nament, in which the utmost magnificence is displayed, rather than of a warlike expedition. But the boldness and greatness of the design still exceeded its expense and splendour.

When the ships were loaded, and the troops got on board, the trumpet sounded, and solemn prayers were offered up for the success of the expedition; gold and silver cups were filling every where with wine, and the accustomed libations were poured out; the people who lined the shore shouting at the same time, and lifting up their hands to heaven, to wish their fellow citizens a good voyage and success. And now the hymn being sung, and the ceremonies ended, the ships sailed one after another out of the harbour, after which they strove to outsail one another, till the whole fleet met at Egina. From thence it made for Corcyra, where the army of the allies was assembling with the rest of the fleet.

ADVICE m of this expedition coming to Syracuse 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.

Thucyd. 1. vi. p. 432-445. Diod. 1. xiii. p. 135, 136.

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 one hundred and thirty six ships, one 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. one thousand five 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 one 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 one hundred small vessels for the service, exclusive of merchant ships, of which there were great numbers. All this fleet had sailed together for Corcyra. Having met with but an indifferent reception from the people of Tarentum and Locris, they sailed with a favourable wind for Rhegium, where they made some stay. The

"These were called Dres.

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 inquire 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.

• He did not fail the instant this news was brought, to expatiate on the counsel he had given in Athens; to show 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 enterprises. The

• Plut. In Nic. p. 532.

Athenians, on the contrary, ought to have advanced boldly towards the enemy, should have attacked them with vigor, and have spread an universal terror, by a sudden and unexpected 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 galleys 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 harbour capacious enough to hold all the fleet. He declared farther, that after seeing who were their friends and who their 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 surprise, or prepare for their defence. He observed, that the sudden arrival of an armed force always strikes the greatest terror; and that when enemies are allowed time to reflect and make preparations, 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 being followed, he agreed to that of Alcibiades. Accordingly they sailed for Sicily, where Alcibiades took Catana by surprise.

SECTION X.

ALCIBIADES RECALLED, &c.

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 wel

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