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conquerors； with garlands on their heads； with their own horses
splendidly adorned； and cropping short the manes and tails of those of
their enemies； entered the city； having； in the most signal conflict
ever waged by Greeks against Greeks； and with the greatest strength
and the utmost effort of valour and manhood won a most entire victory。
And a general assembly of the people of Syracuse and their
confederates sitting； Eurycles； the popular leader； moved； first； that
the day on which they took Nicias should from thenceforward be kept
holiday by sacrificing and forbearing all manner of work； and from the
river he called the Asinarian Feast。 This was the twenty…sixth day
of the month Carneus； the Athenian Metagitnion。 And that the
servants of the Athenians with the other confederates be sold for
slaves； and they themselves and the Sicilian auxiliaries be kept and
employed in the quarries； except the generals； who should be put to
death。 The Syracusans favoured the proposals； and when Hermocrates
said； that to use well a victory was better than to gain a victory； he
was met with great clamour and outcry。 When Gylippus； also； demanded
the Athenian generals to be delivered to him； that he might carry them
to the Lacedaemonians； the Syracusans； now insolent with their
good…fortune； gave him ill words。 Indeed； before this； even in the
war； they had been impatient at his rough behaviour and
Lacedaemonian haughtiness； and had； as Timaeus tells us； discovered
sordidness and avarice in his character； vices which may have
descended to him from his father Cleandrides； who was convicted of
bribery and banished。 And the very man himself； of the one thousand
talents which Lysander sent to Sparta； embezzled thirty； and hid
them under the tiles of his house； and was detected and shamefully
fled his country。 But this is related more at large in the life of
Lysander。 Timaeus says that Demosthenes and Nicias did not die； as
Thucydides and Philistus have written； by the order of the Syracusans；
but that upon a message sent them from Hermocrates； whilst yet the
assembly were sitting； by the connivance of some of their guards； they
were enabled to put an end to themselves。 Their bodies； however；
were thrown out before the gates and offered for a public spectacle。
And I have heard that to this day in a temple at Syracuse is shown a
shield； said to have been Nicias's； curiously wrought and
embroidered with gold and purple intermixed。 Most of the Athenians
perished in the quarries by diseases and ill diet； being allowed
only one pint of barley every day； and one half pint of water。 Many of
them； however； were carried off by stealth； or； from the first； were
supposed to be servants； and were sold as slaves。 These latter were
branded on their foreheads with the figure of a horse。 There were；
however； Athenians who； in addition to slavery； had to endure even
this。 But their discreet and orderly conduct was an advantage to them；
they were either soon set free； or won the respect of their masters
with whom they continued to live。 Several were saved for the sake of
Euripides； whose poetry； it appears； was in request among the
Sicilians more than among any of the settlers out of Greece。 And
when any travellers arrived that could tell them some passage； or give
them any specimen of his verses； they were delighted to be able to
communicate them to one another。 Many of the captives who got safe
back to Athens are said； after they reached home； to have gone and
made their acknowledgments to Euripides； relating how that some of
them had been released from their slavery by teaching what they
could remember of his poems； and others； when straggling after the
fight； been relieved with meat and drink for repeating some of his
lyrics。 Nor need this be any wonder； for it is told that a ship of
Caunus fleeing into one of their harbours for protection； pursued by
pirates； was not received； but forced back； till one asked if they
knew any of Euripides's verses； and on their saying they did； they
were admitted； and their ship brought into harbour。
It is said that the Athenians would not believe their loss； in a
great degree because of the person who first brought them news of
it。 For a certain stranger； it seems； coming to Piraeus； and there
sitting in a barber's shop； began to talk of what had happened； as
if the Athenians already knew all that had passed； which the barber
hearing； before he acquainted anybody else； ran as fast as he could up
into the city； addressed himself to the Archons； and presently
spread it about in the public Place。 On which； there being everywhere；
as may be imagined； terror and consternation； the Archons summoned a
general assembly； and there brought in the man and questioned him
how he came to know。 And he； giving no satisfactory account； was taken
for a spreader of false intelligence and a disturber of the city；
and was； therefore； fastened to the wheel and racked a long time； till
other messengers arrived that related the whole disaster particularly。
So hardly was Nicias believed to have suffered the calamity which he
had often predicted。
THE END