Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/280

 272 A SECOND EXPEDITION DECREED [vil another army from Peloponnesus, it is time that you We have done our should make up your minds. For the duty, bttn/ie enemy and troops which we hav€ here certainly t/ieir allies are too much 1. l 1 j i. ■ ^ f J ■ u J cannot hold out even against our pre- for us ; I am sick and _ ° ' want to resign. What- Sent enemies, and therefore you ought ever you do, do quickly, either to recall us or to send another army and fleet as large as this, and plenty of money. You should also send a general to succeed me, for I have a disease in the kidneys and cannot remain here. I claim your indulgence; while I retained my health I often did you good service when in command. But do whatever you mean to do at the very beginning of spring, and let there be no delay. The enemy will obtain reinforcements in Sicily without going far, and although the troops from Peloponnesus will not arrive so soon, yet if you do not take care they will elude you ; their movements will either be too secret for you, as they were before '^ or too quick.' 16 Such was the condition of affairs described in the letter The Athenians re- of Nicias. The Athenians, after hear- solve to send a second jng it read, did not release Nicias from expedition, of ivhich De- 1 • j u 1. iU • • j vi u* ^ ,, J rr his command, but they lomed with hmi tnosthenes and Eiiry- ' •' •' medon are appointed two officers who Were already in Sicily, commanders. Menander and Euthydemus, until regular colleagues could be elected and sent out, for they did not wish him to bear the burden in his sickness alone. They also resolved to send a second fleet and an army of Athenians taken from the muster-roll and of allies. As colleagues to Nicias they elected Demosthenes the son of Alcisthenes, and Eurymedon the son of Thucles. Eury- medon was despatched immediately to Sicily about the winter solstice ; he took with him ten ships conveying a hundred and twenty ^' talents of silver, and was to tell the army in Sicily that they should receive assistance and 17 should not be neglected. Demosthenes remained behind, • Cp. vii. 2 init. *• C 24,000.