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Nicias； who let the opportunity slip； and allowed a garrison of the
Syracusans to enter it； judging that if the soldiers should make booty
of that wealth it would be no advantage to the public； and he should
bear the guilt of the impiety。 Not improving in the least this
success； which was everywhere famous； after a few days' stay； away
he goes to Naxos； and there winters； spending largely for the
maintenance of so great an army； and not doing anything except some
matters of little consequence with some native Sicilians that revolted
to him。 Insomuch that the Syracusans took heart again； made excursions
to Catana； wasted the country； and fired the camp of the Athenians。
For which everybody blamed Nicias； who； with his long reflection；
his deliberateness； and his caution； had let slip the time for action。
None ever found fault with the man when once at work； for in the brunt
he showed vigour and activity enough； but was slow and wanted
assurance to engage。
When； therefore； he brought again the army to Syracuse； such was his
conduct； and with such celerity； and at the same time security； he
came upon them； that nobody knew of his approach； when already he； had
come to shore with his galleys at Thapsus； and had landed his men； and
before any could help it； he had surprised Epipolae； had defeated
the body of picked men that came to its succour； took three hundred
prisoners； and routed the cavalry of the enemy； which had been thought
invincible。 But what chiefly astonished the Syracusans； and seemed
incredible to the Greeks； was in so short a space of time the
walling about of Syracuse； a town not less than Athens； and far more
difficult； by the unevenness of the ground； and the nearness of the
sea and the marshes adjacent； to have such a wall drawn in a circle
round it； yet this； all within a very little； finished by a man that
had not even his health for such weighty cares； but lay ill of the
stone； which may justly bear the blame for what was left undone。 I
admire the industry of the general； and the bravery of the soldiers
for what they succeeded in。 Euripides； after their ruin and
disaster； writing their funeral elegy； said that…
〃Eight victories over Syracuse they gained；
While equal yet to both the gods remained。〃
And in truth one shall not find eight； but many more victories； won by
these men against the Syracusans； till the gods； in real truth； or
fortune intervened to check the Athenians in this advance to the
height of power and greatness。
Nicias； therefore； doing violence to his body； was present in most
actions。 But once； when his disease was the sharpest upon him； he
lay in the camp with some few servants to attend him。 And Lamachus
having the command fought the Syracusans； who were bringing a
cross…wall from the city along to that of the Athenians； to hinder
them from carrying it round； and in the victory； the Athenians
hurrying in some disorder to the pursuit； Lamachus getting separated
from his men； had to resist the Syracusan horse that came upon him。
Before the rest advanced Callicrates； a man of good courage and
skill in war。 Lamachus； upon a challenge； engaged with him in single
combat； and receiving the first wound； returned it so home to
Callicrates； that they both fell and died together。 The Syracusans
took away his body and arms； and at full speed advanced to the wall of
the Athenians； where Nicias lay without any troops to oppose to
them； yet roused by this necessity； and seeing the danger； he bade
those about him go and set on fire all the wood and materials that lay
provided before the wall for the engines； and the engines
themselves； this put a stop to the Syracusans； saved Nicias； saved the
walls and all the money of the Athenians。 For when the Syracusans
saw such a fire blazing up between them and the wall； they retired。
Nicias now remained sole general； and with great prospects； for
cities began to come over to alliance with him； and ships laden with
corn from every coast came to the camp； every one favouring when
matters went well。 And some proposals from among the Syracusans
despairing to defend the city； about a capitulation； were already
conveyed to him。 And in fact Gylippus； who was on his way with a
squadron to their aid from Lacedaemon； hearing on his voyage of the
wall surrounding them； and of their distress； only continued his
enterprise thenceforth； that； giving Sicily up for lost； he might；
if even that should be possible； secure the Italians their cities。 For
a strong report was everywhere spread about that the Athenians carried
all before them； and had a general alike for conduct and for fortune
invincible。
And Nicias himself； too； now against his nature grown bold in his
present strength and success； especially from the intelligence he
received underhand of the Syracusans； believing they would almost
immediately surrender the town upon terms； paid no manner of regard to
Gylippus coming to their assistance； nor kept any watch of his
approach； so that； neglected altogether and despised； Gylippus went in
a long…boat ashore without the knowledge of Nicias； and； having landed
in the remotest parts from Syracuse； mustered up a considerable force；
the Syracusans not so much as knowing of his arrival nor expecting
him； so that an assembly was summoned to consider the terms to be
arranged with Nicias； and some were actually on the way； thinking it
essential to have all despatched before the town should be quite
walled round； for now there remained very little to be done； and the
materials for the building lay all ready along the line。
In this very nick of time and danger arrived Gongylus in one
galley from Corinth； and every one； as may be imagined； flocking about
him； he told them that Gylippus would be with them speedily； and
that other ships were coming to relieve them。 And； ere yet they
could perfectly believe Gongylus； an express was brought from
Gylippus； to bid them go forth to meet him。 So now taking good
heart； they armed themselves； and Gylippus at once led on his men from
their march in battle array against the Athenians； as Nicias also
embattled these。 And Gylippus； piling his arms in view of the
Athenians； sent a herald to tell them he would give them leave to
depart from Sicily without molestation。 To this Nicias would not
vouchsafe any answer； but some of his soldiers laughing； asked if with
the sight of one coarse coat and Laconian staff the Syracusan
prospects had become so brilliant that they could despise the
Athenians； who had released to the Lacedaemonians three hundred；
whom they held in chains； bigger men than Gylippus； and longer…haired？
Timaeus； also； writes that even the Syracusans made no account of
Gylippus； at the first sight mocking at his staff and long hair； as
afterwards they found reason to blame his covetousness and meanness。
The same author； however； adds that on Gylippus's first appearance； as
it might have been at the sight of an owl abroad in the air； there was
a general flocking together of men to serve in the war。 And this is
the truer saying of the two； for in the staff and the cloak they saw
the badge and authority of