galleys； and with their horse and followers ranging about took a
good many prisoners； and Gylippus going himself to the cities；
called upon them to join with him； and was listened to and supported
vigorously by them。 So that Nicias fell back again to his old views；
and； seeing the face of affairs change； desponded； and wrote to
Athens； bidding them either send another army； or recall this out of
Sicily； and that he might； in any case； he wholly relieved of the
command； because of his disease。
Before this the Athenians had been intending to send another army to
Sicily； but envy of Nicias's early achievements and high fortune had
occasioned； up to this time； many delays； but now they were all
eager to send off succours。 Eurymedon went before； in midwinter；
with money； and to announce that Euthydemus and Menander were chosen
out of those that served there under Nicias to be joint commanders
with him。 Demosthenes was to go after in the spring with a great
armament。 In the meantime Nicias was briskly attacked； both by sea and
land； in the beginning he had the disadvantage on the water； but in
the end repulsed and sunk many galleys of the enemy。 But by land he
could not provide succour in time； so Gylippus surprised and
captured Plemmyrium； in which the stores for the navy； and a great sum
of money being there kept； all fell into his hands； and many were
slain； and many taken prisoners。 And what was of greatest
importance； he now cut off Nicias's supplies； which had been safely
and readily conveyed to him under Plemmyrium； while the Athenians
still held it； but now that they were beaten out； he could only
procure them with great difficulty； and with opposition from the
enemy； who lay in wait with their ships under that fort。 Moreover；
it seemed manifest to the Syracusans that their navy had not been
beaten by strength； but by their disorder in the pursuit。 Now；
therefore； all hands went to work to prepare for a new attempt that
should succeed better than the former。 Nicias had no wish for a
sea…fight； but said it was mere folly for them； when Demosthenes was
coming in all haste with so great a fleet and fresh forces to their
succour； to engage the enemy with a less number of ships and ill
provided。 But； on the other hand； Menander and Euthydemus； who were
just commencing their new command； prompted by a feeling of rivalry
and emulation of both the generals； were eager to gain some great
success before Demosthenes came； and to prove themselves superior to
Nicias。 They urged the honour of the city； which； said they； would
be blemished and utterly lost if they should decline a challenge
from the Syracusans。 Thus they forced Nicias to a sea…fight； and by
the stratagem of Ariston； the Corinthian pilot （his trick； described
by Thucydides； about the men's dinners）； they were worsted； and lost
many of their men； causing the greatest dejection to Nicias； who had
suffered so much from having the sole command； and now again
miscarried through his colleagues。
But now by this time Demosthenes with his splendid fleet came in
sight outside the harbour； a terror to the enemy。 He brought along； in
seventy…three galleys； five thousand men…at…arms； of darters； archers；
and slingers； not less than three thousand with the glittering of
their armour； the flags waving from the galleys； the multitude of
coxswains and flute…players giving time to the rowers； setting off the
whole with all possible warlike pomp and ostentation to dismay the
enemy。 Now one may believe the Syracusans were again in extreme alarm；
seeing no end or prospect of release before them； toiling； as it
seemed； in vain； and perishing to no purpose。 Nicias； however； was not
long overjoyed with the reinforcement； for the first time he conferred
with Demosthenes； who advised forthwith to attack the Syracusans；
and to put all to the speediest hazard； to win Syracuse； or else
return home； afraid； and wondering at his promptness and audacity；
he besought him to do nothing rashly and； desperately； since delay
would be the ruin of the enemy； whose money would not hold out； nor
their confederates be long kept together； that when once they came
to be pinched with want； they would presently come again to him for
terms； as formerly。 For； indeed； many in Syracuse held secret
correspondence with him； and urged him to stay； declaring that even
now the people were quite worn out with the war and weary of Gylippus。
And if their necessities should the least sharpen upon them they would
give up all。
Nicias glancing darkly at these matters； and unwilling to speak
out plainly； made his colleagues imagine that it was cowardice which
made him talk in this manner。 And saying that this was the old story
over again； the well…known procrastinations and delays and refinements
with which at first he let slip the opportunity in not immediately
falling on the enemy； but suffering the armament to become a thing
of yesterday； that nobody was alarmed with； they took the side of
Demosthenes； and with ado forced Nicias to comply。 And so Demosthenes；
taking the land…forces； by night made an assault upon Epipolae； part
of the enemy he slew ere they took the alarm； the rest defending
themselves he put to flight。 Nor was he content with this victory
there； but pushed on further； till he met the Boeotians。 For these
were the first that made head against the Athenians； and charged
them with a shout； spear against spear； and killed many on the
place。 And now at once there ensued a panic and confusion throughout
the whole army； the victorious portion got infected with the fears
of the flying part； and those who were still disembarking and coming
forward falling foul of the retreaters； came into conflict with
their own party； taking the fugitives for pursuers； and treating their
friends as if they were the enemy。
Thus huddled together in disorder； distracted with fear and
uncertainties； and unable to be sure of seeing anything； the night not
being absolutely dark； nor yielding any steady light； the moon then
towards setting； shadowed with the many weapons and bodies that
moved to and fro； and glimmering so as not to show an object plain；
but to make friends through fear suspected for foes； the Athenians
fell into utter perplexity and desperation。 For； moreover； they had
the moon at their backs； and consequently their own shadows fell
upon them； and both hid the number and the glittering of their arms；
while the reflection of the moon from the shields of the enemy made
them show more numerous and better appointed than； indeed； they
were。 At last； being pressed on every side； when once they had given
way； they took to rout； and in their flight were destroyed； some by
the enemy； some by the hand of their friends； and some tumbling down
the rocks； while those that were dispersed and straggled about were
picked off in the morning by the horsemen and put to the sword。 The
slain were two thousand； and of the rest few came off safe with
their arms。
Upon this disaster； which to him was not wholly an unexpected one；
Nicias accused the rashness of Demosthenes； but he； making his excuses
for the past； now advised to be gone in all haste； for neither were
other forces to come； nor could the enemy be beaten with the
present。 And； indeed； even supposing they were yet too hard for the
enemy in any case； they ought to remove and quit a situation which
they understood to be always accounted a sickly one； and dangerous for
an army； and was more particularly unwholesome now； as they could
see themselves； because of the time of year。 It was the beginning of
autumn； and many now lay sick； and all were out of heart。
It grieved Nicias to hear of flight and departing home； not that
he did not fear the Syracusans； but he was worse afraid of the
Athenians； their impeachments and sentences； he professed that he
apprehended no further harm there； or if it must be； he would rather
die by the hand of an enemy than by his fellow…citizens。 He was not of
the opinion which Leo of Byzantium declared to his fellow…citizens： 〃I
had rather；〃 said he； 〃perish by you； than with you。〃 As to the matter
of place and quarter whither to remove their camp； that； he said；
might be debated at leisure。 And Demosthenes； his former counsel
having succeeded so ill； ceased to press him further； others thought
Nicias had reasons for expectation； and relied on some assurance
from people within the city； and that this made him so strongly oppose
their retreat； so they acquiesced。 But fresh forces now coming to
the Syracusans and the sickness growing worse in his camp； he； also；
now approved of their retreat； and commanded the soldiers to make
ready to go aboard。
And when all were in readiness； and none of the enemy had observed
them； not expecting such a thing； the moon was eclipsed in the
night； to the great fright of Nicias and others； who； for want of
experience； or out of superstition； felt alarm at such appearances。
That the sun might be darkened about the close of the month； this even
ordinary people now understood pretty well to be the effect of the
moon； but the moon itself to be darkened； how that could come about；
and how； on the sudden； a broad full moon should lose her light； and
show such various colours； was not easy to be comprehended； they
concluded it to be ominous； and a divine intimation of some heavy
calamities。 For he who the first； and the most plainly of any； and
with the greatest assurance committed to writing how the moon is
enlightened and overshadowed； was Anaxagoras； and he was as yet but
recent； nor was his argument much known； but was rather kept secret；
passing only amongst a few； under some kind of caution and confidence。
People would not then tolerate natural philosophers； and theorists； as
they then called them； about things above； as lessening the divine
power； by explaining away its agency into the operation of
irrational causes and senseless forces acting by necessity； without
anything of Providence or a free agent。 Hence it was that Protagoras
was banished； and Anaxagoras cast in prison； so that Pericles had much
difficulty to procure his liberty； and Socrates； though he had no
concern whatever with