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The Athenians say that Adeimantus, the Corinthian commander, at
the moment when the two fleets joined battle, was seized with fear,
and being beyond measure alarmed, spread his sails, and hasted to fly
away; on which the other Corinthians, seeing their leader's ship in
full flight, sailed off likewise. They had reached in their flight
that part of the coast of Salamis where stands the temple of Minerva
Sciras, when they met a light bark, a very strange apparition: it
was never discovered that any one had sent it to them; and till it
appeared they were altogether ignorant how the battle was going. That
there was something beyond nature in the matter they judged from this -
that when the men in the bark drew near to their ships they addressed
them, saying - "Adeimantus, while thou playest the traitor's
part, by withdrawing all these ships, and flying away from the fight,
the Greeks whom thou hast deserted are defeating their foes as
completely as they ever wished in their prayers." Adeimantus,
however, would not believe what the men said; whereupon they told him
"he might take them with him as hostages, and put them to death if he
did not find the Greeks winning." Then Adeimantus put about, both
he and those who were with him; and they re-joined the fleet when the
victory was already gained. Such is the tale which the Athenians tell
concerning them of Corinth; these latter however do not allow its
truth. On the contrary, they declare that they were among those who
distinguished themselves most in the fight. And the rest of Greece
bears witness in their favour.
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