With such resources they would be irresistible, and all
Greece must inevitably fall under their sway.
"Such," continued Alcibiades, "is the secret history of the Sicilian
expedition, which you have heard from the mouth of him who knows it
best. Remember, then, that the issue before you concerns not Syracuse
only, but Sparta also: for if Syracuse falls--and fall she must, if
left without support--all Sicily will be under the heel of Athens;
then will come the turn of Italy, and after that you will soon have
the enemy at your own doors. Now learn what you must do, if you would
avert all the evils which I have foretold. You must send a fleet to
Sicily at once, with hoplites who can row the ships themselves, and
serve in the army as soon as they land, and with them a Spartan
commander, to organize the fighting men of Sicily, and compel those
who are hanging back to do their duty. Such a man will be a host in
himself, and will infuse new life and energy into the defence.
Further, you must establish a fortified camp at Decelea, a position
which commands the whole territory of Attica; for by so doing you will
reduce Athens to a state of siege, and compel the whole male
population to serve on garrison duty; you will deprive the Athenians
of their revenues from the silver-mines at Laurium, and you will put
new heart into the cities subject to Athens, and encourage them to
withhold their tribute.
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