Moreover, the most powerful cities of the Peloponnesian
League had refused to sign the treaty, and were ready, at the first
hint from Sparta, to renew the war. Athens was beset with perils,
which were enough to tax her strength to the utmost: and yet they
talked of sailing to Sicily, and raising up a new host of enemies
against her! Even if the expedition succeeded, they could never keep
their hold on that vast and populous island, while, if it failed, they
would be utterly ruined. As to the supposed danger from the ambition
of Syracuse, that was mere idle talk. The schemes of conquest, with
which the Egestaeans had tried to alarm the Athenians, would keep the
Syracusans busy at home, and prevent them from meddling in the affairs
of Greece. "Leave the Greeks of Sicily alone," said Nicias with true
prophetic insight; "and they will not trouble you. Do not disturb the
prestige which belongs to a distant and unfamiliar power. If they once
learn to know you, they may learn to despise you."
Then fixing his eyes on Alcibiades, who was sitting surrounded by his
own partisans, young profligates like himself, Nicias concluded thus:
"There is another danger against which I would warn you, men of
Athens--the danger of being led astray by the wild eloquence of
unscrupulous politicians, who seek to dazzle you with visions of new
empire, that they may rise to high command, and restore their own
shattered fortunes.
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