had only exercised robberies upon them from Pylus; and, making descents rather on any other coast of Peloponnesus than Laconia itself, and left it to the Argives and Mantinéans to make war against them. Nay, though the Argives had frequently pressed them, that with an armed force they would barely land on the Laconic coast, and, after committing never so small ravage in their company, immediately to retire, they had positively refused. But now, under the command of Pythodorus, and Læspodias, and Demaratus, they made a descent at Epidaurus-Limera and Prasia, committed large devastations on the adjacent country, and afforded the Lacedæmonians a most specious and justifiable pretext to act offensively against Athens.

When the Athenian fleet was sailed homewards from Argos, and the Lacedæmonians also were withdrawn, the Argives broke into Phliasia, where they laid waste part of the Lacedæmonian territory, and made some slaughter of the people, and then returned to Argos.

THE

PELOPONNESIAN WAR.

BOOK VII.

GYLIPPUS and Pythen, when they had refitted their ships, stood along the coast from Tarentum to Locri Epizephyrii. Here they received more certain information, that Syracuse was not yet completely invested, and that a succour of force might be thrown into the town by the way of Epipola. They went next to consultation,—whether, “keep"ing Sicily on the right, they should endeavour at all ha"zards to enter Syracuse by sea; or, with Sicily on their left, "should steer first to Himera; from whence, attended by "the forces of that State and whatever additional strength

they could persuade to join them, they should march "thither over-land." It was determined to go first to Himera, especially as the four Athenian vessels were not yet arrived at Rhegium, which Nicias at last, upon the certain intelligence that they were now at Locri, had detached to observe them. To be before-hand, therefore, with this detachment, they pass through the straits, and, having touched only at Rhegium and Messene, arrive at Himera: whilst, in the latter place, they prevailed upon the Himeréans to concur with them in the war, and not only to entrust their troops under their command, but even to supply with arms such of the mariners as had navigated the vessels, and were therefore unprovided; for, their shipping they had drawn ashore, and laid up at Himera. The Selinuntians also, by a messenger dispatched on purpose, they had summoned to

meet them with all their united strength, at a determined place upon their route. The Geloans also, and some of the Siculi promised to attend with a party, though by no means considerable. The latter of these were disposed better than ever to the service, since Archonides was lately dead, (who, reigning over some of the Siculi seated in these parts, and having a great influence over them, had declared for the Athenians,) and since Gylippus appeared to them to be sent from Lacedæmon with a full purpose to do them service.

And now Gylippus,-having assembled an army, which consisted of about seven hundred of those who navigated or came on board his vessels, and for whom he had provided arms of heavy-armed and light-armed Himeréans, amounting together to a thousand men and one hundred horsemen ; of some light-armed Selinuntians; a small party of Geloan horse; and a body of Siculi, in all a thousand;-began his march for Syracuse.

The Corinthians in the mean time were sending out the other ships, as fast as they could equip them for the service, to follow with all possible expedition from Leucas; and Gongyplus, one of the Corinthian commanders, who with a single ship set out last from Leucas, is the first who arrives at Syracuse; and that but a small space of time before the approach of Gylippus. Finding therefore, upon his arri val, that the Syracusans were going forthwith to hold a public assembly, in which the terms of putting an end to the war were designed to be adjusted, he dissuaded them from so precipitate a step, and animated their drooping resolutions by strong assurances, that "other ships would instantly "arrive ;" and that "Gylippus, the son of Cleandridas, was

sent thither by the Lacedæmonians to take upon him the "command." The Syracusans accordingly resumed their spirits, and immediately marched out of the town, with the whole of their strength in order to meet Gylippus; for by

this time they had received intelligence that he was actually approaching.

Gylippus, upon his route, had made himself master of Iegas, a fortress belonging to the Siculi; and now, at the head of his army, drawn up in order of battle, he comes up to Epipolæ. Having mounted by the pass of Euryalus, as the Athenians had done on their first approach, he marched, in conjunction with the Syracusans, toward the Athenian circumvallation. He happened to arrive in that critical juncture, when the Athenians had completely finished seven or eight stadia✶ of the double wall extending to the great harbour; when, in consequence, but a very small part remained incomplete; and on which they were labouring with their highest application. On the other side of their circle, towards Trogilus, the stones for completing their work had been laid ready in heaps almost down to the beach, and some parts of their work on that side stood but half completed, though others had received the finishing hand. To such extremity of danger were the Syracusans now reduced.

Gylippus and the Syracusans coming thus suddenly upon them, the Athenians at first were struck with consternation; but formed, however, in order of battle, to give them a reception. But Gylippus, having ordered his forces to halt, dispatcheth a herald to the Athenians, proclaiming that, “in case they would evacuate Sicily within the space of five “days, with their arms and baggage, he would readily grant "them a truce." Such offers they received in a contemptuous manner; and, disdaining to return an answer, ordered

About of a mile.

But some of his

+ Nicias (says Plutarch) disdained to return an answer. soldiers laughed outright, and asked, "If, at the arrival of a mantle and "staff from Sparta, the Syracusans were become so full of spirits as to de

66

spise the Athenians; who had lately given up to the Lacedæmonians "three hundred of their countrymen who had been their prisoners, all of "them better soldiers, and who combed their hair, too, much better than "Gylippus."

the herald to move off. And now both sides were busy in marshalling and disposing their men for battle.

But Gylippus, who had made an observation that the Syracusans were in great confusion and could not easily be formed into proper order, made his army fall back into more open ground. Nicias gave them no disturbance whilst they were making this motion; but, without advancing, stood close under his works and, when Gylippus found that the enemy would not move forwards to attack him, he made his forces wheel off to the high-ground called Temenites, where they reposed themselves for the night.

The next morning he drew up the greatest part of his army before the works of the Athenians, to prevent their sending out succours to more distant posts: for he had detached a party to attack the fort of Labdalum, which he carried by storm, and put all the garrison found within it to the sword. Labdalum was so situated, in regard to the Athenian posts, that they could have no view of what was transacting there. The same day also an Athenian trireme, as it was entering the harbour, is taken by the Syra

cusans.

After so much success, the Syracusans and allies set about raising a counterwork along Epipola. Beginning at the city, they carried it upwards towards the single wall which had an oblique inclination; and intended that, in case the Athenians could not stop its completion, it should entirely exclude them from perfecting their circumvallation. The Athenians, having perfected their works to the sea, had now remounted the eminence; and, as some parts of their work were but weak, Gylippus drew out his army by night, and was marching to demolish those: but the Athenians, who passed the night without their works, were no sooner aware of it, than they also marched away to defend them. Upon which, Gylippus, finding them alarmed, desisted, and made his army retreat to their former posts. This however occasioned the Athenians to raise those parts