Let these measures be carried out with
promptitude and vigour, and you will soon reap your reward, in the
humiliation of Athens, and the honour and gratitude of all Greece."
At these words of Alcibiades the sluggish Spartans took fire, and
recognizing the importance of his advice they determined to follow the
course which he had indicated. Gylippus, a Spartan of high rank,
received orders to proceed at once to Syracuse, and assume the control
of the war, and the Corinthians were directed to provide ships for the
conveyance of troops. But after this brief display of energy the
Spartans relapsed into their wonted torpor. Many months elapsed before
Gylippus was able to embark for Sicily, and meanwhile important events
had been occurring at the seat of war. We return, therefore, to the
head-quarters of Nicias, which had once more been removed from Naxos
to Catana.
VI
For the next year and a half [Footnote: Spring 414--autumn 413 B.C.]
the scene of our narrative lies almost entirely in the immediate
neighbourhood of Syracuse, so that it now becomes necessary to
describe in some detail the site of that city, and the character of
the adjacent country. Mention has already been made of the island of
Ortygia, the site of the original colony, connected with the mainland
of Sicily by a bridge or causeway.
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