It would be better, he thought, to perish under the
walls of Syracuse, than to brave that stern tribunal, and read his
doom on those angry, accusing faces. And apart from these selfish
terrors, he was still in communication with his partisans in Syracuse,
who encouraged him to wait for a favourable turn of affairs. Thus
fettered to the spot both by his hopes and his fears, he obstinately
refused to move.
While Demosthenes argued, and Nicias demurred, Gylippus had not been
idle. A day or two after the battle, he once more left Syracuse, and
traversed the whole length of the island, collecting troops on his
way. At Selinus he was joined by the Peloponnesian and Boeotian
soldiers who had sailed from Taenarum early in the spring, and had
just reached that port, after a long and adventurous voyage. With this
welcome addition to his forces, and thousands more who had answered
his call from all parts of Sicily, he returned to Syracuse, and
prepared to put out all his strength in a general assault on the army
and fleet of Athens.
The Athenians had not yet abandoned their lines on the southern side
of Epipolae, and from this position they watched the arrival of the
new army raised by Gylippus, as it defiled down the slope, and poured
through the gates of Syracuse to swell the ranks of their enemies.
Pages:
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261