Next morning Nicias, acting with unusual vigour, drew up his army in
two equal divisions, and leaving one half to defend the camp, and act
as a reserve, with the other he advanced rapidly upon the enemy. The
Syracusans, who had perhaps reckoned too much on the known indolence
of Nicias, were taken by surprise. Their discipline was lax, and many
of them had left their posts, and gone off into the town.
Nevertheless, they met the attack with firmness: those who were on the
spot hastened to assume their weapons, which they had laid aside,
while the stragglers came running back, and took their stand wherever
they saw a gap in the ranks. After some preliminary skirmishing
between the light-armed troops, the heavy masses of the hoplites came
to close quarters, and a fierce hand to hand struggle ensued. While
the issue was still uncertain, a violent thunderstorm broke over the
contending armies, and struck terror into the Syracusans, who regarded
it as an omen of defeat. But the seasoned soldiers of Nicias saw
nothing unusual in an autumn tempest, and perceiving the enemy to
waver, they pressed their attack, and broke through the opposing
lines. The whole Syracusan army now fell back upon Syracuse, but they
retired without haste or disorder, and their retreat was covered by a
numerous and efficient body of cavalry, so that their total loss
amounted only to two hundred and sixty.
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