades, I have called you hither to assure you that you have no

cause for alarm. The numbers of the enemy, which seem to you so

formidable, should, if properly considered, be a ground of confidence;

for this unwieldy armament is a sign that they are thoroughly

terrified, and seek safety in a huge crowd of ships. The firmness and

discipline which they have acquired by long experience of land warfare

will avail them little on the sea For courage is largely a matter of

habit, and the bravest landsman is a mere coward when he is taken away

from his own element, and set down on the heaving deck of a war-galley

where he can hardly keep his feet. The disorganized multitude with

which we shall have to deal is a mere mob, held together by the

authority of Sparta, demoralized by their late defeat, and forced to

fight against their will. Face them boldly, and our very audacity in

assailing such numbers will sink them still deeper into helpless

terror, for they will think that we must be invincible, or we should

never run such risks. It shall be my business to bring on the

engagement in blue water, where we shall have them at our mercy. Now

every man to his station; be prompt, and be silent, and attend to the

word of command. Remember your old spirit, and reflect that the honour

of Athens is in your hands to-day."

The great object of the Peloponnesian leaders was to compel Phormio to

give battle in the confined space of the strait. With this intention

they determined to make a sudden movement towards the northern coast of

the gulf, threatening an attack on Naupactus. At daybreak they drew up

their ships in four lines, with the coast of Peloponnesus behind them,

and with twenty fast-sailing triremes stationed on the right wing, to

cut off Phormio's fleet, if, as they anticipated, he advanced to the

defence of Naupactus. Wheeling then to the right, the ships sailed some

distance, four abreast, towards the inner gulf; and when they came

opposite to Naupactus, they changed their course, and moved in column,

with the right wing leading towards the northern shore.

The manoeuvre, so far as concerned its immediate purpose, was

completely successful. Phormio, much against his will, was obliged to

leave his station outside the strait, and go to the aid of Naupactus,

which had been left undefended. Great was the delight of the

Peloponnesian captains when they saw the little Athenian squadron

creeping close, in single file, along the northern side of the gulf,

for they thought that not one of the twenty would escape them. At a

given signal, the whole fleet formed into line, resuming its original

order, four deep, and bore down upon the Athenians. Eleven of Phormio's

triremes succeeded in clearing the strait, and getting into the open

waters in the direction of Naupactus; but the remaining nine were

overtaken and driven aground, and their crews, except those who escaped

by swimming, were put to the sword. Some of these vessels were towed

off as prizes by the Peloponnesians, and one they captured with all her

crew. The rest were saved by the valour of the Messenian soldiers, who

had followed the movements of Phormio's vessels along the shore, and

now did good service by boarding the stranded triremes, and hauling

them to land, after a sharp tussle with the enemy.

Meanwhile the eleven ships which had eluded the attack were hotly

pursued by the twenty fast-sailing vessels on the Peloponnesian right

wing. All but one got through in safety, and took refuge in the harbour

of Naupactus, and drawing up in line, with their prows outwards,

prepared to defend themselves if the enemy advanced further against

them. But the rearmost vessel was hard pressed by a Leucadian ship, and

the rest of the pursuers followed at a considerable distance, singing

the paean [Footnote: A song of victory.] as they rowed, and expecting

an easy victory. Now, however, occurred one of those sudden turns of

fortune so frequent in the course of a sea-fight. The Athenian trireme

which had been left far behind in the chase, made a sudden sweep round

a merchant-vessel anchored at the mouth of the harbour, struck her

pursuer amidships, and sank her.

This splendid feat of seamanship filled the Peloponnesians, who were

advancing in disorder, with amazement and terror. On every trireme the

cry of "Hold her!" [Footnote: This was done by thrusting the oars, with

the blades held flat, deep into the water] was heard, and some of the

vessels, losing way suddenly, ran aground on the shallows. The others

hung back, waiting until the main body of the fleet should come to

their support. Seeing them drifting thus, stupefied and helpless, the

Athenians took heart again, and raising a shout rowed swiftly from

their station within the harbour, and charged down upon them. The

Peloponnesians, after a feeble attempt at resistance, took to flight,

heading for their original station on the opposite coast. Six of their

vessels were captured, and the Athenians, not content with this, fell

upon the main body of the fleet, and recovered their own ships which

had been taken in the strait. The victorious crews of Phormio then

returned to Naupactus, and set up a trophy at the place where they had

been moored when this splendid rally was made, opposite to the temple

of Apollo. The Peloponnesians also raised a trophy, to commemorate

their first success, and then, fearing the arrival of the fresh ships

from Athens, they sailed off to Lechaeum, the northern harbour of

Corinth.