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Darius

SECT. IX. Syracuse is alarmed. The Athenian fleet arrives in Sicily.

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ADVICE of this expedition coming to Syracuse Nothus. from all quarters, it was' thought so improbable, that at first no body would believe it. But as it was more and more confirmed every day, the Syracusans began to think seriously of making the necessary preparations; and sent deputations to every part of the island, to ask assistance of some, and send succours to others. They garrisoned all the castles and forts in the country; reviewed all the soldiers and horses; examined the arms in the magazines; and settled and prepared all things, as if the enemy had been in their country.

In the mean time the fleet sailed in three squadrons, each under the command of its particular general. It consisted of an hundred and thirty-six ships, an hundred whereof belonged to Athens, and the rest to the allies. On board these ships were five thousand heavy-armed soldiers, two thousand two hundred of whom were Athenian citizens, viz. fifteen hundred of those who had estates, and seven hundred * who had none, but were equally citizens; the rest consisted of allies. With regard to the light infantry, there were eighty archers of Crete, and four hundred of other countries; seven hundred Rhodian slingers, and an hundred and twenty exiles of Megara. There was but one company of horse, consisting of thirty troopers, who had embarked on board a vessel proper for transporting cavalry. Both the fleet and the land-forces were afterwards increased considerably. Thirty vessels carried the provisions and cooks, with masons, carpenters, and their several tools; the whole followed by an hundred small vessels for the service, exclusive of merchant-ships, of which there were great numbers. All this fleet had sailed toge

Thucyd. 1. vi. p. 432-145. Diod. 1. xiii p. 135, 136.
These were called 9r.

ther for Corcyra. Having met with but an indif-Darius ferent reception from the people of Tarentum and Nothus. Locris, they sailed with a favourable wind for Rhegium, where they made some stay. The Athenians were very urgent with the inhabitants of Rhegium to succour those of Leontium, who came originally from Chalcis as well as themselves: But these answered, that they were determined to stand neuter, and to undertake nothing but in concert with the rest of Italy. Here they debated on the manner in which it was necessary to carry on the war, and waited for the coming up of those ships that had been sent out to make discoveries of a proper place for landing, and to enquire whether the citizens of Egesta had got their money ready. Upon their return they brought advice that they had but thirty talents in the treasury. This Nicias had foreseen, but no regard had been paid to his salutary counsels.

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He did not fail, the instant this news was brought, to expatiate on the counsel he had given in Athens; to shew the wrong step they had taken in engaging in this war; and to amplify the fatal consequences which might be expected from it: In all which he acted very imprudently. It was extremely judicious in Nicias to oppose it in the beginning, and to set every engine at work to crush if possible this ill-fated project. But as it was resolved, and he himself had accepted of the command, he ought not to be perpetually looking backward, nor to have repeated incessantly, that this war had been undertaken in opposition to all the maxims of prudence; and, by that means, to cool the ardour of his two colleagues in the command, to dispirit the soldiers, and blunt that edge of confidence and ardour, which assure the success of great enterprizes. The Athenians, on the contrary, ought to have advanced boldly towards the enemy; should have attacked them with vigour, and

Plut. in Nic. p. 532.

Darius have spread an universal terror, by a sudden and unNothus. expected descent.

But Nicias acted in a quite different manner. His opinion, in the council of war, was, that they should sail for Selinunta, which had been the first occasion of this expedition; and then, if the citizens of Egesta performed their promise, and gave a month's pay to the army, to proceed forward; or otherwise, to oblige them to furnish provisions for the sixty gallics they had demanded, and continue in that road till they should have concluded a peace with the citizens of Selinunta, either by force of arms or some other way. He said, that they afterwards should return to Athens, after having thus made a parade of their forces, and the assistance they gave their allies; unless they should have an opportunity of making some attempt in favour of the Leontines, or of bringing over some city into their alliance.

Alcibiades answered, that it would be inglorious, after their sailing out with so noble a fleet, to return without doing any thing; and that they should first endeavour to conclude an alliance with the Greeks and Barbarians, in order to divide them from the Syracusans, and procure troops and provisions from them; and especially to send a deputation to Messina, which was a kind of key to Sicily, and its har bour capacious enough to hold all the fleet. He declared farther, that after seeing who were their friends and enemies, and strengthening themselves by the addition of a new reinforcement, they then should attack either Selinunta or Syracuse; in case the one should refuse to conclude a peace with Egesta, and the other not permit the Leontines to return to their city.

Lamachus offered a third opinion, which perhaps. was the most prudent; that was, to sail directly for Syracuse, before its citizens had time to recover from their surprize, or prepare for their defence. He observed, that the sudden arrival of an armed force al

ways strikes the greatest terror; and that when ene- Darius mies are allowed time to reflect and make prepara-Nothus. tions, it also revives their courage; whereas, when they are suddenly attacked, and still in confusion, they are generally overcome; that as they would be masters of the open country, they should not be in want of any thing, but, on the contrary, would oblige the Sicilians to declare for them: That at last they should settle in Megara, which was quite desert and a near neighbour to Syracuse, and there lay up their fleet in safety. However, his counsel not be ing followed, he agreed to that of Alcibiades: Accordingly they sailed for Sicily, where Alcibiades took Catana by surprize.

SECT. X. Alcibiades is recalled. He flies, and is sentenced to die as an outlaw. He retires to Sparta. Flexibility of his genius and disposition.

THIS was the first and last exploit performed by Alcibiades in this expedition, he being immediately recalled by the Athenians, in order to be tried upon the accusation against him. For, from the departure of the, fleet, his enemies, who had no regard to the welfare of their country; and who, upon the specious pretence of religion, which is often made a cloak to cover the darkest designs, meditated nothing but satiating their hatred and revenge; his enemies, I say, taking advantage of his absence, had proceeded in the affair with greater vigour than ever. All those against whom informations were lodged, were thrown into prison, without so much as being suffered to be heard, and that too on the evidence of the most profligate and abandoned citizens; as if, says Thucydides, it was not as great a crime to punish the innocent, as to suffer the guilty to escape. One of the informers was proved to be perjured by his own words; having declared that he

Thucyd. 1. vi. p. 446-450. Plut. in Alcib. p. 202.

Darius

saw and knew one of the accused by moonlight; Nothus. whereas it appeared, that there was no moon at that time. But notwithstanding this manifest perjury, the populace were as furious as ever. The remem. brance of the tyranny of the Pisistratides made them apprehensive of the like fate; and strongly possessed with this fear, they would not give ear to any thing.

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At last, they sent out the ship of Salamin, ordering the captain not to carry off Alcibiades by force, for fear of raising a tumult in the army; but only to order him to return to Athens, to pacify the people by his presence. Alcibiades obeyed the order, and went immediately on board his galley; but the instant he was arrived at Thurium, and had got on shore, he disappeared, and eluded the pursuit of those who sought after him. Being asked, whether he would not rely on his country, with regard to the judgment it might pass on him: "I would not,' says he, "rely on my mother, for fear lest she "should inadvertently mistake at black bean for a white one." The galley of Salamin returned back without the commander, who was ashamed of his having suffered his prey to escape him in that manner. Alcibiades was sentenced to die for his contumacy. His whole estate was confiscated, and all priests and priestesses were commanded to curse him. Among the latter was one Theano, who alone had the courage to oppose this decree, saying,

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That she had been appointed priestess, not to curse but to bless. Some time after, news being brought him that the Athenians had condemned him to die, I shall make them sensible, said he, that I am alive.

u Much about this time Diagoras of Melia was prosecuted at Athens. He had settled himself in the

"Joseph. contr. App.

*This was a sacred vessel appointed to fetch criminals.

The judges made use of beans in giving their suffrages, and the black bean denoted condemnation.

† φάσκεςα ευχῶν & καταρῶν ἱέρειαν γεγονέναι.

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