intimated in the verses…
〃A noble man he was； I well can say；
Nor walked like Nicias； cowering on his way。〃
So cautious was he of informers； and so reserved； that he never
would dine out with any citizen； nor allowed himself to indulge in
talk and conversation with his friends； nor give himself any leisure
for such amusements； but when he was general he used to stay at the
office till night； and was the first that came to the council…house；
and the last that left it。 And if no public business engaged him； it
was very hard to have access； or to speak with him； he being retired
at home and locked up。 And when any came to the door； some friend of
his gave them good words； and begged them to excuse him； Nicias was
very busy； as if affairs of state and public duties still kept him
occupied。 He who principally acted this part for him； and
contributed most to this state and show； was Hiero； a man educated
in Nicias's family； and instructed by him in letters and music。 He
professed to be the son of Dionysius； surnamed Chalcus； whose poems
are yet extant； and had led out the colony to Italy and founded
Thurii。 This Hiero transacted all his secrets for Nicias with the
diviners； and gave out to the people what a toilsome and miserable
life he led for the sake of the commonwealth。 〃He；〃 said Hiero； 〃can
never be either at the bath or at his meat but some public business
interferes。 Careless of his own and zealous for the public good； he
scarcely ever goes to bed till after others have had their first
sleep。 So that his health is impaired and his body out of order； nor
is he cheerful or affable with his friends； but loses them as well
as his money in the service of the state； while other men gain friends
by public speaking； enrich themselves； fare delicately and make
government their amusement。〃 And in fact this was Nicias's manner of
life； so that he well might apply to himself the words of Agamemnon：…
〃Vain pomp's the ruler of the life we live；
And a slave's service to the crowd we give。〃
He observed that the people； in the case of men of eloquence； or
of eminent parts； make use of their talents upon occasion； but were
always jealous of their abilities； and held a watchful eye upon
them； taking all opportunities to humble their pride and abate their
reputation； as was manifest in their condemnation of Pericles； their
banishment of Damon； their distrust of Antiphon the Rhamnusian； but
especially in the case of Paches who took Lesbos； who having to give
an account of his conduct； in the very court of justice unsheathed his
sword and slew himself。 Upon such considerations； Nicias declined
all difficult and lengthy enterprises； if he took a command； he was
for doing what was safe； and if； as thus was likely； he had for the
most part success； he did not attribute it to any wisdom； conduct；
or courage of his own； but； to avoid envy； he thanked fortune for all；
and gave the glory to the divine powers。 And the actions themselves
bore testimony in his favour； the city met at that time with several
considerable reverses； but he had not a hand in any of them。 The
Athenians were routed in Thrace by the Chalcidians； Calliades and
Xenophon commanding in chief。 Demosthenes was the general when they
were unfortunate in Aetolia。 At Delium they lost a thousand citizens
under the conduct of Hippocrates； the plague was principally laid to
the charge of Pericles； he； to carry on the war； having shut up
close together in the town the crowd of people from the country who；
by the change of place； and of their usual course of living； bred
the pestilence。 Nicias stood clear of all this； under his conduct
was taken Cythera； an island most commodious against Laconia； and
occupied by the Lacedaemonian settlers； many places； likewise； in
Thrace； which had revolted； were taken or won over by him； he shutting
up the Megarians within their town； seized upon the isle of Minoa； and
soon after； advancing from thence to Nisaea； made himself master
there； and then making a descent upon the Corinthian territory； fought
a successful battle； and slew a great number of the Corinthians with
their captain Lycophron。 There it happened that two of his men were
left by an oversight； when they carried off the dead； which when he
understood； he stopped the fleet； and sent a herald to the enemy for
leave to carry off the dead； though by law and custom； he that by a
truce craved leave to carry off the dead was hereby supposed to give
up all claim to the victory。 Nor was it lawful for him that did this
to erect a trophy； for his is the victory who is master of the
field； and he is not master who asks leave； as wanting power to
take。 But he chose rather to renounce his victory and his glory than
to let two citizens lie unburied。 He scoured the coast of Laconia
all along； and beat the Lacedaemonians that made head against him。
He took Thyrea； occupied by the Aeginetans； and carried the
prisoners to Athens。
When Demosthenes had fortified Pylos； and the Peloponnesians brought
together both their sea and land…forces before it； after the fight；
about the number of four hundred native Spartans were left ashore in
the isle Sphacteria。 The Athenians thought it a great prize； as indeed
it was； to take these men prisoners。 But the siege； in places that
wanted water； being very difficult and untoward； and to convey
necessaries about by sea in summer tedious and expensive； in winter
doubtful； or plainly impossible； they began to be annoyed； and to
repent their having rejected the embassy of the Lacedaemonians； that
had been sent to propose a treaty of peace； which had been done at the
importunity of Cleon； who opposed it chiefly out of a pique to Nicias；
for； being his enemy； and observing him to be extremely solicitous
to support the offers of the Lacedaemonians； he persuaded the people
to refuse them。
Now； therefore； that the siege was protracted； and they heard of the
difficulties that pressed their army； they grew enraged against Cleon。
But he turned all the blame upon Nicias； charging it on his softness
and cowardice； that the besieged were not yet taken。 〃Were I general；〃
said he； 〃they should not hold out so long。〃 The Athenians not
unnaturally asked the question； 〃Why； then； as it is； do not you go
with a squadron against them？〃 And Nicias standing up resigned his
command at Pylos to him； and bade him take what forces he pleased
along with him； and not be bold in words； out of harm's way； but go
forth and perform some real service for the commonwealth。 Cleon； at
the first； tried to draw back； disconcerted at the proposal； which
he had never expected； but the Athenians insisting； and Nicias
loudly upbraiding him； he thus provoked； and fired with ambition； took
upon him the charge； and said further； that within twenty days after
he embarked； he would either kill the enemy； upon the place； or
bring them alive to Athens。 This the Athenians were readier to
launch at than to believe； as on other occasions； also； his bold
assertions and extravagances used to make them sport； and were
pleasant enough。 As； for instance； it is reported that once when the
people were assembled； and had waited his coming a long time； at
last he appeared with a garland on his head； and prayed them to
adjourn to the next day。 〃For；〃 said he； 〃I am not at leisure
to…day； I have sacrificed to the gods； and am to entertain some
strangers。〃 Whereupon the Athenians； laughing； rose up； and
dissolved the assembly。 However； at this time he had good…fortune； and
in conjunction with Demosthenes； conducted the enterprise so well
that； within the time he had limited； he carried captive to Athens all
the Spartans that had not fallen in battle。
This brought great disgrace on Nicias； for this was not to throw
away his shield； but something yet more shameful and ignominious； to
quit his charge voluntarily out of cowardice； and voting himself； as
it were； out of his command of his own accord； to put into his enemy's
hand the opportunity of achieving so brave an action。 Aristophanes has
a jest against him on this occasion in the Birds：…
〃Indeed； not now the word that must be said
Is； do like Nicias； or retire to bed。〃
And； again； in his Husbandmen：…
〃I wish to stay at home and farm；
What then？
Who should prevent you？
You； my countrymen；
Whom I would pay a thousand drachmas down；
To let me give up office and leave town。
Enough； content； the sum two thousand is；
With those that Nicias paid to give up his。〃
Besides all this； he did great mischief to the city by suffering the
accession of so much reputation and power to Cleon； who now assumed
such lofty airs； and allowed himself in such intolerable audacity；
as led to many unfortunate results； a sufficient part of which fell to
his own share。 Amongst other things； he destroyed all the decorum of
public speaking； he was the first who ever broke out into
exclamations； flung open his dress； smote his thigh； and ran up and
down whilst he was speaking； things which soon after introduced；
amongst those who managed the affairs of state； such licence and
contempt of decency as brought all into confusion。
Already； too； Alcibiades was beginning to show his strength at
Athens； a popular leader； not； indeed； as utterly violent as Cleon；
but as the land of Egypt； through the richness of its soil； is said…
〃…great plenty to produce；
Both wholesome herbs； and drugs of deadly juice；〃
so the nature of Alcibiades was strong and luxuriant in both kinds；
and made way for many serious innovations。 Thus it fell out that after
Nicias had got his hands clear of Cleon； he had not opportunity to
settle the city perfectly into quietness。 For having brought matters
to a pretty hopeful condition； he found everything carried away and
plunged again into confusion by Alcibiades； through the wildness and
vehemence of his ambition； and all embroiled again in war worse than
ever。 Which fell out thus。 The persons who had principally hindered
the peace were Cleon