They had good reason, therefore, to take sides against
the enemies of Egesta, and the more so as the Egestaeans promised to
defray all the expenses of the war.
The Athenians generally were inclined to take up the quarrel of
Egesta, but as a measure of precaution it was decided to send agents
of their own to make an inspection on the spot, and see whether the
Egestaeans were as wealthy as they pretended. On their return to
Athens these men reported that Egesta was possessed of fabulous
riches. At every house where they had been entertained, the tables and
the sideboards had been one blaze of gold and silver plate. The fact
was that the Egestaeans had collected all the gold and silver vessels
in the town, and others borrowed from the neighbouring cities, and by
passing them on from house to house, wherever these important guests
were invited, had contrived to make a great display. As an earnest of
all this wealth, the Athenian commissioners brought back with them
sixty talents of silver.
The smallness of this sum ought to have been sufficient to arouse the
suspicions of the Athenians; but they were willing to be deceived, and
they gave ready credence to reports of their commissioners. Voting in
full assembly, they passed a decree that sixty ships should be sent to
Sicily, under the command of Nicias, Alcibiades, and Lamachus.
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