In
consequence of this, the hulls of the triremes had become sodden with
water, which made them leaky, and difficult to row. Moreover the
crews, which were largely composed of foreign seamen, had grown
restive and mutinous under the severe strain of hardships and
privation, so different from the easy and lucrative service in the
hope of which they had enlisted. Some took the first opportunity of
deserting to the enemy, while others ran away to remote parts of
Sicily; and there was no means of filling the places thus left vacant.
Such was the burden of care and apprehension which lay heavy on the
feeble shoulders of the Athenian general. He was naturally a weak man,
haunted by superstitious terrors, irresolute, easily cast down; and
this infirmity of character was aggravated by a painful and incurable
disease. There was no longer any question of laying siege to Syracuse:
he himself was now besieged, and it was all he could do to maintain
his position within his defences, and keep the sea open for the
conveyance of supplies. In this desperate situation he determined to
send a written despatch to Athens. We are led to suppose that this was
an unusual proceeding, and that news from the seat of war was
generally sent by word of mouth. The document is given at full length,
with all its grievous confessions of incompetence and failure.
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