A great wave of excitement swept over the assembly, and
the few who still doubted were cowed into silence. When the tumult had
subsided, a certain Demostratus, [Footnote: The name is given by
Plutarch.] who had spoken strongly in favour of the expedition,
addressing Nicias in the name of the assembly, asked him to state
plainly what force he required. Thus driven into a corner, Nicias
answered, with great reluctance, that the number of triremes must be
not less than one hundred, with five thousand heavy-armed infantry,
and slingers and bow-men in proportion. This enormous estimate was
carried without demur, and by the same vote full powers were conferred
on the generals to fix the scale of the armament as they might think
best for the interests of Athens.
Thus, by a strange freak of fortune, the Athenians, at the most
momentous crisis of their history, were urged along the road to ruin
by the most opposite qualities in their leaders, the cold caution of
Nicias, and the wild energy of Alcibiades.
III
During the whole of the following spring [Footnote: B.C. 415.]
preparations for the invasion of Sicily were actively pushed on, and
the whole city was in a bustle and stir of excitement. Athens had
recently recovered from the ravages of the plague, and six years of
peace had recruited her resources, both in men and money.
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