§80 
G R E 
While they ftill deliberated on the latter objeft, the 
virtuous Nicias, wlio had been named witli Alcibiades 
and Lainachus to the command of the projected arma- 
tneiit, omitted nothing that prudence could fuggeft, to 
deter ids countrymen from fuch a dangerous experi¬ 
ment : but the uimoil force of argument was in vain. 
. The magnitude of the preparations incretifed the 
hopes and the ardour of all ranks of men in the repub¬ 
lic. Tlie old expedted tiiat nothing could refift fucji^i 
numerous and well-equipped armament. The young 
eagerly feized an occafion to gratify their curiofity and 
love of knowledge in a diftanf navigation, and to (hare 
the h.onours of inch a glorious enterprife. I'he rich 
exulted in difplaying their magnificence ; tlte poor re¬ 
joiced in the immediate affurance of pay fufficient to re¬ 
lieve their prefent wants, and in the profpebt of obtain¬ 
ing by their arjtis the materials of future eafe and hap- 
pinefs. Ijiftead of finding, any difficulty to complete 
the levies, the great difficulty confilfed iii deciding the 
preferciice of valour and merit among thofe tvho foli- 
cited to (erve; and the whole complement of forces, to 
be employed by fea and land, confided of chofen men. 
Wlien tjie appointed day arrived, the whole inhabi¬ 
tants of A'Jiens, whether citizens or ftrangers, alfembled 
early in the Piraeus, to admire the greatefi fpectacle 
ever behold in a Grecian iiaibour. An hundred gallies 
were adorneii with all. the fplcndour of naval pomp : 
the troops defiined to embark, vied with each other in 
the elegance of their drefs and the brightnefs of their 
aims : the alacrity painted in every face, and the mag¬ 
nificence difplayed with profufion in every part of the 
equipage, reprelented a triumphal tliow, rather than the 
Item image of war. Yet the folidity and greatnefs of 
the armament proved that it was intended for ule, not 
for oftentation. Amidit this glare of external pagean¬ 
try w'iiich accompanied the adventurous youtii, their 
friends and kinlmen could not fupprefs a few parting 
tears, when they conlidered the lengiii of the voyage, 
the dangers of the fea, and the uncertainty of beliold- 
ing again th.e dearell pledges of their atfetfions. But 
thele partial exprellions of grief were I'peedily inter¬ 
rupted by the animating founds of the trufupet, which 
lifued at once from an hundred Ihips, and provoked 
lympathetic acclamations from the fiiore. The cap¬ 
tains then otfered folemn prayers to the gods, which 
w'ere anlwered by correfponduig vows from the fpedta- 
tors : the cuflomary libations were poured out in gob 
lets of gold and filver ; and, after the triumphant B<cau 
had been fung in full chorus, the whole licet at once 
let fail, and contended for the prize of naval Ikil! and 
celerity, until tliey reached the lofty ihores of ^gina, 
from whence they enjoyed a profperous navigation to 
the rendezvous of their confederates at Corcyra. The 
fleet conlilted of an hundred and thirty-four (hips of war, 
with a proportional number of tranlports and tenders. 
The heavy-armed troops, exceeding five thoufand, were 
attended with a fufticient body of llingers and arciiers. 
The army, abundantly provided in every other article, 
was extremely deficient in horles, which amounted to 
no more than thirty. But, at a moderate computation, 
%vc may eftimate the whole military and naval Itrength, 
including Haves and fervants, at twenty thoufand men. 
With iliis powerful hoft, the Athenians arrived at 
Catana, which at fiifi; refilled to admit the fliips into 
the harbour, or the troops into the city. But on the 
refpectful lolicitation of Alcibiades, the Cataneans al¬ 
lowed him to addrels tlie alfembly, and propofe his de¬ 
mands. 1 he artful Athenian tranfported the popu¬ 
lace, and even tlic magilfrates themlelves, by the 
charms of his eloquence ; tlie citizens flocked from 
every quarter, to hear a dilcourle which was purpofely 
protratted lor feveral hours ; the loldiers forlook tlieir 
jiolis 5 and the Athenians, who had prepared to avail 
tJiemlelves of this negligence, burll th-rougJi the un- 
E C E. 
guarded gates, and became maflers of the city, Thofe 
Lit the Cat means who were the moft att idled to the in- 
lerelts ot Syracufe, fortunately efcaped death by flight, 
a lie refi: accepted the pirorfered friendfliip of the AMie- 
nians, TiiJs luccels would probablv have been follow. 
ed by tlie lurrcnder of Meli'ene, which Alcibiades had 
filled vcith difirult and' feditioii. But when the plot 
was ripe for execution, tlie man who had contrived, 
and who alone could condud it, was difqualified from 
lerving iiis country. The arrival of the Salaminian 
galley recalled Alcibi .des to Athens, that he might 
Itand trial for his life. 
It happened, that on the jiight preceding the intend¬ 
ed navigation to Sicily, all the fhitiies of Mercury, 
wh.ich had been erected in the Athenian flreets, as the 
boundaries ot diifqrent edifices and tenements, were 
thrown down, and delaced. One only image of the god, 
ot uncommon (ize and beauty, was laved from the ge¬ 
neral wreck ; it was afterwards called the fiatue of An- 
docides, as it Itood before the houfe of the Athenian 
orator of that name. This daring iiifult was find af- 
cribed to tlie artifices of the Corinthians, who, it was 
luppofed, iiiight employ fuch an abominable and facri- 
legions coiilrivanre, to deter the Athenian armament 
from lailing againft their colony at Syracufe. But the 
enemies ot Alcibiades availed tlieiiifelves of the levity 
ot Id's chaiMiiter, to diredf the popular Itorm againlf 
him. On the evidence of (laves, he was accufed of 
having treated with rude familiarity other images of 
the gods ; and Theiralus, a degenerate fon of the mag¬ 
nanimous Cimon, impeached iiim of impiety towards 
the goddeiits Ceres and Proferpine, whole awful cere¬ 
monies lie had polluted and profaned. 
Alcibiades clefended himfelf, with his ufual elo- 
qucnce and addrefs, againll the malignity of a charge, 
unliipported by any adequate evidence. The loldiers 
and tailors, whole eagernefs already grafped the con-' 
quell ol Sicily, interceded for the deliver.mce of their 
commander, whom they regarded as the foul of that 
glorious enterprife. A thoufand Argives and Manti- 
means, wlio had enlifted, on this occafion, under the 
Athenian banners, declared their unv/iUingnefs to fail, 
uiik’ls they were accompanied by Alcibiades, whofe va. 
lour anti abilities alone had determined them to engage 
in Inch an important but dangerous lervice. This 
povvcrlul combination in liis favour difappointed the 
prelent iiopes, without dilconcerting the future mea- 
lures, of his enemies. Tliey perceived that, were he 
brought to an immediate trial, it would be impoliible 
to obtain leiuence againlf him; but that, were his per- 
fon and influence removed to a difiance from Athens, 
every thing might be hoped from the weaknefs and cre¬ 
dulity ot the populace. It was therefore determined 
by tiiis perfidious cabal, that fuch orators as had hi- 
tlierto dilguiled, under the malk of friendlhip or admi. 
ration, their envy and hatred of Alcibiades, fliould de¬ 
clare in lull affembly, that “ it would be inconfillent with 
the clearelt dictates of prudence and propriety, to in¬ 
volve in the tedious formalities of a judicial procedure 
a citizen who had been eledled general by the unani¬ 
mous luft'rage of his country, and whofe prefence was 
eagerly demanded by the affectionate ardour of his 
troops. The charges againft him deferved, doubtlefs, 
to be ferioiUly examined ; but the prelent was not a 
proper time for fucli an inveffigation, which mult blunt 
the courage of his followers, and interrupt the fervice 
of the republic. Let him fail, therefore, for Sicuy, 
and at his return hoine he will either vindicate iiis inno¬ 
cence, or furt'er the punilhment of his guilt.” Alcibia¬ 
des perceived the poifon concealed under this affected 
lenity, and teltifiect his relucfance to leave beliind him 
Inch abundant materials for the malice of informers. 
But his petition for an immediate trial was rejected by 
the alfembly. He therefore fet fail, probably flattering 
I luiufclf, 
