difficulty to procure his liberty； and Socrates； though he had no
concern whatever with this sort of learning； yet was put to death
for philosophy。 It was only afterwards that the reputation of Plato；
shining forth by his life； and because he subjected natural
necessity to divine and more excellent principles； took away the
obloquy and scandal that had attached to such contemplations； and
obtained these studies currency among all people。 So his friend
Dion； when the moon； at the time he was to embark from Zacynthus to go
against Dionysius； was eclipsed； was not in the least disturbed； but
went on； and arriving at Syracuse； expelled the tyrant。 But it so fell
out with Nicias； that he had not at this time a skilful diviner with
him； his former habitual adviser who used to moderate much of his
superstition； Stilbides； had died a little before。 For； in fact；
this prodigy； as Philochorus observes； was not unlucky for men wishing
to fly； but on the contrary very favourable； for things done in fear
require to be hidden； and the light is their foe。 Nor was it usual
to observe signs in the sun or moon more than three days； as
Autoclides states in his Commentaries。 But Nicias persuaded them to
wait another full course of the moon； as if he had not seen it clear
again as soon as ever it had passed the region of shadow where the
light was obstructed by the earth。
In a manner abandoning all other cares； he betook himself wholly
to his sacrifices； till the enemy came upon them with their
infantry； besieging the forts and camp； and placing their ships in a
circle about the harbour。 Nor did the men in the galleys only； but the
little boys everywhere got into the fishing…boats and rowed up and
challenged the Athenians； and insulted over them。 Amongst these a
youth of noble parentage； Heraclides by name； having ventured out
beyond the rest； an Athenian ship pursued and well…nigh took him。
His uncle Pollichus； in fear for him； put out with ten galleys which
he commanded； and the rest； to relieve Pollichus； in like manner
drew forth； the result of it being a very sharp engagement； in which
the Syracusans had the victory； and slew Eurymedon； with many
others。 After this the Athenian soldiers had no patience to stay
longer； but raised an outcry against their officers； requiring them to
depart by land； for the Syracusans； upon their victory； immediately
shut and blocked up the entrance of the harbour； but Nicias would
not consent to this； as it was a shameful thing to leave behind so
many ships of burden； and galleys little less than two hundred。
Putting； therefore； on board the best of the foot； and the most
serviceable darters； they filled one hundred and ten galleys； the rest
wanted oars。 The remainder of his army Nicias posted along by the
seaside； abandoning the great camp and the fortifications adjoining
the temple of Hercules； so the Syracusans； not having for a long
time performed their usual sacrifice to Hercules； went up now； both
priests and captains； to sacrifice。
And their galleys being manned； the diviners predicted from their
sacrifices victory and glory to the Syracusans； provided they would
not be the aggressors； but fight upon the defensive； for so Hercules
overcame all； by only defending himself when set upon。 In this
confidence they set out； and this proved the hottest and fiercest of
all their sea…fights； raising no less concern and passion in the
beholders than in the actors； as they could oversee the whole action
with all the various and unexpected turns of fortune which； in a short
space； occurred in it； the Athenians suffering no less from their
own preparations； than from the enemy； for they fought against light
and nimble ships； that could attack from any quarter； with theirs
laden and heavy。 And they were thrown at with stones that fly
indifferently any way； for which they could only return darts and
arrows； the direct aim of which the motion of the water disturbed；
preventing their coming true； point foremost to their mark。 This the
Syracusans had learned from Ariston the Corinthian pilot； who；
fighting stoutly； fell himself in this very engagement； when the
victory had already declared for the Syracusans。
The Athenians； their loss and slaughter being very great； their
flight by sea cut off； their safety by land so difficult； did not
attempt to hinder the enemy towing away their ships； under their eyes；
nor demanded their dead； as； indeed； their want of burial seemed a
less calamity than the leaving behind the sick and wounded which
they now had before them。 Yet more miserable still than those did they
reckon themselves； who were to work on yet； through more such
sufferings； after all to reach the same end。
They prepared to dislodge that night。 And Gylippus and his friends
seeing the Syracusans engaged in their sacrifices and at their cups；
for their victories； and it being also a holiday； did not expect
either by persuasion or by force to rouse them up and carry them
against the Athenians as they decamped。 But Hermocrates； of his own
head； put a trick upon Nicias； and sent some of his companions to him；
who pretended they came from those that were wont to hold secret
intelligence with him； and advised him not to stir that night； the
Syracusans having laid ambushes and beset the ways。 Nicias； caught
with this stratagem； remained； to encounter presently in reality
what he had feared when there was no occasion。 For they； the next
morning； marching before； seized the defiles； fortified the passes
where the rivers were fordable； cut down the bridges； and ordered
their horsemen to range the plains and ground that lay open； so as
to leave no part of the country where the Athenians could move without
fighting。 They stayed both that day and another night； and then went
along as if they were leaving their own； not an enemy's country；
lamenting and bewailing for want of necessaries； and for their parting
from friends and companions that were not able to help themselves；
and； nevertheless； judging the present evils lighter than those they
expected to come。 But among the many miserable spectacles that
appeared up and down in the camp； the saddest sight of all was
Nicias himself； labouring under his malady； and unworthily reduced
to the scantiest supply of all the accommodations necessary for
human wants； of which he in his condition required more than ordinary；
because of his sickness； yet bearing up under all this illness； and
doing and undergoing more than many in perfect health。 And it was
plainly evident that all this toil was not for himself； or from any
regard to his own life； but that purely for the sake of those under
his command he would not abandon hope。 And； indeed； the rest were
given over to weeping and lamentation through fear or sorrow； but
he； whenever he yielded to anything of the kind； did so； it was
evident； from reflection upon the shame and dishonour of the
enterprise； contrasted with the greatness and glory of the success
he had anticipated； and not only the sight of his person； but； also；
the recollection of the arguments and the dissuasions he used to
prevent this expedition enhanced their sense of the undeservedness
of his sufferings； nor had they any heart to put their trust in the
gods； considering that a man so religious； who had performed to the
divine powers so many and so great acts of devotion； should have no
more favourable treatment than the wickedest and meanest of the army。
Nicias； however； endeavoured all the while by his voice； his
countenance； and his carriage； to show himself undefeated by these
misfortunes。 And all along the way shot at； and receiving wounds eight
days continually from the enemy； he yet preserved the forces with
him in a body entire； till that Demosthenes was taken prisoner with
the party that he led； whilst they fought and made a resistance； and
so got behind and were surrounded near the country house of Polyzelus。
Demosthenes thereupon drew his sword； and wounded but did not kill
himself； the enemy speedily running in and seizing upon him。 So soon
as the Syracusans had gone and informed Nicias of this； and he had
sent some horsemen； and by them knew the certainty of the defeat of
that division； he then vouchsafed to sue to Gylippus for a truce for
the Athenians to depart out of Sicily； leaving hostages for payment of
money that the Syracusans had expended in the war。
But now they would not hear of these proposals； but threatening
and reviling them； angrily and insultingly continued to ply their
missiles at them； now destitute of every necessary。 Yet Nicias still
made good his retreat all that night； and the next day； through all
their darts； made his way to the river Asinarus。 There； however； the
enemy encountering them； drove some into the stream； while others；
ready to die for thirst； plunged in headlong； while they drank at
the same time； and were cut down by their enemies。 And here was the
cruellest and the most immoderate slaughter。 Till at last Nicias
falling down to Gylippus； 〃Let pity； O Gylippus；〃 said he； 〃move you
in your victory； not for me； who was destined； it seems； to bring
the glory I once had to this end but for the other Athenians； as you
well know that the chances of war are common to all； and the Athenians
used them moderately and mildly towards you in their prosperity。〃
At these words； and at the sight of Nicias； Gylippus was somewhat
troubled； for he was sensible that the Lacedaemonians had received
good offices from Nicias in the late treaty； and he thought it would
be a great and glorious thing for him to carry off the chief
commanders of the Athenians alive。 He therefore raised Nicias with
respect； and bade him be of good cheer； and commanded his men to spare
the lives of the rest。 But the word of command being communicated
slowly； the slain were a far greater number than the prisoners。
Many； however； were privately conveyed away by particular soldiers。
Those taken openly were hurried together in a mass； their arms and
spoils hung up on the finest and largest trees along the river。 The
conquerors； with garlands on their heads； with their own horses
splendidly adorned； and cropping short the manes and