881 
G R E 
himfelf, that by the glory and fuccefs of his arms, he 
thoiild (Hence the clamours, and defeat the machina¬ 
tions, of his accufers. 
Among the perfonsvvho had been feized on fiifpicion, 
were tlie crafty and intriguing Timacus, and tlie profli¬ 
gate and impious Andocides, the fame whofe flattie of 
Mercury had efcaped the general mutilation. The 
known charafter of thefe men naturally marked them 
out as peculiar viftims of popular fury. As they were 
confined in.the fame prifon, they had an opportunity of 
communicating their apprehenfions, and of contriving 
means of fafety. Timacus perfuaded his friend, that it 
would be weaknefs to die by a falfe accufation, when 
he might fave himfelf by a lie. Andocides turned in¬ 
former. The prifoners whom he named were baniflied 
or put to deatli ; the refl were fet at liberty. The ab- 
fent, among whom was Alcibiades, were recalled to 
fland trial. But they did not obey the fummons fent 
them by the Salaminian galley. The wanderings and 
misfortunes of more obfcure names are unknown : Al¬ 
cibiades efcaped toThurium, and afterwards to Argos; 
and, when he underflood that the Athenians had fet a 
price on his liead, he finally took refuge in Sparta; 
wh.ere his adtive genius I'eized the firfl opportunity to 
advife and to [iromote thofe fatal meaiures, which, 
while they gratified his private refentment, occafioned 
the ruin of his country. 
The removal of Alcibiades foon appeared in the lan¬ 
guid operations of the Athenian armament. The cau¬ 
tious timidity of Nicias, fupported by wealth, elo¬ 
quence, and authority, gained an abfolute afcendant 
over the more warlike and enterprifing charailer of La- 
machus, wiiofe poverty expofed him to contempt. In- 
llead of making a bold impreflion on Selinus or Syra- 
cufe, Nicias contented himfelf with taking pofleflion of 
the inconllderable colony of Hyccara ; and of walling 
the greatefl part of the fummer in the inadlive quarters 
of' Naxos and Catana. He, hotvever, determined to 
gratify the inclination of his troops, by the vigour of 
his winter campaign. The conquefl of Syracul'e, againfl 
which he intended to lead them, might tv'ell excite the 
emulation of the combatants, fince that powerful city 
formed the main obflacle to their ambition, and the 
principal bulwark not only of Sicily, but of the Italian 
and Afi ican Ihores. Yet the dilatory operations of Ni¬ 
cias not only removed the terror and trepidation of the 
Syracufans, but infpired them with unulual firmnefs. 
"1 hey reqtiefled their generals to lead them to Catana, 
that they might attack the hoflile camp. Their ca¬ 
valry haralfed the Athenians by frequent incurfions, in¬ 
tercepted their convoys, deflroyed their advanced pofls, 
and even proceeded fo near to the main body, that they 
were diftinCtly heard demanding with loud infults. 
Whether thole boafled lords of Greece had left their 
native country, that they might form a precarious fet- 
tlement at the foot of Mount .HEtna ? 
Provoked by thefe indignities, and excited by the im¬ 
patient refentment of his own troops, Nicias was flill re- 
llrained from an open attempt againfl Syracufc by the 
difficulties attending tliat enterprife. The diftance be¬ 
tween Catana and the Sicilian capital was more than 
thirty miles ; but, after the molt profperous voyage, 
the Athenians could not expedt, without extreme dan¬ 
ger, to make a delcent on the fortified coaft of a power¬ 
ful and vigilant enemy. If tliey determined to march 
by land, they mufl be haralfed by the numerous cavalry 
of Syracufc, w hich actually watched their motions, and 
with whofe aiStivity, in a broken and intricate country, 
tlie flrength of heavy-armed troops was exceedingly ill 
qualified to contend. To avoid both inconveniences, 
Nicias employed a llralageni. A citizen of Catana ap¬ 
peared in Syracule as a deferter from his native city ; 
the unhappy fate of which, in being fubjedled to the 
licentious diforder of the Athenians, he lamented with 
perfidious tears, and with the plaintive accents of well- 
VOL. VIII. No. 552. 
E C E. 
dilTembled forrow'. “ He was not the only man who be¬ 
wailed, with filial compaffion, the misfortunes and ig- 
nominy of his country. A numerous body of Cata- 
neans, whole refentment was reprelTed by fear, longed 
to take up arms, that they miglit repel the tyranny of 
the invaders. Nor could the defign fail of fucc.efs, if 
Syracufc fliould fecond their generous ardour. H'he 
Athenians, I’o liberally endowed with courage and am¬ 
bition, were deflitute of wifdom and of dilcipline : their 
polls were forfaken, their Ihips unguarded ; they dif- 
dained the duties of the camp, and indulged in the 
pJeafures of the city. On an appointed day it would 
be ealy for the Syracufans, aflifted by the-conl'i'irators 
of Catana, to attack them unprepared, to demolifii their 
encampment, and to burn their fleet.” This daring 
propofal well correfponded w ith tlie keen revenge which 
animated the inhabitants of Syracufc. The day was 
named; the plan of the enterprife was concerted, and 
the treacherous Catanean returned home to revive the 
hopes of his pretended alfociates. 
The fuccefs of this intrigue gave the utmofl fatisfac- 
tion to Nicias ; and, after twelve hours fail, the Athe¬ 
nian fleet arrived in the great harbour of Syracule, dif- 
embarked their troops, and fortified a camp without the 
weflerii wall, near to the celebrated temple of Olym¬ 
pian Jupiter. Meanwhile the cavalry cf Syracufc, 
having proceeded to the walls of Catana, had difeover- 
ed, to their infinite regret, the departure of the Athe¬ 
nians. Tlie unwelcome intelligence was conveyed, with 
the utmofl expedition, to the infantry, who immediate¬ 
ly marched back to protetf Syracufc. The rapid re¬ 
turn of the warlike youth rettored the courage of the 
aged Syracufans. They were joined by the forces of 
Gela, Selinus, and Camarina; and it was determined, 
without lots of time, to attack the hoflile encampment. 
Only a few days elapfed before the Athenians gave 
tliem a fairer opportunity of revenge. The two armies 
prepared to engage, refpeiftively inflamed by refent¬ 
ment and ambition; the one formidable in cotrage and 
numbers, the other elated by fuperior difeipline and 
habitual viftory. The Syracufaa generals drew up 
their troops fixteen, and the Athenians only eight, 
deep; but the latter liad, in their camp, a body of re- 
ferve, which was kept ready for attion on the firfl fig- 
nal. Nicias led on his troops to the enemy, who did 
not decline the engagement. The light-armed archers 
flcirmiflied in the van : the priells brought forth the ao- 
cuflomed faci ifices : the trumpets fummoned for a ge¬ 
neral charge. The attack was begun with fury, and 
continued with perfeverance for feveral hours. Both 
lides were animated by every principle tliat could in- 
fpire the utmofl vigour of exertion ; and victory was flill 
doubtful, when a tempell fiiddenly arole, accompanied 
with uniil'iial peals of thunder. This event, which lit¬ 
tle afteCted the Athenians, confounded the unexperi¬ 
enced credulity of the enemy, who were broken and put 
to flight. Nicias reflrained the eagernels ot his men in 
the purluit, left: they (liould be expofed to danger from . 
a body of twelve hundred Syraculan cavalry, who had 
not engaged in the battle, but who impatiently watched 
an opportunity to alfault the difordered phalanx. The 
Syracufans efcaped to their city, and the Athenians re¬ 
turned their camp. In fiich an obllinate jconfliCt the 
vanqiiiffied lofl two hundred and fixty, the victors only 
fifty, men. '1 he voyage, the encampment, and the bat- ; 
tie, employed the dangerous activity, and gratified tire-, 
impetuous ardour, of the Athenians, but did not faci- - 
litate the conquefl of Syracufcj. Without more powef- 
, fill preparations, Nicias, delpaired of taking the place, 
either by alfault, or by.a regular lipge. Soon alter bis,- 
victory he returned with the whole armament to Naxes- 
and Catana ; a mealure which luffieiently proves thit 
the late enterprife had been undertaken, not, in conle- • 
quence of any permanent lylteni ot operations fornied by • 
the general, but in compliance with the ungoyeriiable • 
10 P temper 
