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