§6.66.1ἐν τούτῳ δ’ οἱ Ἀθηναῖοι, μακρᾶς οὔσης τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῖς, καθ’ ἡσυχίαν καθῖσαν τὸ στράτευμα ἐς χωρίον ἐπιτήδειον, καὶ ἐν ᾧ μάχης τε ἄρξειν ἔμελλον ὁπότε βούλοιντο καὶ οἱ ἱππῆς τῶν Συρακοσίων ἥκιστ’ ἂν αὐτοὺς καὶ ἐν τῷ ἔργῳ καὶ πρὸ αὐτοῦ λυπήσειν· τῇ μὲν γὰρ τειχία τε καὶ οἰκίαι εἶργον καὶ δένδρα καὶ λίμνη, παρὰ δὲ τὸ κρημνοί.
Meanwhile, as the journey was a long one for the Syracusans, the Athenians quietly established their army in a convenient position, and one in which they would be able to begin a battle whenever they wished, and where the Syracusan cavalry would be least likely to annoy them either during the action or before it; for on one side they were protected by walls, houses, trees, and a marsh, while on the other side there were cliffs.
§6.66.2καὶ τὰ ἐγγὺς δένδρα κόψαντες καὶ κατενεγκόντες ἐπὶ τὴν θάλασσαν παρά τε τὰς ναῦς σταύρωμα ἔπηξαν καὶ ἐπὶ τῷ Δάσκωνι ἔρυμά τι, ᾗ εὐεφοδώτατον ἦν τοῖς πολεμίοις, λίθοις λογάδην καὶ ξύλοις διὰ ταχέων ὤρθωσαν, καὶ τὴν τοῦ Ἀνάπου γέφυραν ἔλυσαν.
And having cut down the trees nearby and carried them down to the sea, they drove in a palisade beside the ships, and at Dascon they quickly erected a fort with selected stones and wood where it was easiest for the enemy to approach, and they also broke down the bridge over the Anapus.
§6.66.3παρασκευαζομένων δὲ ἐκ μὲν τῆς πόλεως οὐδεὶς ἐξιὼν ἐκώλυε, πρῶτοι δὲ οἱ ἱππῆς τῶν Συρακοσίων προσεβοήθησαν, ἔπειτα δὲ ὕστερον καὶ τὸ πεζὸν ἅπαν ξυνελέγη.
While they were making these preparations, no one came out from the city to prevent them, but first the cavalry of the Syracusans came to the rescue, and then later all the infantry also assembled.
καὶ προσῆλθον μὲν ἐγγὺς τοῦ στρατεύματος τῶν Ἀθηναίων τὸ πρῶτον, ἔπειτα δὲ ὡς οὐκ ἀντιπροῇσαν αὐτοῖς, ἀναχωρήσαντες καὶ διαβάντες τὴν Ἑλωρίνην ὁδὸν ηὐλίσαντο.
At first they came near to the Athenian army, but then, when the Athenians did not come out against them, they withdrew, crossed the Helorine road, and bivouacked.