Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/321

303 DECISIVE PLAN OF DEMOSTHENES. 303 He saw that the Syracusans were strong in multiplied allies, extended fortifications, a leader of great ability, and general be- lief that theirs was the winning cause. Moreover, he felt deeply the position of Athens at home, and her need of all her citizens against enemies within sight of her own walls. But above all, he came penetrated with the deplorable effects which had resulted from the mistake of Nikias, in wasting irreparably so much precious time, and frittering away the first terror-striking impres- sion of his splendid armament. All these considerations de termined Demosthenes to act, without a moment's delay and while the impression produced by his arrival was yet unimpaired, and to aim one great and decisive blow, such as might, if successful, make the conquest of Syracuse again probable. If this should fail, he resolved to abandon the whole enterprise, and return home with his armament forthwith. 1 By means of the Athenian lines, he had possession of the southernmost portion of the slope of Epipolae. But all along that slope from east to west, immediately in front or to the north of his position, stretched the counter-wall built by the Syracusans ; beginning at the city wall on the lowest ground, and reaching up first in a northwesterly, next in a westerly direction, until it joined the fort on the upper ground near the cliff, where the road from Euryalus down to Syracuse passed. The Syracusans, as de- fenders, were on the north side of this counter-wall ; he and the Athenians on the south side. It was a complete bar to his prog- ress, nor could he stir a step without making himself master of it : towards which end there were only two possible means, either to storm it in front, or to turn it from its western extremity by marching round up to the Euryalus. He began by trying t he first method ; but the wall was abundantly manned and vigor- ously defended ; his battering machines were all burnt or dis- qualified, and every attempt which he made was completely repulsed. 2 There then remained only the second method, to turn the wall, ascending by circuitous roads to the heights of Eurya- ius behind it, and then attacking the fort in which it terminated. But the march necessary for this purpose, first, up the valley of the Anapus, visible from the Syracusan pests above ; next, ' Tlnipyil. vii, 42. 2 Thucyd. vii. 43