Such a violent and flagitious system soon hurried . them on to their ruin. The island of Sicily had, for some time past, been desolated by violent internal .wars. In these the Athenians had repeatedly taken , a share ; but so unwelcome was their interference, that it had united all the states of the island in a league for the exclusion of strangers. From this none dissented except the city of Egesta, which had incurred the resentment of Syracuse and Selinus ; apprehensive of being crushed by whom, the Eges tans sought the alliance of Athens. They gave, at the same time, an exaggerated statement of the re sources, particularly pecuniary, which they them selves could supply. Nothing could be more impru dent for the Athenians, than to engage, at such a juncture, in a war almost equal in magnitude to the Peloponnesian. They were scarcely at peace with Sparta, which I'votild doubtless avail itself of the first favourable opportunity of humbling them: They had a mighty rebellion to suppress, of their own de pendencies, in the Chalcidice. But with the Athe nians, always sanguine and adventurous, always aim ing at what they did not possess, and thinking of ag grandizement rather than of safety, such consider ations had_ little influence. Masters of Sicily, they would soon become masters of all Greece ; nor was 'there any stretch of greatness to which they might not attain. Alcibiades, with all the young men devo ted to him, and, in general, all the leaders of the po pular party, strenuously supported a measure, from which the cautious prudence of Nicias in vain at tempted to dissuade his countrymen. Even when the latter, hoping at least to procure a delay, gave an exaggerated statement of the preparations which would be necessary, the Athenians voted an imme diate supply of all he demanded. Nicias, Alcibiades, and Lamachus, were appointed commanders of the expedition.
The armament consisted of 100 gallics, with a number of transports and smaller vessels, having on board 5000 heavy armed troops, besides archers and slingers. Its rendezvous was at Corcyra, whence it crossed over to the nearest point of Italy, and sailed along the coast till it came to the straits of Messina. Great expectations had been entertained from the Italian states, several of whom were bound by al liance and former favours ; but all, jealous of such mighty interference, shut their gates against the Athenians. On their arrival off the coast of Sicily, the Egestans were found altogether incapable of per forming their promises. The question then came to be, What was to be done ? Nicias proposed to re turn immediately ; Lamachus to proceed without de lay to Syracuse, before it had time to prepare, or to recover 'from its consternation. A middle plan pre vailed, which was to sail round the coast, in order to collect resources and allies for the future siege of Syracuse.
Alcibiades proceeded first to Naxos and Catana, with both which cities Ice succeeded ; but, as he was f proceeding to Messana, a deputation arrived, con . manding him to return to Athens. His enemies had taken advantage of his absence to press a charge of impiety, founded on the extraordinary circumstance of all the statues of Mercury having been found mu tilated on the morning of his departure. It seemed
countenanced by the habitual levity of his conduct. Alcibiades, aware of the little lenity exercised by Athens towards her great men, declined standing his trial, and retired to Sparta. It seems difficult to determine, whether his former influence, or his pre sent disgrace, were most fatal to his country. Since the expedition was undertaken, he certainly, of all men, was best qualified to conduct it. The timid and irresolute character of Nicias, on whom the chief command now devolved, rendered him wholly unfit to conduct an enterprize which could succeed only by prompt and decisive measures. He spun out the summer in small and ineffective expeditions against the inferior states. By a skilful stratagem, he drew off the Syracusan army to Catana, and was thus enabled to effect his landing without opposition. An engagement soon after ensued, in which the Sy racusans were defeated : But Nicias, not conceiving himself to be yet in a state to finish the siege, im mediately reimbarked, and returned to spend the win ter at Catana.
Early next spring Nicias, having received large re _ inforcements, seriously undertook the siege of Syra cuse. The inhabitants defended themselves with bravery and resolution ; but, as their troops were comparatively undisciplined, and their generals inex perienced, they were gradually pressed closer and closer, and at length reduced to such an extremity, that their fall seemed rapidly approaching.
The Lacedemonians could not observe, without the most extreme jealousy, the progress of the Athe nian arms. Alcibiades, whose resentment had now •impelled him to espouse their cause, strongly incul cated on them the necessity of vigorously opposing it. By his advice, they were induced to declare war against the Athenians, to send an army into Attica, and to fortify Decelia, which might give them a per manent establishment in the Athenian territory. At the same time they sent Gylippus, an able command with a body of select troops, to the aid of the Syracusans. The Corinthians, at the same time, sent a large fleet for the same purpose. Encouraged by the prospect of succour, the Syracusans renewed' their efforts. Gylippus landed on the western coast, was joined on his march by the troops of Sclinus, Gela, and Himera, and entered Syracuse in consider able force. Two actions followed, in the first of which he was repulsed, but in the second he defeated the Athenians with considerable loss. Animated by this success, the Syracusans, now reinforced by the Corinthian squadron, determined to attack the enemy on their own element. After several failures, they at length succeeded in defeating them there also ; an event which filled them with the highest exultation. All Sicily now declared against the de clining fortune of Athens ; the supplies of provisions were withheld ; and the armament gradually moulder ed away, while that of the enemy received continual accessions.