Page 349 which the Priest foretold the death of the Admiral: To which it is reported Callicratides made Answer, That the Glory of Sparta would not be obscur'd by his Death. Thrasybulus likewise, the Athenians Admiral, who had the Chief Command that Day, had this Dream; the Night before, he dreamt that he, and six other Commanders, in a full Theater at Athens, acted the Tragedy of Euripides, call'd Phenissa, and that the Enemies acted that call'd The Suppliants; and that at length he obtain'd a Cadmean Victory, and all of them were kill'd, like those at the Siege of Thebes: which when the Sooth-sayer heard, he interpreted it, That seven of the Chief Commanders should fall in the Fight. But in regard that the Intrails portended Victory, they commanded nothing should be said of their Deaths, but only to their Friends; but that they should publish abroad to the whole Army, that Victory was certainly promis'd by the View of the Sacrifices.
Then Callicratides calling the Souldiers together, made a Speech to them suited to the Occasion; and further added,
I am so chearful and ready to undergo all hazards for the sake of my Country, that altho' the Augur has foretold my Death, by the Portents of the Sacrifice; yet inasmuch as he has also pronounc'd assured Victory to You, I am impatient of delay, and ready and willing presently to die. And that the Army may not be disturb'd, and in confusion by the Death of their Admiral, I now appoint another, who may succeed me, in case I fall; and that is Clearchus, a Man known to be an experienc'd good Souldier.
Callicratides stirr'd up many with these words, to imitate his Valour, and to hasten the Battle. The Lacedemonians now encouraging one another, imbarqu'd; so likewise the Athenians (hearten'd by their Officers) went aboard, and every one plac'd themselves according to their Squadrons. Thrasybulus and Pericles commanded the Right Wing, (this was Pericles the Son of that Pericles, the Famous Orator, whose Surname was Olympus.) But the Command of part of this Wing he deliver'd to Theramenes, who was at first but a Common Souldier, but afterwards at several times, commanded considerable Forces: the rest of the Officers he plac'd in their Order throughout the whole Fleet; and compassing the Islands call'd Arginuse, he drew out his Fleet in a Line, as long as possibly he could. On the other side, Callicratides advancing into the open Sea, commanded the Right Wing: The Beotians were in the Left, commanded by Thrasonidas the Theban. But when they saw that they could not reach to equal the Line of the Enemy, because the Islands stretcht out so far, he divided his Navy into two parts, and fought in two places. This amaz'd the Beholders from all parts, as if four Fleets, with no less than three hundred Sail, close together, were hotly engag'd. For this was the greatest Sea-Fight that ever was fought, by Grecians against Grecians, that any History commemorates. And now at one instant all the Trumpets were commanded by the Admirals to sound a Charge, and the Armies on both sides set up great Shouts in their turns, one against another, and plying their Oars with great heat and earnestness, every one strove who should be the first in making the Onset. For there were many, that by reason of the long continuance of the War, were well instructed for Fights at Sea; and the Battle was very hot and obstinate on both sides, in regard the Best and Stoutest Men were got together to fight, in order to get or lose all at once: For none doubted but this Battle would put an end to the War, which side soever got the Victory. But Callicratides, knowing by the Predictions of the Augurs, that he was to die, endeavour'd to make his Death Honourable and Glorious. Therefore he made up fiercely upon the Gallies of Nausias, the Vice-Admiral, whom he sunk, with those next to him, at the first Charge; others he disabled, striking them through with the Beaks of his Ships, and others he made useless for Fight, by brushing off their Oars. At length he struck the Ship of Pericles with such violence, that he tore off one great part from another. But the Fore-part of his own Ship was so fix'd by the Fierceness of the Stroak in the Prow of his Enemies Ship, that he could not clear himself off: Upon which Pericles cast Grappling-Irons into Callicratides his Vessel, and so forc'd him up close side to side; and thereupon the Athenians in a great Body, boarded him, and put all in the Ship to the Sword. Here it is reported, that Callicratides (after he had behav'd himself with great Gallantry a long time, and receiv'd many Wounds in all parts of his Body) at length weary'd out, fell down dead: The Report of his Death, running through the Fleet, the Peloponesians struck with a Pannick Fear, began presently to fly: But tho' the Right Wing fled, yet the Beotians in the Left, stuck to it, and fought stoutly for some time; for they of Eubea (being in the same common Danger) were very Faithful to them, and all those
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