CHAPTER LVIII.

FROM THE RESOLUTION OF THE ATHENIANS TO ATTACK SYRACUSE, DOWN TO THE FIRST WINTER AFTER THEIR ARRIVAL IN SICILY.

Preparations for the expedition against Sicily—general enthusiasm and sanguine hopes at Athens.—Abundance in the Athenian treasury—display of wealth as well as of force in the armament.—Mutilation of the Hermæ at Athens. Numbers and sanctity of the Hermæ.—Violent excitement and religious alarm produced by the act at Athens.—The authors of the act unknown—but it was certainly done by design and conspiracy.—Various parties suspected—great probability beforehand that it would induce the Athenians to abandon or postpone the expedition.—The political enemies of Alkibiadês take advantage of the reigning excitement to try and ruin him.—Anxiety of the Athenians to detect and punish the conspirators—rewards offered for information.—Informations given in—commissioners of inquiry appointed.—First accusation of Alkibiadês, of having profaned and divulged the Eleusinian mysteries.—Violent speeches in the assembly against Alkibiadês unfavorably received.—He denies the charge and demands immediate trial—his demand is eluded by his enemies.—Departure of the armament from Peiræus—splendor and exciting character of the spectacle.—Solemnities of parting, on shipboard and on the water’s edge.—Full muster of the armament at Korkyra.—Progress to Rhegium—cold reception by the Italian cities.—Feeling at Syracuse as to the approaching armament—disposition to undervalue its magnitude, and even to question its intended coming.—Strenuous exhortations of Hermokratês, to be prepared.—Temper and parties in the Syracusan assembly.—Reply of Athenagoras, the popular orator.—Interposition of the stratêgi to moderate the violence of the debate.—Relative position of Athenagoras and other parties at Syracuse.—Pacific dispositions of Athenagoras.—His general denunciations against the oligarchical youth were well founded.—Active preparations at Syracuse on the approach of the Athenian armament.—Discouragement of the Athenians at Rhegium on learning the truth respecting the poverty of Egesta.—The Athenian generals discuss their plan of action—opinion of Nikias.—Opinion of Alkibiadês.—Opinion of Lamachus.—Superior discernment of Lamachus—plan of Alkibiadês preferred.—Alkibiadês at Messênê—Naxos joins the Athenians. Empty display of the armament.—Alkibiadês at Katana—the Athenians masters of Katana—they establish their station there. Refusal of Kamarina.—Alkibiadês is summoned home to take his trial.—Feelings and proceedings at Athens since the departure of the armament.—Number of citizens imprisoned on suspicion—increased agony of the public mind.—Peisander and Chariklês the commissioners of inquiry.—Information of Diokleidês.—More prisoners arrested—increased terror in the city—Andokidês among the persons imprisoned.—Andokidês is solicited by his fellow-prisoners to stand forward and give information—he complies.—Andokidês designates the authors of the mutilation of the Hermæ—consequence of his revelations.—Questionable authority of Andokidês, as to what he himself really stated in information.—Belief of the Athenians in his information—its tranquillizing effects.—Anxiety and alarm revived, respecting the persons concerned in the profanation of the Eleusinian mysteries.—Revival of the accusation against Alkibiadês.—Indictment presented by Thessalus, son of Kimon, against Alkibiadês.—Resolution to send for Alkibiadês home from Sicily to be tried.—Alkibiadês quits the army, as if to come home: makes his escape at Thurii, and retires to Peloponnesus.—Conduct of the Athenian public in reference to Alkibiadês—how far blamable. Conduct of his enemies.—Mischief to Athens from the banishment of Alkibiadês. Languid operations of the Sicilian armament under Nikias.—Increase of confidence and preparations at Syracuse, arising from the delays of Nikias.—Manœuvre of Nikias from Katana—he lands his forces in the Great Harbor of Syracuse.—Return of the Syracusan army from Katana to the Great Harbor—preparations for fighting Nikias.—Feelings of the ancient soldier.—Harangue of Nikias.—Battle near the Olympieion—victory of the Athenians.—Unabated confidence of the Syracusans—they garrison the Olympieion—Nikias reembarks his army, and returns to Katana.—He determines to take up his winter quarters at Katana, and sends to Athens for reinforcements of horse.—His failure at Messênê, through the betrayal by Alkibiadês.—Salutary lesson to the Syracusans, arising out of the recent defeat—mischiefs to the Athenians from the delay of Nikias.—Confidence of the Athenians at home in Nikias—their good temper—they send to him the reinforcements demanded.—Determined feeling at Syracuse—improved measures of defence—recommendations of Hermokratês.—Enlargement of the fortifications of Syracuse. Improvement of their situation. Increase of the difficulties of Nikias.—Hermokratês and Euphêmus—counter-envoys at Kamarina.—Speech of Euphêmus.—The Kamarinæans maintain practical neutrality.—Winter proceedings of Nikias from his quarters at Katana.—Syracusan envoys sent to solicit aid from Corinth and Sparta.—Alkibiadês at Sparta—his intense hostility to Athens.—Speech of Alkibiadês in the Lacedæmonian assembly.—Great effect of his speech on the Peloponnesians.—Misrepresentations contained in the speech.—Resolutions of the Spartans.—The Lacedæmonians send Gylippus to Syracuse. 163-243