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ἐς τὴν Νάξον καὶ Κατάνην—the order is the same as in c. 61, 2, the more remote place being mentioned first. For the stay of the fleet at Naxos see c. 74, 1. Thuc. here gives in summary the action of the A. during the rest of the winter before passing to the action of the Syr. during the same time. ἐποίουν—‘called,’ of the authorities.
ἀνὴρ κτλ—as this is the third interposition of Hermocrates (IV. 58 and VI. 32), it is rather strange to find him lishered in with this eulogy; but Thuc. means to mark the increase of his reputation κατὰ τὸν πόλεμον. ξύνεσιν—the dat. is commoner. ἐμπειρίᾳ—i.e. the experience he had gained in previous wars was of service to him in this war. κατὰ τὸν πόλεμον is not general, but refers to this particular war. οὐκ εἴα—‘urged them not to take the result seriously.’
γνώμην—‘spirit,’ virtus. εἶναι—attraction of rel. sentenee in O.O.; cf. c. 24, 3. See crit. note. χειροτέχναις—sc. μάχης, the contrast being between skilled and unskilled workmen—veterans chosen καταλόγοις χρηστοῖς and new levies.
μέγα δὲ βλάψαι καὶ τῶν ς. τὴν π—‘they were greatly hampered too by the number of generals in command . . . and the disorganised confusion of the rank and file.’ παρασκευάσωσι κτλ—‘improve the hoplites, by providing arms for those who had none (i.e. because they were too poor to huy them) . . and by enforcing a thorough system of training.’ ἄλλῃ means the other details besides the use of arms. εὐταξίας δέ—‘and since they would acquire discipline in action’ προσγενομένης is equivalent to a fut. perf. ἀμφότερα—i.e. τὴν ἀνδρίαν (=εὐψυχίαν) καὶ τὴν εὐταξίαν. αὐτά—‘naturally,’ ‘automatically,’ since ‘by association with danger their discipline would be called into practice, and their courage would be bolder than ever by association with the confidence that knowledge gives.’ Cf. II. 40 τὸ πιστὸν τῆς έλευθερίας. In ἔσεσθαι there is an anacoluthon, ἐσομένην being strictly required to match μελετωμένην. Cf. c. 35, 1.
ὀμόσαι αὐτοῖς—the whole people were to take this oath. It was not to be confined to the troops ἀπροφασίστως—‘with resolution,’ without having to offer reasons for their conduct.
Commentary on Thucydides Book 6. E.C. Marchant. London. MacMillan & Company. 1909. Professional Data Entry.
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