Page:History of Greece Vol VI.djvu/357

 DEMAND FOR REINFORCEMENTS FROM ATHENS. 335 The arrival of these envoys caused infinite mortification to the Athenians at home. Having expected to hear, long before, that Sphakteria had surrendered, they were now taught to consider even the ultimate conquest as a matter of doubt : they were sur- prised that the Lacedaemonians sent no fresh envoys to solicit peace, and began to suspect that such silence was founded upon well-grounded hopes of being able to hold out. But the person most of all discomposed was Kleon, who observed that the people now regretted their insulting repudiation of the Lacedaemonian message, and were displeased with him as the author of it ; while, on the contrary, his numerous political enemies were rejoiced at the turn which events had taken, as it opened a means of effecting his ruin. At first, Kleon contended that the envoys had misrep- resented the state of facts ; to which the latter replied by entreat- ing, that if their accuracy were mistrusted, commissioners of inspection might be sent to verify it ; and Kleon himself, along with Theogones, was forthwith named for this function. But it did not suit Kleon's purpose to go as commissioner tc Pylus, since his mistrust of the statement was a mere general suspicion, not resting on any positive evidence : moreover, he saw that the dispositions of the assembly tended to comply with the request of Demosthenes, and to despatch a reinforcing arma- ment. He accordingly altered his tone at once : " If ye really believe the story (he said), do not waste time in sending commis- sioners, but sail at once to capture the men. It would be easy with a proper force, if our generals were men (here he pointed reproachfully to his enemy Nikias, then strategus 1 ), to sail and take the soldiers in the island. That is what /at least would do, if / were general." His words instantly provoked a hostile mur- mur from a portion of the assembly : " Why do you not sail then at once, if you think the matter so easy ?" while Nikias, taking 1 Thucyd. iv, 27. Kal if Nix'iav TOV Nt/c^pdrou crrpar^yw of ra uacvev, i^pbf uv Kal kmTi[j.uv ppSiov elvai TrapaaKsvfj, el avdpef ehv ol o", pciTqyol, irfavaavTaf 7iaj3eiv TOV iv TTJ vrjay Kal avrof y' av, el rjpxc, iroiqaai TOVTO. '0 Se NiKiaf TUV re 'Adrjvaiuv ri inro&opoftriauvTuv If TOV Kheuva, OTI oil Kal vvv Trfai, el pg6iov ye avrii4 eivac,