300 DOUBTS AND FEARS OF NICIAS [vil with their own eyes the state of affairs ; they would only have heard the criticisms of others, and would be con- vinced by any accusations which a clever speaker might bring forwards Indeed many or most of the very soldiers who were now crying out that their case was desperate would raise the opposite cry when they reached home, and would sa}' that the generals were traitors, and had been bribed to depart ; and therefore he, knowing the tempers of the Athenians, would for his own part rather take his chance and fall, if he must, alone by the hands of the enemy, than die^* unjustly on a dishonourable charge at the hands of the Athenians. And, after all, the Syracusans were in a condition worse than their own ; for they had to maintain mercenary troops; they were spending money on garrisons, and had now kept up a large navy for a whole year ; already in great difficulties, they would soon be in greater; they had expended two thousand talents, and were heavily in arrear ; and if by a failure in the pay they suffer any diminution of their present forces their affairs would be ruined. For they depended on mercenaries, who, unlike the Athenian allies, were under no compulsion to serve. Therefore, he said, they ought to persevere in the siege, and not go away disheartened by the greatness of the expense, for they were far richer than the enemy '^. 49 Nicias spoke thus decidedly because he knew exactly _ how matters stood in Syracuse ; he Deniostheues and /• i • Eurymedon ai first was aware of their Want of money, and wst'sn/tau/ie expedition of the Secret existence of that party s/iall leave Syracuse ^y[^^[^•^ the walls which wished Well to and encamp elsewhere, • . i • • n but they afteiwards the Athenians, and was continually hesitate, believing that sending word to him not to depart ; Nicias has some secret ^^^ ^^^ confidence in his navy, if not reason for rematmng. ... , . , , , . in his army, which now possessed him
- Cp. iii. 38 med. Or, ' would for his own part rather take
his chance, and fall, if he must, by the hands of the enemy, like any private soldier, than die.' <^ /C40,ooo. ^ Or, ' disheartened at the idea of the enemy's riches ; for they were far richer themselves.'
