Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/174

156 l, r )6 HISTORY OF GREECE not merely of maritime combat, but of keeping open comrnuniea lion at sea, and insuring the importation of subsistence. But there must besides be a large force of hoplites, bowmen, and slingers, a large stock of provisions in transports, and, above all, an abundant amount of money : for the funds promised by the Egestaeans would be found mere empty delusion. The army must be not simply a match for the enemy's regular hoplites and powerful cavalry, but also independent of foreign aid from the first day of their landing. 1 If not, in case of the least reverse, they would find everywhere nothing but active enemies, without a single friend. " I know (he concluded) that there are many dangers against which we must take precaution, and many more in which we must trust to good fortune, serious as it is for mere men to do so. But I choose to leave as little as possible in the power of fortune, and to have in hand all means of reasonable security at the time when I leave Athens. Looking merely to the interests of the commonwealth, this is the most assured course ; while to us who are to form the armament, it is indispensable for preservation. If any man thinks differently, I resign to him the command." 2 The effect of this second speech of Nikias on the assembly, coming as it did after a long and contentious debate, was much greater than that which had been produced by his first. But it was an effect totally opposite to that which he himself had anticipated and intended. Far from being discouraged or alien- ated from the expedition by those impediments which he had stu- diously magnified, the people only attached themselves to it with yet greater obstinacy. The difficulties which stood in the way of Sicilian conquest served but to endear it to them the more, call- ing forth increased ardor and eagerness for personal exertion in the cause. The people not only accepted, without hesitation or deduction, the estimate which Nikias had laid before them of 1 Thucyd. vi, 22. Sovfavaaadai, In de tr^eiu evrv^oat (x a ^ f ff d v ^e av&puirovf 6 li- ra f), on e/MXiara ry Ti>xy irapadoiif i-/j.avrbv (3ovA.ofj.ai iKirfa Sc uirtj TUV elxoruv uaQalTj? eKTrhti-aai. Tavra yap ry re frfrrra 3e/3a<6rara fyyovfiai, nai TJJUV rol( aryaTsvao/j-ivoif aurqpia' el te sl, naoiriui air^i rqv apynv.
 * Thucyd. vi, 23. unep tyti <po : 3ovfiEi of, KO.I el6iJ iroTJ^a fj.lv 7///d( Aeov