Page:The Ancient City- A Study on the Religion, Laws, and Institutions of Greece and Rome.djvu/298

 292 THE CITY. BOOK. IIL a soklier and so skilful a general. The Athenians cannot take Syracuse, and, after cruel losses, they are forced to decide upon returning home. Nicias pre- pares his fleet for the return ; the sea is still free. But an eclipse of the moon happens. He consults his divin- er ; the diviner answers that the presage is unfavor- able, and that they must wait three times nine days. Nicias obeys ; he passes all this time inactive, offering many sacrifices to appease the wrath of the gods. During this delay the enemy close up the port and destroy his fleet. Nothing is left for him but to retreat by land, and this is impossible. Neither he nor any of his soldiers escapes the Syracusans. What did the Athenians say at the news of this disaster? They knew the persop.al courage of Nicias, and his admirable constancy. Nor did they dream of blaming liim for having Ibllowed the dictates of religion. They found but one thing to reproach him for; this was for having taken with him an ignorant diviner. For this man had been mistaken as to the meaning of the eclipse of the moon ; he ought to have known that, for an army wishing to retreat, a moon that conceals its light is a favorable presage.' ' Plutarch, Nicias, 23.