Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/224

 2l6 OPINIONS OF THE GENERALS [vi itself. But they should not throw away their own re- sources and imperil the safety of Athens. 48 Alcibiades urged that it would be a disgrace to have ,, , gone forth with so great an armament Alabtades ivotild do ° 1 • • more; he ivould attack and to return without achieving any- both Selinus and Syya- thing. They should Send envoys to cuse, first gaming over ^^ ^^j^ ^f Sicily, with the exception the other Sicilian states. r r~. y ir^ i- 1 ij of Selinus and Syracuse; they should also negotiate with the Sicels, making friends of the independent tribes, and persuading the rest to revolt from the Syracusans. They would thus obtain supplies and reinforcements. They should first appeal to the Messen- ians, whose city being on the highway of traffic was the key of Sicily, and possessed a harbour from which the Athenian forces could most conveniently watch the enemy. Finally, when they had brought the cities over to them and knew who would be on their side in the war, they should attack Selinus and Syracuse, unless the Selinuntians would come to terms with the Egestaeans, and the Syracusans would permit the restoration of the Leontines. 49 Lamachus was of opinion that they ought to sail direct Lamachus thinks to Syracuse, and fight as soon as pos- that the Athenians sible under the walls of the city, while should sail to Syraaise ^^^ inhabitants Were unprepared and and fight at once. They ' ' should establish their ^ic consternation was at its height. fleet at Mcgara. He argucd that all armies are most terrible at first ; if the appearance of them is long de- layed the spirits of men revive, and, when they actually come, the sight of them only awakens contempt". If the Athenians could strike suddenly, while their opponents were still in fear and suspense, that would be the best chance of victory. Not only the sight of the armament which would never seem so numerous again, but the near approach of suffering, and above all the immediate peril of battle, would create a panic among the enemy. Many Cp. vii. 4a mcd.