their own men. They were not, however, yet in a condition to attack the place, and therefore took up their winterquarters at Nax'us and Cata'na. Questions for Examination. 1. What unjust expedition did the Athenians undertake? 2. By whom was Sicily colonized? 3. How was Syracuse situated? 4. What caused Syracuse to be considered the chief of the Sicilian eities? 5. What was the consequence of the interference of the Athenians in the affairs of Sicily? 6. Who was the chief promoter of the Sicilian union? 7. How was this union dissolved? S. Did the Egestans deceive the Athenians? 9. What generals were appointed to manage the Syracusan war? 10. Did any of them wish to decline the situation? 11. What arguments did Nicias use? 12. Was there any disparity between the forces? 13. Was the reasoning of Nicias successful? 14. What was the appointed place of rendezvous? 15. What was the amount of the forces sent on this expedition? 16. In what manner did the fleet depart? 17. Whither did they first steer? 18. What proposal was made by Lamachus? 19. Was it adopted? 20. What charges were brought against Alcibiades in his absence? 21. Did he return to stand his trial? 22. How was his contumacy punished? 23. Whither did Alcibiades go? 24. What enterprise did Nicias undertake? 25. By, what stratagem did he succeed? 26. What was the result of the ensuing battle? SECTION III. SIEGE OF SYRACUSE. 1. NEXT spring, having received a supply of horse from Athens, together with provisions and other warlike stores, Ni'cias resolved to block up the place both by sea and land. The first thing he did for this purpose was to take possession of Epip'olæ, a high hill which commanded the city, and could only be ascended by one very steep and craggy passage. 2. The Syracu'sans were so sensible of the im P portance of this post, that they did every thing in their power to prevent his seizing it; but Ni'cias landed his troops so secretly, and so suddenly, that he made himself master of it before they were aware. He even repulsed a body of seven hundred men who were coming to dislodge him, killing three hundred of them, together with their leader. 3. Here he built a fort, and began to invest the town in such a manner as to cut off all communication between it and the country. In the course of this work several skirmishes happened, in one of which Lam'achus was slain, so that the sole command now devolved upon Ni'cias. 4. The Syracu'sans made another attempt to regain this post, while Ni'cias was sick in bed, in the fort, with only his servants about him. 5. But when he found the enemy were forcing his intrenchments, he got up, and set fire to the engines, and other wood that lay scattered about the fort; which not only served as a signal to his own troops to come to his relief, but so terrified and confounded those of the enemy, that they retreated into the city. 6. From this time Ni"cias began to onceive great hopes of taking the place, the rather as several of the other cities of Sicily came over to his interest, and supplied his troops with all kinds of provisions. 7. The Syracu'sans, on their side, seeing themselves blocked up both by sea and land, and despairing of being able to hold out much longer, were already beginning to think of a surrender, nay, they had actually summoned a council to settle the terms of a capitulation, when, to their great joy and surprise, because contrary to their expectation, they saw Gylip'pus, the Lacedæmo'nian general, arrive with a force that soon relieved them from all their fears; and in a little time reduced the Athe'nians to a more deplorable situation than that in which they themselves were before placed.* 8. Gylip'pus, conscious of his own strength, and perhaps a little actuated by Spartan pride, send a herald to the Athe'nians, to acquaint them that he would allow them five days to leave Sicily. Ni"cias did not deign to give any answer to this proposal, and both sides, therefore, prepared themselves for battle. 9. In the first engagement the Spartans were defeated, chiefly on account of the narrowness of the ground where *It was chiefly owing to the influence of Alcibiades, who was extremely active in revenging the injustice which he had experienced from his countrymen, that these Spartan succours were sent. Corinth likewise, at his instigation, assisted in the defence of Syracuse. they fought, which was between the two walls that the Athenians had raised to invest the city; and as this prevented Gylip'pus from extending his lines, or making use of his horse, the Athe'nians got the better. 10. Gylip'pus, however, had the magnanimity, or rather, indeed, the good policy, to take the whole blame of the miscarriage upon himself. He declared that he, and not his men, was in fault; and that he would soon take an opportunity of recovering his honour and their own. 11. Accordingly, the very next day, attacking the enemy in a more advantageous spot, he obtained over them a more complete victory than they had gained over him so much does the event of a battle depend upon the nature of the ground where it is fought. 12. Ni'cias, being by this means obliged to act upon the defensive, took possession of Plemmy'rium, near the great harbour, where he built three forts, and almost shut himself up in garrison, as the Lacedæmo'nians were now considerably strengthened by a reinforcement they received from Corinth. 13. In this state of affairs, Ni'cias transmitted to Athens a most melancholy account of his present situation, informing his countrymen, that instead of besieging the Syracu'sans, he himself was now besieged by them, and their allies; that the towns revolted from him, the slaves and mercenaries deserted, and his troops were employed in guarding the forts, and bringing in provisions, in which last service many of them were cut off by the enemy's horse. 14. He added, that unless a reinforcement was sent him, equal to that with which he had originally set out, it was in vain to think of attempting any thing farther; and, at all events, he begged that he himself might be recalled, as his health was so much impaired as to render him incapable of going on with the service. 15. This last part of his request, however, the Athenians would by no means consent to; but they resolved to send out Euryme'don and Demosthenes with fresh supplies; the former immediately, with ten galleys, and the other early in the spring with a stronger force. At the same time they appointed Menan'der and Euthyde'mus as assistants to Ni'cias; and these immediately joined him. 16. But Gylip'pus was determined to be beforehand with the Athenians, and to crush, if possible, the force they now had in Sicily, before the succours should arrive. For this purpose, he persuaded the Syracu'sans to hazard a battle by sea, while he should endeavour to storm the forts of Plemmy'rium. 17. The former part of the scheme failed; the latter succeeded. The Athe'nians had only sixty ships to oppose to eighty of the Syracu'sans; but, as they were greatly superior to them in naval skill, they at last got the better, though victory seemed at first to incline to the side of the The Athe'nians lost three ships in the engageenemy. ment; but the Syracu'sans had nine sunk, and three taken. 18. In the mean time, Gylip'pus attacking the forts of Plemmy'rium, while many of those who defended them were gone to the shore, in order to view the sea-fight, he carried the largest of them by storm and so intimidated the garrisons of the other two, that they immediately abandoned them. 19. Encouraged by this success, he resolved to repeat his blow before the arrival of the Athe'nian succours. He therefore persuaded the Syracu'sans to venture another battle by sea. They did so, and with a greater degree of good fortune than had attended them on the former occasion. 20. Ni'cias would willingly have declined this engagement: but he was overruled, or rather over-persuaded, by his two colleagues, Menan'der and Euthyde'mus. The Athe'nians had seventy-five galleys, the Syracu'sans eighty. 21. The first day the two fleets continued in sight of each other without coming to a general engagement, and only a few skirmishes passed between them. The Syracu'sans did not make the least motion the second day. But on the third day they came up much sooner than usual, when a great part of the day was spent in skirmishing, after which they retired. 22. The Athe'nians, not imagining they would return again that day, did not keep themselves in readiness to receive them. But the Syracu'sans, having refreshed themselves in great haste, and gone on board their galleys, attacked the Athe'nians unawares, and in a little time threw them into irretrievable confusion. 23. These last, indeed, would have received a much more severe blow, had they not taken shelter behind their transports, which had been previously drawn up in a line to protect them. They lost, however, on this occasion seven galleys; and a great number of their soldiers were either killed or taker. prisoners Questions for Examination. 1. What were the first operations of Nicias in the ensuing spring? 2. Was this post well defended? 3. What works did he construct, and what loss did he sustain ? 4. Did the Syracusans repeat their attempt? 5. How did Nicias act in this emergency? 6. What was the consequence of this success? 7. Were the Syracusans dispirited, and what happened to encourage them ? 8. What was Gylippus's first measure? 9. What was the event of this battle! 10. On whom did the blame fall? 11. Did he fulfil his declaration? 12. What was the consequence of this victory? 13. What report did Nicias make of his situation? 14. What further did he urge? 15. Were his requests complied with? 16. How did Gylippus endeavour to render these succours useless! 17. Were his plans successful? 18. What was his success by land? 19. Did he pursue his advantages? 20. What induced the Athenians to hazard this engagement? 21. What took place on the first day? 22. How were the Athenians thrown off their guard ? 23. Was their loss great? SECTION IV. DESTRUCTION OF THE ATHENIAN EXPEDITION. B.C. 413. 1. WHILE Ni'cias was reflecting with grief upon his present unhappy situation, and looking forward with terror to the still more melancholy prospect that lay before him, he was relieved from all his uneasiness by the arrival of Demos'thenes' fleet, which now came forward in great pomp and splendour. 2. It consisted of seventythree galleys, on board of which were five thousand fighting men, and above three thousand archers, slingers, and bow wmen. All the galleys were richly decorated, and their prows adorned with costly streamers; they were manned with chosen rowers, commanded by experienced officers, and furnished, at a vast expense, with all sorts of warlike instruments at that time in use. As they approached the shore, the sound of trumpets, mixed with repeated shouts |