The
fleet was first to be employed in helping Egesta, and when that
contest had been brought to a successful issue the Leontines were to
be restored to their homes; finally, the generals were empowered to
act as might seem best in the interests of Athens. The real purpose of
the enterprise is indicated in the last clause. Vague plans of
conquest were floating before the minds of the Athenians, and at a
time when their whole energies should have been employed to repair the
breaches in their empire, they dreamed of founding a new dominion in
the west.
Five days later the assembly met again to vote supplies and discuss
any further details which remained to be settled. But Nicias
determined to take the opportunity of reopening the whole question,
wishing, if possible, to divert his countrymen from their purpose, and
put an end to the expedition altogether. It was folly, he argued, to
take up the cause of needy foreigners, and drain the resources of
Athens for a distant and hazardous enterprise, when their subjects in
Thrace were still in open revolt, and their enemies in Greece were on
the watch to take them at a disadvantage. If they trusted in the
treaty with Sparta, they would soon find how infirm was the ground of
their confidence. That treaty had been forced upon the Spartans by
their misfortunes, and they would be only too glad to repudiate it,
which they could easily do, as many of the conditions were still under
dispute.
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