Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/267

 101-103] NARROIV ESCAPE OF NIC/AS 259 the rest of the Athenian army advancing towards them they retreated. Meanwhile the Syracusans who fled first into the city, 102 observing the resistance made by the MeamvMe the Syra- left wing, took courage, and coming cusans attack the de- out drew up against that part of the -'(> led walls onEpipdae, . ,, . ,., . , , , u.hich arc only saved by Athenian line which was opposed to yvvaW^ ^^^/.,^ ^,,^ ^^ them. They also sent a detachment some timber and m- against the wall of circumvallation '-^ on gi"^s. Epipolae, supposing that it was undefended, and might be taken. They did indeed take and demolish the outwork, which was about a thousand feet in length ; but Nicias, who happened to have been left there because he was ill, saved the lines ^ themselves. He commanded the attendants of the camp to set fire to the engines and to the timber which had been left lying in front of the wall, for being without troops he knew that there was no other way of escape. The expedient succeeded ; and in consequence of the fire the Syracusans gave up the attack. The Athenian army too was now hastening from the plain to the sur- rounding wall'"^, with the intention of beating off the enemy ; while the ships, as diey had been ordered, were sailing from Thapsus into the Great Harbour, The Syracusans on the heights, seeing this combined move- ment, quickly retreated, together with the rest of the army, into the city, thinking that with their present force they were no longer able to prevent the completion of the line of wall towards the sea. The Athenians then erected a trophy and restored the 103 Syracusan dead under a flag of truce. Despair 0/ the Syra- The Syracusans delivered to them the cusans at the progress bodies of Lamachus and his com-, '^■!^t- ■ '^-^ y*^' ley with Nicias, and are panions. The whole Athenian forces, suspicious of their gene- both naval and military, were now on rals ivhom they depose. the spot, and they proceeded to cut off the Syracusans " Or ' the circle.'