Ex and he was crowned more than once on that occasion. traordinary resources were necessary for supporting such luxury; and as avarice often serves as a resource to ambition, there were some grounds to believe that Alcibiades was no less solicitous for conquering Sicily and Carthage, which he pretended to possess afterwards as his own, to enrich his family, than to render it glorious. It is natural to suppose that Alcibiades did not let this speech of Nicias go unanswered. "This," says Alcibiades," is not the first time that merit "has excited jealousy, and glory been made the object of en"vy. That very thing which is imputed to me for a crime, is, "I will presume to say it, the honour of my country, and ought "to gain me applause. The splendour in which I live; the "great sums I expend, particularly in the public assemblies; "besides their being just and lawful, at the same time give fo"reigners a greater idea of the glory of Athens, and show "that it is not in such want of money as our enemies imagine. "But this is not our present business. Let the world form a "judgment of me, not from passion and prejudice, but from "my actions. Was it an inconsiderable service I did the re66 public, in bringing over in one day to its alliance the peo"ple of Elis, of Mantinea, and of Argos, that is the chief "strength of Peloponnesus? Make use, therefore, to aggran"dize your empire of Alcibiades's youth and folly, since his "enemies give it that name, as well as of the wisdom and ex"perience of Nicias; and do not repent from vain and idle "fears, your engaging in an enterprise publicly resolved upon, "and which may redound infinitely both to your glory and "advantage. The cities of Sicily, weary of the unjust and "cruel government of their princes, and still more of the ty"rannical authority which Syracuse exercises over them, "wait only for a favourable opportunity to declare themselves, "and are ready to open their gates to whomsoever shall offer "to take off the yoke under which they have so long groan"ed. Though the citizens of Egesta, in quality of your allies, "should not have a right to your protection, yet the glory of "Athens ought to engage you to support them. Republics 66 aggrandize themselves by succouring the oppressed, and not "by living inactive. In the present state of your affairs, thé "only way to dispirit your enemies, and show that you are "not afraid of them, will be, to harass one nation, to check "the progress of another, to keep them all employed, and 6: carry your arms into distant countries. Athens was not "formed for ease; and it was not by inactivity that your an cestors raised it to the height in which we now see it. For "the rest, what hazards will you run by engaging in the en"terprise in question? If it should be crowned with success, "you will then possess yourselves of all Greece; and should "it not answer your expectations, your fleet will give you an opportunity of retiring whenever you please. The Lace"dæmonians, indeed, may make an incursion into our coun"try, but, besides that it would not be in our power to pre"vent it, though we should not invade Sicily, we still shall "preserve the empire of the sea in spite of them; a circum"stance which makes our enemies entirely despair of ever "being able to conquer us. Be not therefore biassed by Ni"cias's reasons. The only tendency of them is to sow the "seeds of discord between the young and the old men, who "can do nothing without one another, since it is wisdom and courage, counsel and execution, that give success to all enterprises; and this in which we are going to embark, can"not but turn to your advantage." * The Athenians flattered and pleased with Alcibiades's speech persisted in their first opinion. Nicias, on the other side, did not depart from his; but at the same time did not dare to oppose Alcibiades any farther. Nicias was naturally of a soft and timid disposition. He was not, like Pericles, master of that lively and vehement eloquence, which, like a torrent, bears down all things in its way. And indeed the latter, on several occasions and at several times, had never failed to check the wild starts of the populace, who even then meditated the expedition into Sicily, because he was always inflexible, and never slackened the reins of that authority and kind of sovereignty which he had acquired over the people; whereas † Nicias, both by acting and speaking in an easy gentle manner, so far from winning over the people, suffered himself to be forcibly and involuntarily carried away; and accordingly he at last yielded to the people, and accepted the command in a war which he plainly foresaw would be attend, ed with the most fatal consequences. Plutarch makes this reflection in his excellent treatise, where, speaking of the qualities requisite in a statesman, he shows how very necessary eloquence and inflexible constancy and perseverance are to him. * Plut. in præc. de ger. rep. p. 802. † Καθάπερ αμέλει χαλίνω τῷ λόγῳ πειρώμενος αποςρέφειν τον δήμον, κ κατέχειν. Nicias, not daring to oppose Alcibiades any longer openly, endeavoured to do it indirectly, by starting a great number of difficulties, drawn especially from the great expence of this expedition. He declared, that since they were resolved upon war, they ought to carry it on in such a manner as migh suit the exalted reputation to which Athens had attained; that a fleet was not sufficient to oppose so formidable a power as that of the Syracusans and their allies; that they must raise an army, composed of good horse and foot, if they desired to act in a manner worthy of so grand a design; that besides their fleet, which was to make them masters at sea, they must have a great number of transports to carry provisions perpetually to the army, which otherwise could not possibly subsist in an enemy's country; that they must carry yast sums of money with them, without waiting for that promised them by the citizens of Egesta, who perhaps were ready in words only, and very probably might break their promise; that they ought to weigh and examine the disparity there was between themselves and their enemies with regard to the conveniences and wants of the army, the Syracusans being in their own country, in the midst of powerful allies, disposed by inclination, as well as engaged by interest, to assist them with men, arms, horses, and provisions; whereas the Athenians would carry on the war in a remote country, possessed by their enemies, where, in the winter, news could not be brought them in less than four months time; a country where all things would oppose the Athenians, and nothing be procured but by force of arms; that it would reflect the greatest ignominy on the Athenians, should they be forced to abandon their enterprise, and thereby become the scorn and contempt of their enemies, by their neglecting to take all the precautions which so important a design required; that as for himself, he was determined not to go, unless he was provided with all things necessary for the expedition, because the safety of the whole army depended on that circumstance; and that he would not rely on the caprice or the precarious engagements of the allies. *Nicias had flattered himself that this speech would cool the ardour of the people, whereas it only inflamed it the more. Immediately the generals had full powers given them to raise as many troops and fit out as many galleys as they should judge necessary; and the levies were accordingly carried on in Athens and other places with inexpressible activity. Diod. 1, xiii. p. 134. SECTION VIII, THE ATHENIANS PREPARE TO SET SAIL, &c. &c. WHEN all things were ready for their departure", and they were preparing to sail, there happened several bad omens, which filled the minds of the people with trouble and disquictude. The † women were at that time celebrating the festival of Adonis, during which the whole city was in mourning, and full of images representing dead persons and funeral processions; and every part echoed with the cries and groans of the women, who followed those statues with lamentations of that kind; whence it was feared, that this gay and magnificent armament would soon lose all its splendour, and ‡ wither away like a flower. The general affliction was increased by another accident. The statues of Mercury, which stood at the entrance of private houses and temples, were all mutilated in one night, and particularly in the face; and although a great reward was promised to any person who should discover the authors of so audacious a crime, no one was accused. The citizens could not forbear considering this uncommon event, not only as an unlucky omen, but as a contrivance of some factious men, who harboured very ill designs. Some young people had already been accused of committing much the like crime in the midst of their cups, and particularly of having wantonly mimicked the ceremonies and mysteries of Ceres and Proserpine, with Alcibi ades, who represented the high-priest, at their head ||. It highly concerns all those in exalted stations to be extremely careful of every step they take, and not to give the least opportu nity to the most inveterate malice to censure them. They ought to call to mind, says Plutarch, that the eyes of all men are upon their conduct, and that they are ever eagle-eyed on these occasions; that not only their outward actions pass the most severe scrutiny, but that they penetrate to their most private A. M. 3589. Ant. J. C. 415. Thucyd. 1. vi. p. 428. Plut. in Alcib. p. 200, 201. This superstitious rite had extended even to God's people. "And "behold, there sat women weeping for Tamuz." Ezek. viii. 14. N. B. The Latin version of the Bible, which Mr. Rollin follows, says, "weeping for Adonis," which is the same as Tamuz, the Hebrews calling Adonis by that name. The historian alludes to the plants and flowers that were carried in that ceremony, and which went by the name of Adonis's gardens. Plut. in præc. de rep. p. 800, apartments, and there take the strictest notice of their discourses, their diversions, and the most secret things transacted by them. It was this dread of the piercing eye of the people, that kept Themistocles and Pericles perpetually on their guard, and obliged them to refrain from most of those pleasures in which others indulged themselves. As for Alcibiades, he did not know what it was to lay him. self under any restraints; and accordingly, as his character was so well known, people were persuaded he very probably had been concerned in what had happened. His luxury, liberti. nism, and irreligion gave an air of probability to this charge, and the accuser was not afraid of telling his name. This at tack staggered the constancy and resolution of Alcibiades; but hearing the soldiers and sailors declare that they were induced to engage in this expedition by no other motive but their affection for Alcibiades, and that, should the least injury be done him, they would all leave the service, he took heart, and appeared at his trial on the day appointed for that purpose. His enemies, upon pretence that it was necessary for the fleet to set sail, got the judgment superseded. It was to no purpose for Alcibiades to insist upon being tried, in case he was guilty, and not be ruined in his absence, and to represent, that it would be the most shocking and barbarous injustice to oblige him to embark for so important an expedition, without first making due inquiry into the accusations and horrid slanders which were cast upon him, the bare thoughts of which would keep him in perpetual fear and anxiety. However, none of these remonstrances proved effectual, and the fleet was ordered to set out. *They accordingly prepared to set sail, after having appointed Corcyra the rendezvous for most of the allies, and such ships as were to carry the provisions, &c. All the citi zens, as well as foreigners in Athens, flocked by day-break to the port of Pyræus. The former attended their children, relations, friends, or companions, with a joy overcast with a little sorrow, upon their bidding adieu to persons that were as dear to them as life, who were setting out on a far distant and very dangerous expedition, from which it was uncertain whether they ever would return, though they flattered themselves with the hopes that it would be successful. The foreigners came thither to feed their eyes with a sight which was highly worthy their curiosity; for no single city in the world had * Thucyd. p. 430–432. Diod. I. xiii. p. 135. |