Page:Thucydides, translated into English Vol 2.djvu/337

 8 1, 82] DEMOSTHENES SURRENDERS 329 slowly and in disorder, not having recovered from the panic of the previous night, when they were overtaken by the Syracusans,who immediately fell upon them and fought. Separated as they were from the others, they were easily hemmed in by the Syracusan cavalry and driven into a narrow space. The division of Nicias was now as much as six miles in advance, for he marched faster, thinking that their safety depended at such a time, not in remaining and fighting, if they could avoid it, but in retreating as quickly as they could, and resisting only when they were positively compelled. Demosthenes, on the other hand, who had been more incessantly harassed throughout the retreat, because marching last he was first attacked by the enemy, now, when he saw the Syracusans pursuing him, instead of pressing onward, ranged his army in order of battle. Thus lingering he was surrounded, and he and the Athenians under his command were in the greatest confusion. For they were crushed into a walled en- closure, having a road on both sides and planted thickly with olive-trees, and missiles were hurled at them from all points. The Syracusans naturally preferred this mode of attack to a regular engagement. For to risk themselves against desperate men would have been only playing into the hands of the Athenians. Moreover, every one was sparing of his life ; their good fortune was already assured, and they did not want to fall in the hour of victory. Even by this irregular mode of fighting they thought that they could overpower and capture the Athenians. And so when they had gone on all day assailing them 82 with missiles from every quarter, and saw that they were quite worn out with The tn>ops arc won, •^ . out ; offers of Jrccdotu their wounds and all their other suffer- /„ the islanders gencr- ings, Gylippus and the Syracusans My rejmed. But at made a proclamation, first of all to the ^'f "'' ^^^'f >« '^ ^ dnvcn to capitulate. islanders, that any of them who pleased might come over to them and have their freedom. But z 2