Timotheus in his cruise reached Corcyra, and reduced it at
a blow. That done, he neither enslaved the inhabitants nor
drove them into exile, nor changed their laws. And of this
conduct he reaped the benefit in the increased cordiality ^ of
all the cities of those parts. The Lacedaemonians thereupon
fitted out and despatched a counter fleet, with Nicolochus in
command, an officer of consummate boldness. This admiral
no sooner caught sight of Tiraotheus's fleet than without
hesitation, and in spite of the absence of six Ambraciot vessels
which formed part of his squadron, he gave battle, with fifty-
five ships to the enemy's sixty. The result was a defeat at
the moment, and Timotheus set up a trophy at Alyzia. But
as soon as the six missing Ambraciot vessels had reinforced
him — the ships of Timotheus meanwhile being docked and
undergoing repairs — he bore down upon Alyzia in search of
the Athenian, and as Timotheus refused to put out to meet
him, the Lacedaemonian in his turn set up a trophy on the
nearest group of islands.
B.C. 374. — Timotheus, after repairing his original squadron
and manning more vessels from Corcyra, found himself at
the head of more than seventy ships. His naval superiority
was undisputed, but he was forced to send to Athens for
moneys, seeing his fleet was large and his wants not trifling.
the character and exploits of Timotheus, son of Conon, see Isocr. Or. xv.
"On the Antidosis, " §§ 101-139 ; Jebb. Atf. Or. ii. p. 140 foil. ; Rehdantz,
Vit. Ifhicr. Chahr. Timoth. Atheniensium.
