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第6节

nicias-第6节

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Before the rest advanced Callicrates; a man of good courage and
skill in war。 Lamachus; upon a challenge; engaged with him in single
combat; and receiving the first wound; returned it so home to
Callicrates; that they both fell and died together。 The Syracusans
took away his body and arms; and at full speed advanced to the wall of
the Athenians; where Nicias lay without any troops to oppose to
them; yet roused by this necessity; and seeing the danger; he bade
those about him go and set on fire all the wood and materials that lay
provided before the wall for the engines; and the engines
themselves; this put a stop to the Syracusans; saved Nicias; saved the
walls and all the money of the Athenians。 For when the Syracusans
saw such a fire blazing up between them and the wall; they retired。
  Nicias now remained sole general; and with great prospects; for
cities began to come over to alliance with him; and ships laden with
corn from every coast came to the camp; every one favouring when
matters went well。 And some proposals from among the Syracusans
despairing to defend the city; about a capitulation; were already
conveyed to him。 And in fact Gylippus; who was on his way with a
squadron to their aid from Lacedaemon; hearing on his voyage of the
wall surrounding them; and of their distress; only continued his
enterprise thenceforth; that; giving Sicily up for lost; he might;
if even that should be possible; secure the Italians their cities。 For
a strong report was everywhere spread about that the Athenians carried
all before them; and had a general alike for conduct and for fortune
invincible。
  And Nicias himself; too; now against his nature grown bold in his
present strength and success; especially from the intelligence he
received underhand of the Syracusans; believing they would almost
immediately surrender the town upon terms; paid no manner of regard to
Gylippus coming to their assistance; nor kept any watch of his
approach; so that; neglected altogether and despised; Gylippus went in
a long…boat ashore without the knowledge of Nicias; and; having landed
in the remotest parts from Syracuse; mustered up a considerable force;
the Syracusans not so much as knowing of his arrival nor expecting
him; so that an assembly was summoned to consider the terms to be
arranged with Nicias; and some were actually on the way; thinking it
essential to have all despatched before the town should be quite
walled round; for now there remained very little to be done; and the
materials for the building lay all ready along the line。
  In this very nick of time and danger arrived Gongylus in one
galley from Corinth; and every one; as may be imagined; flocking about
him; he told them that Gylippus would be with them speedily; and
that other ships were coming to relieve them。 And; ere yet they
could perfectly believe Gongylus; an express was brought from
Gylippus; to bid them go forth to meet him。 So now taking good
heart; they armed themselves; and Gylippus at once led on his men from
their march in battle array against the Athenians; as Nicias also
embattled these。 And Gylippus; piling his arms in view of the
Athenians; sent a herald to tell them he would give them leave to
depart from Sicily without molestation。 To this Nicias would not
vouchsafe any answer; but some of his soldiers laughing; asked if with
the sight of one coarse coat and Laconian staff the Syracusan
prospects had become so brilliant that they could despise the
Athenians; who had released to the Lacedaemonians three hundred;
whom they held in chains; bigger men than Gylippus; and longer…haired?
Timaeus; also; writes that even the Syracusans made no account of
Gylippus; at the first sight mocking at his staff and long hair; as
afterwards they found reason to blame his covetousness and meanness。
The same author; however; adds that on Gylippus's first appearance; as
it might have been at the sight of an owl abroad in the air; there was
a general flocking together of men to serve in the war。 And this is
the truer saying of the two; for in the staff and the cloak they saw
the badge and authority of Sparta; and crowded to him accordingly。 And
not only Thucydides affirms that the whole thing was done by him
alone; but so; also; does Philistus; who was a Syracusan and an actual
witness of what happened。
  However; the Athenians had the better in the first encounter; and
slew some few of the Syracusans; and amongst them Gongylus of Corinth。
But on the next day Gylippus; showed what it is to be a man of
experience; for with the same arms; the same horses; and on the same
spot of ground; only employing them otherwise; he overcame the
Athenians; and they fleeing to their camp; he set the Syracusans to
work; and with the stone and materials that had been brought
together for finishing the wall of the Athenians; he built a
cross…wall to intercept theirs and break it off; so that even if
they were successful in the field; they would not be able to do
anything。 And after this the Syracusans taking courage manned their
galleys; and with their horse and followers ranging about took a
good many prisoners; and Gylippus going himself to the cities;
called upon them to join with him; and was listened to and supported
vigorously by them。 So that Nicias fell back again to his old views;
and; seeing the face of affairs change; desponded; and wrote to
Athens; bidding them either send another army; or recall this out of
Sicily; and that he might; in any case; he wholly relieved of the
command; because of his disease。
  Before this the Athenians had been intending to send another army to
Sicily; but envy of Nicias's early achievements and high fortune had
occasioned; up to this time; many delays; but now they were all
eager to send off succours。 Eurymedon went before; in midwinter;
with money; and to announce that Euthydemus and Menander were chosen
out of those that served there under Nicias to be joint commanders
with him。 Demosthenes was to go after in the spring with a great
armament。 In the meantime Nicias was briskly attacked; both by sea and
land; in the beginning he had the disadvantage on the water; but in
the end repulsed and sunk many galleys of the enemy。 But by land he
could not provide succour in time; so Gylippus surprised and
captured Plemmyrium; in which the stores for the navy; and a great sum
of money being there kept; all fell into his hands; and many were
slain; and many taken prisoners。 And what was of greatest
importance; he now cut off Nicias's supplies; which had been safely
and readily conveyed to him under Plemmyrium; while the Athenians
still held it; but now that they were beaten out; he could only
procure them with great difficulty; and with opposition from the
enemy; who lay in wait with their ships under that fort。 Moreover;
it seemed manifest to the Syracusans that their navy had not been
beaten by strength; but by their disorder in the pursuit。 Now;
therefore; all hands went to work to prepare for a new attempt that
should succeed better than the former。 Nicias had no wish for a
sea…fight; but said it was mere folly for them; when Demosthenes was
coming in all haste with so great a fleet and fresh forces to their
succour; to engage the enemy with a less number of ships and ill
provided。 But; on the other hand; Menander and Euthydemus; who were
just commencing their new command; prompted by a feeling of rivalry
and emulation of both the generals; were eager to gain some great
success before Demosthenes came; and to prove themselves superior to
Nicias。 They urged the honour of the city; which; said they; would
be blemished and utterly lost if they should decline a challenge
from the Syracusans。 Thus they forced Nicias to a sea…fight; and by
the stratagem of Ariston; the Corinthian pilot (his trick; described
by Thucydides; about the men's dinners); they were worsted; and lost
many of their men; causing the greatest dejection to Nicias; who had
suffered so much from having the sole command; and now again
miscarried through his colleagues。
  But now by this time Demosthenes with his splendid fleet came in
sight outside the harbour; a terror to the enemy。 He brought along; in
seventy…three galleys; five thousand men…at…arms; of darters; archers;
and slingers; not less than three thousand with the glittering of
their armour; the flags waving from the galleys; the multitude of
coxswains and flute…players giving time to the rowers; setting off the
whole with all possible warlike pomp and ostentation to dismay the
enemy。 Now one may believe the Syracusans were again in extreme alarm;
seeing no end or prospect of release before them; toiling; as it
seemed; in vain; and perishing to no purpose。 Nicias; however; was not
long overjoyed with the reinforcement; for the first time he conferred
with Demosthenes; who advised forthwith to attack the Syracusans;
and to put all to the speediest hazard; to win Syracuse; or else
return home; afraid; and wondering at his promptness and audacity;
he besought him to do nothing rashly and; desperately; since delay
would be the ruin of the enemy; whose money would not hold out; nor
their confederates be long kept together; that w

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