Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/266

248 248 HISTORY OF GREECE. disordered their ranks, that the Athenians attacked them al great advantage, besides having the higher ground. The Syracusans were driven back to their city with loss, Diomilus with half his regiment being slain ; while the Athenians remained masters of the high ground of Euryalus, as well as of the upper portion of the slope of Epipolce. 1 This was a most important advantage ; indeed, seemingly essential to the successful prosecution of the siege. It was gained by a plan both well laid and well executed, grounded upon the omission of the Syracusans to occupy a post of which they did not at first perceive the importance, and which in fact only acquired its preeminent importance from the new enlargement made by the Syracusans in their fortifications. To that extent, therefore, it depended upon a favorable accident which could not have been reasonably expected to occur. The capture of Syracuse was cer- tain, upon the supposition that the attack and siege of the city had been commenced on the first arrival of the Athenians in the island, without giving time for any improvement in its defensi- bility. But the moment such delay was allowed, success ceased to be certain, depending more or less upon this favorable turn of accident. The Syracusans actually did a great deal to create additional difficulty to the besiegers, and might have done more, especially in regard to the occupation of the high ground above Epipolae. Had they taken this precaution, the effective prose- cution of the siege would have been rendered extremely difficult, if not completely frustrated. On the next morning, Nikias and Lamachus marched their army down the slope of Epipola? near to the Syracusan walls, and offered battle, which the enemy did not accept. They then withdrew the Athenian troops ; after which their first operation was to construct a fort on the high ground called Labdalum, neat the western end of the upper northern cliffs bordering Epipolte. on the brink of the cliff, and looking northward towards Megara. This was intended as a place of security wherein both treasures and stores might be deposited, so as to leave the army unincum- bered in its motions. The Athenian cavalry being now completed by the new arrivals from Egesta, Nikias descended from Labda- TImc"d. vi, 97.