48-50] ALCIBIADES AT MESSENE 217 of the Syracusans would probably be cut off in the country, not believing in the approach of an invader; and while the villagers were trying to convey their property into the city, their own army, which would be encamped close under the walls, would be masters of the field and could have no lack of provisions. In the end, the other Sicilian Greeks, instead of joining the Syracusan alliance, would come over to them, and would no longer hesitate and look about them to see which side would conquer. He was also of opinion that they should make Megara their naval station, " the fleet returning thither from Syracuse and anchoring in the harbours The place was deserted, and was not far distant from Syracuse either by land or by sea. Lamachus having thus spoken nevertheless gave his 50 own voice for the proposal of Alci- ^, , , ,, . biades. Whereupon Alcibiades sailed blades is pursued, and across in his admiral's ship to Messene he himself goes as envoy and proposed an alliance to the inhab- '<> ^essati, but is not . adnnttcd. An Athen- itants. He failed to convince them, ian force is received at for they refused to receive the Athen- Naxos, but excluded at ians into the city, although they ^^""- '^'"y S^ "" , r X "^ to Syracuse. ottered to open a market for them out- side the walls. So he sailed back to Rhegium. The generals at once manned sixty ships, selecting the crews indifferently out of the entire fleet, and taking the neces- sary provisions coasted along to Naxos ; they left the rest of the armament and one of themselves at Rhegium. The Naxians received them into their city, and they sailed on to Catana ; but the Catanaeans, having a Syracusan party within their walls, denied admission to them ; so they moved to the river Terias and there encamped. On the following day they went on to Syracuse in long file with all their ships, except ten, which they had sent forward to sail into the Great Harbour and
- Reading tipopfxtaOa'ras, a conjecture of Schaefer's adopted by Poppo ;
or, following the MSS. and reading ((popfXTjOivras : 'there taking up a secure position and thence attacking Syracuse.' O 2
