= * 
appeared in the Neighbourhood of Syracufé. 2.49 
_ Secr. I1.—The peftilential difeafes prevailing m the 
neighbourhood of Syracufe, to which the prefent inquiry 
is limited, occurred at three diftirét periods: at the three 
fieges of that city, by the Athenians and their allies, under 
Nicias ; by the Carthaginians, under Imilcon; and by the 
Romans, under Marcellus. It is exccedingly to be regretted, 
that, confidering the fingular mortality which diftinguifhed 
‘each of thefe plagues, the information concerning them is 
fo feanty and general. But the precifion which remarkably 
charaéterifes that which remains, renders it of fufficient im- 
portance to deferve particular attention. It is the purpofe of 
the prefent Section to place before the reader, in a fuccinét 
narration, the circumftances which the hiftorians have pre- 
ferved relative to each of thefe interefting events. 
In the fecond year of the famous conteft between the Sy- 
racufans and the Athenians, of which Thucydides has left fo 
minute and ‘fo touching an account, the Athenians, whofe 
principal encampments were on the eaft of Syracufe—at 
Leon, at Thapfus,,at Labdalium, and on the port of Tro- 
gilus—undertook the conftruction of a wall, which extended 
to Epipole, ‘and was defigned, after crofling the plain and 
the marfhes of the Anapus, to reach to the great harbour on 
the weit, and inclofe the city. From the completion of this 
enterprife they were prevented by the exertions of the Syra~ 
cufans, who carried a divifion-wall from the city acrofs the 
marih, and thus oppofed an infurmountable barrier to the 
progrefs of their befiegers. To promote his defign, of the 
fuccefs of which he now began to entertain doubts, and to 
enable him more effectually to annoy the enemy by water, 
the Athenian general fortified and tranfported his army to 
Plemmyrium. From this time the fortune of the Athenians 
changed: their fatigue was great and inceffant; every trifl« 
ing fuccefs was fucceeded by fome fad revyerfe; relief was 
diftant and uncertain; and they became a prey to defpond- 
ency, not a little heightened by a fenfe of the injuftice of 
their caufe, their exemplary humiliation, and the unexpected 
fuperiority of their antagonifts. Under thefe circumftances, 
in the autumnal feafon, and “ encamped on marfhy and 
eWVor. V. kk unwhole- 
