Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/222

 214 ^^'^^ NEJVS FROM EG EST A [vi the Italian Greeks. The Athenian commanders now began to consider how they could best commence operations in Sicily. Meanwhile they were expecting the ships which had gone on and were to meet them from Egesta ; for they wanted to know whether the Egestaeans really had the money of which the messengers had brought information to Athens. 45 From many quarters the news began to reach the The Syracusaus re- Syracusans that the Athenian fleet was solve to defend them- at Rhegium, and the report was con- selves in earnest. firmed by their spies. They now no longer doubted, but fell to work heart and soul. To some of the Sicel towns they sent troops, to others envoys ; they also garrisoned the forts in the territory of Syracuse, and within the city itself inspected the horses and arms, and saw that they were in good condition. In short, they made every preparation, as for a war which was rapidly approaching, and almost at their gates. 46 The three ships which had gone forward to Egesta now T- • t ^ .■ J, ., returned to the Athenians at Rhegium; Tnck practised by the ° ' Egestaeans, who had they reported that of the money which borrowed the plate had been promised thirt}' talents " Only which the Atf,en,an ^^^^ forthcoming and no more. The envoys saw at Egesta. . . ° spirits of the generals fell at once on receiving this their first discouragement. They were also disappointed at the unfavourable answer of the Rhegians, whom they had asked first, and who might naturally have been expected to join them because they were kinsmen of the Lcontines, and had always hitherto been in the Athenian interest. Nicias had expected that the Egest- aeans would fail them '' ; to the two others their behaviour appeared even more incomprehensible than the defection of the Rhegians. The fact was that when the original envoys came from Athens to inspect the treasure, the Egestaeans had practised a trick upon them. They ' ;t'6,ooo. •> Cp. vi. 22 fin.