In this distress Nicias wrote home, urging strong ly the necessity, either of his immediate recal, or of -large reinforcements. Never could the latter demand arrive more unseasonably. The Lacedemonians, ac cording to the advice of Alcibiades, had fortified Decelia, and were thus enabled, both to keep Athens in perpetual alarm, and to cut off all supplies of pro visions, unless by sea. Yet such was the daring en terprise, and vast resources, of this- state, that, in stead of recalling Nicias, they fitted out, without de lay, an armament nearly equal to that originally sent. The unexpected appearance of so mighty a rein forcement inspired the assailants with new courage, while it struck the besieged with dismay. It was commanded by Demosthenes. By his advice a gene ral attack was resolved on. It was undertaken ac cordingly by moonlight, against the quarter of Epi polx ; having gained which, they hoped to possess themselves of the whole city. They at first succeed ed ; Epipolx was forced ; but when the Athenians pressed forward to pursue their advantage, the dark ness of the night, and their ignorance of the place, threw them into inextricable confusion. They were unable to distinguish between friends and foes ; the enemy gained their watchword ; and, after a dread ful combat, they were repulsed with great slaughter.
Demosthenes now advised an immediate return ; but this proposal was unexpectedly opposed by Ni cias, who dreaded to appear before the enraged as sembly of Athens, and entertained hopes, from secret connections which he had formed in the city. Things remained in this state, till Gylippus arrived with a powerful reinforcement, which he had collected from the diffeient states of Sicily. The necessi ty of departing was now obvious to all ; but an eclipse of the sun happening, Nicias, from a prin ciple of superstition, to which he was miserably ad ' dieted, conceived it necessary to delay their departure for twenty-seven days. This was a fatal delay to Athens.
The Syraeusans, encouraged by their increased numbers, and by the evident irresolution and timi dity of their enemies, determined to attack them on their own element. A naval engagement took place, and continued for three days with various success. The valour and skill of the Athenians at first pre vailed ; but the Syracusans, continually pouring in fresh numbers, at length gained a considerable ad - vantage.
No choice now remained to the Athenians but of immediate retreat. By the time, however, that they had brought their fleet to the mouth of the harbour, they found that the Syracusans, without losing a mo ment, had thrown a chain across it. Another battle was therefore necessary before they could escape. On this battle hung the fate of the whole Athenian ar mament. It was fought long, and with dreadful ob stinaCy. The armies surrounding the harbour, beheld it as from a theatre, and raised cries of alternate exul tation and despair, according to the varying fortunes of the day. Victory at length decided against the
Athenians ; all their vessels fled, and were driven on shore. Nothing 'could then exceed their calamity. Their only hope was to escape by land to some of the allied cities ; but the route was to be made in the face of a victorious enemy, through a country every where hostile. As in a city taken by storm, they were to fly, having lost their all. They were forced to aban don their dead unburied, a thing never before done by an Athenian army ; they were forced even to aban don their wounded, exclaiming in vain to gods and men against this inhuman desertion. The character of Nicias rose in misfortune. By every motive of hope, of interest, of national honour, he endeavoured to rouse his countrymen from despair, and to inspire them with that firmness which alone could save them. Yet, the usual tardiness of his character remaining, he wast ed two days in preparation, of which period the Sy. racusans availed themselves to seize on the passes. The Athenian army, however, for some time forced their way, though slowly, through crowds of surround ing enemies. At length, the rear guard under De mosthenes was separated from the van, and forced to surrender, stipulating only for their lives. The catas trophe of Nicias was still more fatal. Having reach ed the banks of the river Asinarius, he made a des perate attempt to it, conceiving that his retreat would then be secure. The enemy, however, had possessed themselves of its steep banks, and had filled them with armed men. The Athenians, raging with thirst, plunged into the stream, and eagerly drank it, mixed as it was with the blood of their countrymen. The crowds pressing on confusedly, encumbered and crushed each other ; their attempts to advance were vain ; while showers of darts were incessantly poured down upon them from the surrounding heights. In this dreadful condition, Nieias, seeing all was lost, agreed to surrender on the mere condition of the car nage being stopped. The conducted to Syracuse, and were treated with the utmost barbari ty. Nicias and Demosthenes were put to death.
We may more easily conceive than describe the con sternation of the Athenians, when these fatal tidings arrived; when, instead of their vain and towering hopes of universal conquest, they saw themselves ex posed, almost defenceless, to the fury of their enemies. The flower of their warriors had perished ; and their subject-allies, whom fear alone had retained in sub mission, began to manifest symptoms of revolt. In this extremity, the energy of popular government, ti tempered by misfortune, fully displayed itself. The " most able and prudent persons were set at the head of affairs ; a new fleet was equipped with incredible dispatch ; armaments, sent to Chios, Samos, and Ionia, secured the allegiance of those states ; and Athens appeared, to astonished Greece, as formida ble almost as she had been in her most pro'sperous days.