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mourning and lamentation； and women beating their breasts。 So that
such as laid any stress on these matters were extremely troubled；
and feared lest that all this warlike preparation； so splendid and
so glorious； should suddenly； in a little time； be blasted in its very
prime of magnificence； and come to nothing。
Nicias； in opposing the voting of this expedition； and neither being
puffed up with hopes； nor transported with the honour of his high
command so as to modify his judgment； showed himself a man of virtue
and constancy。 But when his endeavours could not diverge the people
from the war； nor get leave for himself to be discharged of the
command； but the people； as it were； violently him took up and carried
him； and against his will put him in the office of general； this was
no longer now a time for his excessive caution and his delays； nor was
it for him； like a child； to look back from the ship； often
repeating and reconsidering over and over again how that his advice
had not been over…ruled by fair arguments； thus blunting the courage
of his fellow…commanders and spoiling the season of action。 Whereas；
he ought speedily to have closed with the enemy and brought the matter
to an issue； and put fortune immediately to the test in battle。 But；
on the contrary； when Lamachus counselled to sail directly to
Syracuse； and fight the enemy under their city walls； and Alcibiades
advised to secure the friendship of the other towns； and then to march
against them； Nicias dissented from them both； and insisted that
they should cruise quietly around the island and display their
armament； and having landed a small supply of men for the Egesteans；
return to Athens； weakening at once the resolution and casting down
the spirits of the men。 And while； a little while after； the Athenians
called home Alcibiades in order to his trial； he being； though
joined nominally with another in commission； in effect the only
general； made now no end of loitering； of cruising； and considering；
till their hopes were grown stale； and all the disorder and
consternation which the first approach and view of their forces had
cast amongst the enemy was worn off and had left them。
Whilst yet Alcibiades was with the fleet； they went before
Syracuse with a squadron of sixty galleys； fifty of them lying in
array without the harbour； while the other ten rowed in to
reconnoitre； and by a herald called upon the citizens of Leontini to
return to their own country。 These scouts took a galley of the
enemy's； in which they found certain tablets； on which was set down
a list of all the Syracusans； according to their tribes。 These were
wont to be laid up at a distance from the city； in the temple of
Jupiter Olympius； but were now brought forth for examination to
furnish a muster…roll of young men for the war。 These being so taken
by the Athenians； and carried to the officers； and the multitude of
names appearing； the diviners thought it unpropitious； and were in
apprehension lest this should be the only destined fulfillment of
the prophecy； that 〃the Athenians shall take all the Syracusans。〃 Yet；
indeed； this was said to be accomplished by the Athenians at another
time； when Callippus the Athenian； having slain Dion； became master of
Syracuse； But when Alcibiades shortly after sailed away from Sicily；
the command fell wholly to Nicias。 Lamachus was； indeed； a brave and
honest man； and ready to fight fearlessly with his own hand in battle；
but so poor and ill…off that； whenever he was appointed general； he
used always； in accounting for his outlay of public money； to bring
some little reckoning or other of money for his very clothes and
shoes。 On the contrary； Nicias； as on other accounts； so； also；
because of his wealth and station； was very much thought of。 The story
is told that once upon a time the commission of generals being in
consultation together in their public office； he bade Sophocles the
poet give his opinion first； as the senior of the board。 〃I；〃
replied Sophocles； 〃am the older； but you are the senior。〃 And so now；
also； Lamachus； who better understood military affairs； being quite
his subordinate； he himself； evermore delaying and avoiding risk；
and faintly employing his forces； first by his sailing about Sicily at
the greatest distance aloof from the enemy； gave them confidence； then
by afterwards attacking Hybla； a petty fortress； and drawing off
before he could take it； make himself utterly despised。 At the last he
retreated to Catana without having achieved anything； save that he
demolished Hyccara； an humble town of the barbarians； out of which；
the story goes； that Lais the courtesan； yet a mere girl； was sold
amongst the other prisoners； and carried thence away to Peloponnesus。
But when the summer was spent； after reports began to reach him that
the Syracusans were grown so confident that they would come first to
attack him； and troopers skirmishing to the very camp twitted his
soldiers； asking whether they came to settle with the Catanians； or to
put the Leontines in possession of their city； at last； with much ado；
Nicias resolved to sail against Syracuse。 And wishing to form his camp
safely and without molestation； he procured a man to carry from Catana
intelligence to the Syracusans that they might seize the camp of the
Athenians unprotected； and all their arms； if on such a day they
should march with all their forces to Catana； and that； the
Athenians living mostly in the town； the friends of the Syracusans had
concerted； as soon as they should perceive them coming； to possess
themselves of one of the gates； and to fire the arsenal； that many now
were in the conspiracy and awaited their arrival。 This was the
ablest thing Nicias did in the whole of his conduct of the expedition。
For having drawn out all the strength of the enemy； and made the
city destitute of men； he set out from Catana； entered the harbour；
and chose a fit place for his camp； where the enemy could least
incommode him with the means in which they were superior to him； while
with the means in which he was superior to them he might expect to
carry on the war without impediment。
When the Syracusans returned from Catana； and stood in battle
array before the city gates； he rapidly led up the Athenians and
fell on them and defeated them； but did not kill many； their horse
hindering the pursuit。 And his cutting and breaking down the bridges
that lay over the river gave Hermocrates； when cheering up the
Syracusans； occasion to say that Nicias was ridiculous； whose great
aim seemed to be to avoid fighting； as if fighting were not the
thing he came for。 However； he put the Syracusans into a very great
alarm and consternation； so that instead of fifteen generals then in
service； they chose three others； to whom the people engaged by oath
to allow absolute authority。
There stood near them the temple of Jupiter Olympius； which the
Athenians （there being in it many consecrated things of gold and
silver） were eager to take； but were purposely withheld from it by
Nicias； who let the opportunity slip； and allowed a garrison of the
Syracusans to enter it； judging that if the soldiers s