T. G. Tucker, Commentary on Thucydides: Book 8

παρεσκεύαζε with a personal object, iii. 36, παρεσκεύασαν τοὺς ἐν τέλει . . . καἰ ἔπεισαν ῥᾷον . . .

ὅπως ἔσται The verbs are verbs of striving (=ἔπρασσεν). Goodwin, M. and T. § 339.

πλέοσι ναυσὶ For the relative strength of the fleets see note on c. 43, § 2, ἅπασαι κ.τ.λ. The enumeration here must include the Chian contingent. Cf. c. 53, § 2, οὐκ ἐλάσσους.

τῶν Ἀθηναίων=ἢ οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι by comparatio compendiaria. Madvig, Synt. § 90, R. 1.

πεισθῆναι ‘to follow the advice’ of Alcibiades if he possibly could.

τὴν ἐν τῇ Κνίδῳ διαφορὰν c. 43, § 3, where Lichas objects to the existing terms and the parties separate in indignation: ‘the opposition which the Peloponnesians raised at Cnidus to the treaty of Theramenes’ (Jowett).

ᾔσθετο not=ἐπύθετο, but with διαφορὰν = ‘when he had seen how far he was at variance with the Peloponnesians.’

ἤδη γὰρ κ.τ.λ.—i.e. ἤδη γὰρ ἐγεγένητο (‘for it had taken place before the time of which we are now speaking’) ἐν τῇ Ῥόδῳ ὄντων αὐτῶν κατὰ τοῦτον τὸν καιρόν (‘inasmuch as the Pelop were in Rhodes at the date before us’). ἤδη is doubtless felt with ὄντων as well as with ἐγεγένητο. After narrating the progress of the Pelop affairs up to their inactivity in Rhodes, Thucydides in c. 45 returns to the part which had been ‘for some time back’ played by Alcibiades. During Alcibiades' intrigues, while the Pelop. were at Miletus, Phrynichus acted as in c. 50. Afterwards the quarrel at Cnidus took place; the Pelop. went to Rhodes, and the persuasions of Alcibiades are still working upon Tissaphernes, who is now greatly affected by the quarrel above-mentioned.

τὸν τοῦ Ἀλκ. λόγον viz. in c. 46, § 3.

ἐπηλήθευσεν transitive and causative: cf. c. 1, § 1, on ἐπήλπισαν.