ἄμα—with παρακελευόμενος.
τὸ δὲ—sc. στράτευμα. Apparently each of the two divisions formed its own square.
καὶ ἐπειδὴ ἐγένοντο—the object of the A. before the last battle had been to reach Catana. Holm and Lupus think that they had given up all hope of reaching it. The alternative to Catana was some friendly town, west or south Freeman and Grote think that, as long as they were trying to reach the Acraean rock (see c. 80), they still hoped to get to Catana, though of course by an indirect route. The Acraean rock is due west of Syr.
τῇ διαβάσει—i.e. where the regular route crossed the river.
ἐς τὸ πρόσθεν—np the ascent that leads to Floridia. They were now following the modern road.
κατέβησαν—although the ἄπεδον, level ground about Floridia, is higher than the road, yet Freeman thinks that this word is consistent with the state of the ground immediately south of Floridia. Holm however thinks that either Thuc. has made a slip or the text is wrong.
Ἀκραῖον λέπας—a height near Floridia, with broken rocks covered with straggling veidure. The position was very favourable to the Syr.
αὐτοὺς—for the order cf. III. 61.1 ἵνα μήτε ἡ ἡμετέρα αὐτοὺς κακία ὠφελῆ̣.
ὁμοίως—as before.
ἀποχωρεῖν—i.e. from the main body, for the purpose of foraging
