Then arose a strange
conflict of motives. The first who put forward his claims was
Gylippus, to whose genius and energy the victorious issue of the
struggle was mainly due. As a reward for his services, he asked that
Nicias and Demosthenes should be left to his disposal, for he wished
to have the honour of carrying home with him these famous captains,
one the greatest friend, the other the greatest enemy of Sparta. But
the general voice of the assembly was strongly against him. Nothing
but the blood of the two principal offenders could satisfy the
vengeance of the Syracusans, and those who had intrigued with Nicias
were anxious to put him out of the way, in fear lest he should betray
them. Moreover the Corinthian allies of Syracuse, who for some reason
had a special grudge against Nicias, demanded his immediate execution.
In vain Hermocrates pleaded the cause of mercy, [Footnote: Plutarch,
_Nicias_, c. 28.] and urged his fellow-citizens to make a
generous use of their victory. Sentence of death was passed, and these
two eminent Athenians, so different in character and achievement, were
united in their end.
Far worse was the doom pronounced on the six thousand men of
Demosthenes, and the thousand more who were brought to Syracuse after
the massacre at the Assinarus.
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