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διὰ τῶν ὁλκάδων—each of these vessels commanded one of the ἔσπλοι in the σταύρωμα, which, as we infer from c. 38.2, were 200 feet apart. Many edd. ridiculously suppose that the ‘dolphins’ extended over a space of 200 feet, understanding ἔσπλοι to mean the spaces between the transports. But really they are the gaps left in the σταύρωμα, and they were only wide enough to admit a single vessel.
δελφινοφόροι—the ‘dolphins’ served the purpose of the chains by which λιμένες κλῃστοὶ were closed. The κεραῖαι are here beams, not yard-arms.
αὐτῶν ἐγγὺς—near the transports αὐτοῖς—this dat. is not used outside of naval and military expressions except with αὐτός.
ἀμφοτέρων—i.e the action just ended and that of two days earlier. τὴν ἐλπίδα . . ἐχυρὰν εἶχον—felt confident ταῖς μὲν ναυσὶ—strictly τὸν δὲ πεζὸν ought to follow. κατ᾽ ἀμφότερα— “every preparation was making for another and more decisive attack which should complete the defeat of the invaders by sea and land” Freeman .
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