Page:History of Greece Vol VII.djvu/354

336 S36 HISTORY OF GREECE. -Sicily that can either repulse your attack or expel you if you choose to stay. Be careful yourselves to keep your inarch firm and orderly, every man of you with this conviction, that whatever spot he may be forced to fight in, that spot is his country and his fortress, and must be kept by victorious effort. As our provisions are very scanty, we shall hasten on night and day alike ; and so soon as you reach any friendly village of the Sikels, who still remain constant to us from hatred to Syracuse, then consider yourselves in security. We have sent forward to apprize them, and intreat them to meet us with supplies. Once more, soldiers, recollect that to act like brave men is now a matter of necessity to you, and that if you falter, there is no refuge for you anywhere. Whereas if you now get clear of your enemies, such of you as are not Athenians will again enjoy the sight of home, while such of you as are Athenians will live to renovate the great power of our city, fallen though it now be. It is men that make a city ; not walls, nor ships ivithout men" ' The efforts of both commanders were in full harmony with these strenuous words. The army was distributed into two divisions ; the hoplites marching in a hollow oblong, with the baggage and unarmed in the interior. The front division was commanded by Nikias, the rear by Demosthenes. Directing their course towards the Sikel territory, in the interior of the island, they first marched along the left bank of the Anapus until they came to the ford of that river, which they found guarded by a Syracusan detachment. They forced the passage, however, with- out much resistance, and accomplished on that day a march of about five miles, under the delay arising from the harassing of the enemy's cavalry and light troops. Encamping for that night on an eminence, they recommenced their march with the earliest dawn, and halted, after about two miles and a half, in a deserted village on a plain. They were in hopes of finding some pro- visions in the houses, and were even under the necessity of carry- ing along with them some water from this spot ; there being none to be found farther on. As their intended line of march had now become evident, the Syracusans profited by this halt to get - Thticyd. vii, 77. Avtipef yup irofaf, KOI ov ret^, oi<6e vrjec uvdput