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Such is the account given by the Athenians. The Eginetans deny that
there was only a single vessel - "Had there been only one," they
say, "or no more than a few, they would easily have repulsed the
attack, even if they had had no fleet at all; but the Athenians came
against them with a large number of ships, wherefore they gave way,
and did not hazard a battle." They do not however explain clearly
whether it was from a conviction of their own inferiority at sea that
they yielded, or whether it was for the purpose of doing that which in
fact they did. Their account is that the Athenians, disembarking
from their ships, when they found that no resistance was offered, made
for the statues, and failing to wrench them from their pedestals, tied
ropes to them and began to haul. Then, they say - and some people
will perhaps believe them, though I for my part do not - the two
statues, as they were being dragged and hauled, fell down both upon
their knees; in which attitude they still remain. Such, according to
them, was the conduct of the Athenians; they meanwhile, having
learnt beforehand what was intended, had prevailed on the Argives to
hold themselves in readiness; and the Athenians accordingly were but
just landed on their coasts when the Argives came to their aid.
Secretly and silently they crossed over from Epidaurus, and, before
the Athenians were aware, cut off their retreat to their ships, and
fell upon them; and the thunder came exactly at that moment, and the
earthquake with it.
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