Charles F. Smith, Commentary on Thucydides Book 7

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Immediately thereafter the expected Corinthian, Ambraciot, and Leucadian ships reach the great harbour of Syracuse, unobserved by the Athenians, and the cross-wall is finished. Gylippus displays the greatest activity in getting reinforcements from all quarters, and the Syracusans are zealously occupied in fitting out their fleet.

1. αἵ τε τῶν Κορινθίων νῆες κτἑ.: cf. c. 4. 35, where also ἡ τῶν Ἀθηναίων φυλακή is mentioned. τῶν expressed but once as in i.7.7, etc. The two circumstances so important for the Syracusans, the arrival of the long-expected ships and the activity of Gylippus, are connected by τε καί.

ξυνετείχισαν : the men from these ships, who now helped to finish the rest of the cross-wall, which had just been carried past the Athenian wall. This sense, which is required by the whole context, is best gained by following Holm's clear explanation (Sic. H. 392-395) and striking out μέχρι, which may have sprung from a misunderstanding of πρὸς τὸ ἐγκάρσιον τεῖχος ἁπλοῦν (c. 4. 3). τὸ λοιπόν is to be connected with τοῦ ἐγκαρσίου τείχους, just as in c. 71. 34, τὸ λοιπὸν τοῦ τείχους; iv.116.13, τὸ λοιπὸν τοῦ χειμῶνος. The first Syracusan crosswall was also called ἐγκάρσιον τεῖχος (vi.99.16). St., with the approval of Philippi, strikes out μέχρι τοῦ ἐγκαρσίου τείχους in order to get the same sense. See App.

6. ἐπὶ στρατιάν: concise expression of purpose (cf. c. 12. 1), which is more definitely explained by καὶ ναυτικὴν . . . ξυλλέξων.

τε : refers to καὶ τῶν πόλεων below, and should not be struck out, as v. H. thinks.—ᾤχετο: as often, to indicate departure without delay. Cf. i.90.26; 116. 15.

πεζικήν: retained with most of the Mss., instead of πεζήν. See on vi.33.9.—τῶν πόλεων: part. gen. depending on εἴ τις. Kr. Spr. 60, 10, 1.— 8. προσαξόμενος: to bring over, used in same sense in i.99.8; ii.30.7; iii.91.7; iv.86.3.

ἀφεστήκει: had stood aloof, as in vi.88.22.

ἄλλοι: opp. to Gylippus (6); has no reference to the former ambassadors mentioned vi. 75. § 3.

κορινθίων: i.e. from the lately arrived ships, who could work the more effectively in their native city.

τρόπῳ ᾧ ἂν...προχωρῇ : in whatever way might be available, in merchant ships, or small craft, or in any other way that might be convenient. ἐν ὁλκάσιν . . . ὅπως ἄν is to be taken as explanatory of τρόπῳ ᾧ ἂν προχωρῇ, and προχωρῇ is understood with ὅπως ἄν. See App.

ὡς...ἐπιμεταπεμπομένων : since also the Athenians were sending for fresh troops. The direct statement of this is not made till the following chap., but it is here taken for granted as already known.

14. ἐπλήρουν καὶ ἀνεπειρῶντο: same phrase in c. 51. 9, and ἀναπειρᾶσθαι, practise manæuvering, again, c. 12. 16.

ἐπέρρωντο: were encouraged; also c. 17. 10. Cf. c. 2. 9, ἐπερρώσθησαν, plucked up courage.