A formal indictment was laid
before the senate, and it was decided that he should come home and
stand his trial. But it was necessary to proceed with caution, for
Alcibiades was popular with the troops serving in Sicily; and it was
possible that, if any violence were attempted against his person, they
might break out into mutiny. Accordingly the captain of the Salaminian
trireme was instructed to treat him with all respect, and allow him to
return to Athens in his own vessel. On receiving the summons
Alcibiades affected to obey, and set sail from Catana, with the state
trireme in attendance. The two ships remained in company as far as
Thurii, a Greek town of southern Italy, but there the great criminal
disappeared, and after searching for him in vain the officers of the
Salaminia were obliged to return to Athens without him. When the news
of his flight was brought to Athens, he was arraigned in his absence,
and condemned to death. But if his enemies supposed that they had
heard the last of Alcibiades, they soon learnt how deeply they were
mistaken.
V
The conduct of the campaign in Sicily was thus left in the feeble
hands of Nicias; for though Lamachus nominally held an equal command,
his poverty and political insignificance prevented him from holding
the position to which his military talents entitled him.
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