Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War 6.88

[1] Thus spake Euphemus. The Camarinaeans stood thus affected: they bare good will to the Athenians, save that they thought they meant to subjugate Sicily; and were ever at strife with the Syracusians about their borders. Yet because they were afraid that the Syracusians, that were near them, might as well get the victory as the other, they had both formerly sent them some few horse, and also now resolved for the future to help the Syracusians, but underhand and as sparingly as possible; and withal that they might no less seem to favour the Athenians than the Syracusians, especially after they had won a battle, to give for the present an equal answer unto both.

[2] So after deliberation had, they answered thus: that forasmuch as they that warred were both of them their confederates, they thought it most agreeable to their oath for the present to give aid to neither.

[3] And so the ambassadors of both sides went their ways. And the Syracusians made preparations for the war by themselves. The Athenians, being encamped at Naxos, treated with the Siculi to procure as many of them as they might to their side.

[4] Of whom, such as inhabited the plain and were subject to the Syracusians for the most part held off; but they that dwelt in the most inland parts of the island, being a free people, and ever before dwelling in villages, presently agreed with the Athenians, and brought corn into the army, and some of them also money.

[5] To those that held off the Athenians went with their army; and some they forced to come in and others they hindered from receiving the aids and garrisons of the Syracusians. And having brought their fleet from Naxos, where it had been all the winter till now, they lay the rest of the winter at Catana and re-erected their camp formerly burnt by the Syracusians.

[6] They sent a galley also to Carthage to procure amity and what help they could from thence; and into Hetruria, because some cities there had of their own accord promised to take their parts. They sent likewise to the Siculi about them and to Egesta, appointing them to send in all the horse they could, and made ready bricks and iron and whatsoever else was necessary for a siege, and every other thing they needed, as intending to fall in hand with the war early the next spring.

[7] The ambassadors of Syracuse which were sent to Corinth and Lacedaemon, as they sailed by, endeavoured also to move the Italians to a regard of this action of the Athenians.

[8] Being come to Corinth, they spake unto them and demanded aid upon the title of consanguinity. The Corinthians, having forthwith for their own part decreed cheerfully to aid them, sent also ambassadors from themselves along with these to Lacedaemon to help them to persuade the Lacedaemonians both to make a more open war against the Athenians at home and to send some forces also into Sicily.

[9] At the same time that these ambassadors were at Lacedaemon from Corinth, Alcibiades was also there with his fellow fugitives, who presently upon their escape passed over from Thurii first to Cyllene, the haven of the Eleians, in a ship, and afterwards went thence to Lacedaemon, sent for by the Lacedaemonians themselves, under public security.

[10] For he feared them for his doings about Mantineia. And it fell out that in the assembly of the Lacedaemonians the Corinthians, Syracusians, and Alcibiades made all of them the same request. Now the ephores and magistrates, though intending to send ambassadors to Syracuse to hinder them from compounding with the Athenians, being yet not forward to send them aid, Alcibiades stood forth and sharpened the Lacedaemonians, inciting them with words to this effect:

[1] Such were the words of Euphemus. What the Camarinaeans felt was this. Sympathising with the Athenians, except in so far as they might be afraid of their subjugating Sicily , they had always been at enmity with their neighbour Syracuse . From the very fact, however, that they were their neighbours, they feared the Syracusans most of the two, and being apprehensive of their conquering even without them, both sent them in the first instance the few horsemen mentioned, and for the future determined to support them most in fact, although as sparingly as possible; but for the moment in order not to seem to slight the Athenians, especially as they had been successful in the engagement, to answer both alike.

[2] Agreeably to this resolution they answered that as both the contending parties happened to be allies of theirs, they thought it most consistent with their oaths, at present, to side with neither; with which answer the ambassadors of either party departed.

[3] In the meantime, while Syracuse pursued her preparations for war, the Athenians were encamped at Naxos , and tried by negotiation to gain as many of the Sicels as possible.

[4] Those more in the low lands, and subjects of Syracuse , mostly held aloof; but the peoples of the interior who had never been otherwise than independent, with few exceptions, at once joined the Athenians, and brought down corn to the army, and in some cases even money.

[5] The Athenians marched against those who refused to join, and forced some of them to do so; in the case of others they were stopped by the Syracusans sending garrisons and reinforcements. Meanwhile the Athenians moved their winter quarters from Naxos to Catana , and reconstructed the camp burnt by the Syracusans, and stayed there the rest of the winter.

[6] They also sent a galley to Carthage , with proffers of friendship, on the chance of obtaining assistance, and another to Tyrrhenia; some of the cities there having spontaneously offered to join them in the war. They also sent round to the Sicels and to Egesta , desiring them to send them as many horses as possible, and meanwhile prepared bricks, iron, and all other things necessary for the work of circumvallation, intending by the spring to begin hostilities.

[7] In the meantime the Syracusan envoys despatched to Corinth and Lacedaemon tried as they passed along the coast to persuade the Italiots to interfere with the proceedings of the Athenians, which threatened Italy quite as much as Syracuse , and having arrived at Corinth made a speech calling on the Corinthians to assist them on the ground of their common origin.

[8] The Corinthians voted at once to aid them heart and soul themselves, and then sent on envoys with them to Lacedaemon , to help them to persuade her also to prosecute the war with the Athenians more openly at home and to send succors to Sicily .

[9] The envoys from Corinth having reached Lacedaemon found there Alcibiades with his fellow-refugees, who had at once crossed over in a trading vessel from Thurii , first to Cyllene in Elis , and afterwards from thence to Lacedaemon ; upon the Lacedaemonians' own invitation, after first obtaining a safe conduct, as he feared them for the part he had taken in the affair of Mantinea .

[10] The result was that the Corinthians, Syracusans, and Alcibiades, pressing all the same request in the assembly of the Lacedaemonians, succeeded in persuading them; but as the Ephors and the authorities, although resolved to send envoys to Syracuse to prevent their surrendering to the Athenians, showed no disposition to send them any assistance, Alcibiades now came forward and inflamed and stirred the Lacedaemonians by speaking as follows:—

So redete Euphemos. Die Kamariner aber waren in
einer eigenen Lage. Sie waren den Athenern geneigt, nur
daß sie befürchteten, sie wollten sich Sizilien unterwerfen, mit
den Syrakusern dagegen als Grenznachbarn beständig im Streit.
Außerdem befürchteten sie, die Syrakuser hier in ihrer Nähe
könnten wohl auch ohne sie die Oberhand behalten; deshalb
schickten sie ihnen damals zuerst die wenigen Reiter und be­
schlossen, sie auch künftig wirklich noch weiter, doch nur mit
möglichst wenigen Truppen zu unterstützen, vorläufig aber, um
es, zumal nach der gewonnenen Schlacht, auch mit den Athenern
nicht zu verderben, beiden eine gleichlautende Antwort zu er­
teilen. Nachdem sie das beschlossen, antworteten sie dann
auch, da sie beide ihre Bundesgenossen und jetzt miteinander
im Kriege wären, so hielten sie es ihrem Eide nach für ihre
Pflicht, für jetzt neutral zu bleiben. Hierauf reisten die Ge­
sandten beider Teile wieder ab.

Die Syrakuser rüsteten jetzt, was sie konnten, zum Kriege.
Die Athener aber im Lager bei Naxos verhandelten mit den
Sikelern, um sie möglichst alle auf ihre Seite zu ziehen. Bei
den Sikelern in der Ebene, welche unter syrakusischer Herr­
schaft standen, gelang ihnen das allerdings nur ausnahmsweise.
Die Bewohner des Binnenlandes aber, welche auch früher
schon immer unabhängig gewesen waren, schlossen sich fast alle
sogleich den Athenern an und versahen das Heer nicht nur
mit Lebensmitteln, sondern auch hin und wieder mit Geld.
Diejenigen, welche sich ihnen nicht freiwillig anschlössen, wurden
von den Athenern zum Teil mit Waffengewalt dazu ge­
zwungen, während ihnen das bei anderen nicht gelang, weil
sie daran auch durch die Syrakuser, die ihnen Truppen zu
Hilfe schickten, verhindert wurden. Für den Winter gingen sie
mit der Flotte von Naxos nach Katana, stellten ihr von den
Syrakusern verbranntes Lager wieder her und überwinterten
dort. Nach Karthago schickten sie eine Triere, um dort ein
Bündnis anzuregen und zu sehen, ob man dort vielleicht etwas
für sie tun werde. Sie schickten auch nach Tyrsenien, wo sich
einige Städte sogar von selbst erboten hatten, sich am Kriege
zu beteiligen. Ringsherum an die Sikeler und nach Egesta
sandten sie Befehl, ihnen so viel Pferde wie möglich zu schicken.
Auch versahen sie sich mit Ziegeln, Eisen und allem, waS sie
weiter zur Einschließung der Stadt bedurften, um gleich mit
Beginn deS Frühjahrs die Feindseligkeiten wieder zu er­
öffnen. ¹

Die nach Korinth und Lakedämon bestimmten Gesandten der
Syrakuser suchten bei der Gelegenheit auch die Griechenstädte
in Italien, die sie auf ihrer Fahrt berührten, zu überreden,
sich vor der auch ihnen von den Athenern drohenden Gefahr
nicht zu verschließen. Als sie in Korinth angekommen waren,
trugen sie dort ihr Anliegen vor, daß man ihnen als Stammes­
genossen zu Hilfe kommen möge. Auch beschlossen die Korinther
nicht allein zuerst gleich selbst, sie kräftig zu unterstützen, sondern
schickten auch Gesandte mit ihnen nach Lakedämon, um sich
auch dort mit dafür einzulegen, daß man nicht nur hier mit
dem Kriege gegen die Athener Ernst machen, sondern auch
eine ansehnliche Kriegsmacht nach Sizilien schicken müsse.
Gleichzeitig mit den Gesandten aus Korinth war auch Alki­
biades mit seinen Leidensgefährten in Lakedämon eingetroffen.
Er war gleich damals aus Thurien auf einem Frachtschiffe
zunächst nach Kyllene in Elis hinübergefahren und dann später
infolge einer von den Lakedämoniern selbst an ihn ergangenen
Einladung unter freiem Geleit nach Lakedämon gekommen.
Denn sonst hätte er ihnen nicht getraut, weil er ihnen in den
mantine'ishcen Händeln den Streich gespielt hatte. Und nun
traf es sich, daß Alkibiades in der Versammlung der Lake­
dämonier ihnen dasselbe riet, wozu die Korinther und die
Syrakuser sie zu bewegen suchten. Als hierauf die Ephoren
und die übrigen Beamten zwar Gesandte nach Syrakus schicken
wollten, um die Übergabe der Stadt an die Athener abzu­
wenden, aber keine Neigung zeigten, den Syrakusern auch zu
Hilfe zu kommen, trat Alkibiades auf und suchte die Lake­
dämonier durch folgende Rede scharfzumachen und in Tritt zu
bringen.

LXXXVIII. Ainsi parla Euphémos. Les Camarinéens se trouvaient dans la situation suivante : d’un côté ils étaient bien disposés pour les Athéniens, à part les soupçons qu’ils pouvaient avoir contre eux de vouloir subjuguer la Sicile; de l’autre ils avaient, en qualité de voisins, de perpétuels différends avec les Syracusains. Néanmoins, craignant que les Syracusains, dont ils étaient limitrophes, ne fussent victorieux même sans leur secours, ils leur avaient envoyé, comme nous l’avons vu, un petit nombre de cavaliers, et se réservaient pour l’avenir de les aider de préférence, quoique avec toute la réserve possible. Mais pour le moment, ne voulant pas paraître traiter avec moins de faveur les Athéniens, qui avaient eu l’avantage dans le combat, ils résolurent de faire même réponse aux uns et aux autres : cette décision prise, ils déclarèrent qu’étant alliés des deux peuples qui se trouvaient en guerre, ils croiraient manquer à leurs serments dans cette circonstance, s’ils ne gardaient entre eux la neutralité. Les députés des deux partis se retirèrent.

Pendant que les Syracusains faisaient de leur côté leurs préparatifs de guerre, les Athéniens, campés à Naxos, traitaient avec les Sicèles, pour en attirer le plus grand nombre possible à leur parti : ceux de la plaine, sujets des Syracusains, firent défection pour la plupart; les tribus de l’intérieur, qui étaient toujours restées jusque-là indépendantes, s’étaient aussitôt ralliées aux Athéniens, à part un petit nombre, et fournissaient des vivres à l’armée, quelques-unes même des subsides. Les Athéniens marchèrent contre ceux qui ne passaient pas à leur parti, réduisirent les uns, et interceptèrent les garnisons et les secours que les Syracusains faisaient passer aux autres. Pendant l’hiver, ils transportèrent leur station de Naxos à Catane, rétablirent leur camp incendié par les Syracusains et y prirent leurs quartiers. Ils envoyèrent une trirème à Carthage, pour nouer des relations et tâcher d’obtenir quelque secours. Ils envoyèrent aussi en Tyrsénie, où quelques villes avaient promis le concours de leurs armes. Des messages furent expédiés de toutes parts aux Sicèles et à Égesle, pour demander qu’on leur envoyât le plus possible de chevaux. Enfin ils préparèrent des briques, du fer, tout ce qui était nécessaire pour une circonvallation, de manière à commencer la guerre à l’entrée du printemps.

Les députés syracusains envoyés à Corinthe et à Lacédémone s’efforcèrent, en passant, de décider les peuples italiotes à se préoccuper des entreprises des Athéniens, qui, disaient-ils, étaient tout aussi bien dirigées contre eux-mêmes. Arrivés à Corinthe, ils exposèrent leur mission et demandèrent des secours au nom de leur commune origine. Les Corinthiens, après avoir premièrement décrété eux-mêmes de leur venir en aide de tous leurs moyens, envoyèrent avec eux des députés aux Lacédémoniens pour les décider de leur côté à pousser plus ouvertement les hostilités contre les Athéniens en Grèce et à envoyer quelque secours en Sicile. Les députés de Corinthe se rencontrèrent à Lacédémone avec Alcibiade : il avait passé tout d’abord avec ses compagnons d’exil de Thurium à Cyllène en Élide, sur un bâtiment de charge; de là il était venu ensuite à Lacédémone, mandé par les Lacédémoniens eux-mêmes, mais sous garantie. Car il les craignait à cause de la part qu’il avait prise aux affaires de Manlinée. Dans l’assemblée des Lacédémoniens, il se trouva que les Corinthiens, les Syracusains et Alcibiade s’accordèrent à faire les mêmes demandes : les éphores et les magistrats songeaient à envoyer des députés aux Syracusains pour les empêcher d’entrer en accommodement avec Athènes; mais ils était peu disposés à les secourir, lorsque Alcibiade, s’était avancé, sut aiguillonner et piquer les Lacédémoniens par ces paroles :

Tel fut le discours d’Euphémos. Les Camari-néens ne savaient à quoi se résoudre. D’une part, ils étaient favorablement disposés pour les Athéniens — abstraction faite des vues qu’ils leur prêtaient sur la Sicile — et, en qualité de voisins, ils avaient d’éternels démêlés avec les Syracusains ; d’autre part, ils craignaient que ceux-ci ne se passassent de leur secours, et qu’à eux seuls ils ne sortissent victorieux de la lutte. Aussi leur avaient-ils envoyé un premier renfort de quelques cavaliers, et ils se proposaient de les aider plus efficacement, quoique avec toute la réserve possible. Toutefois, pour ne témoigner aucun mauvais vouloir aux Athéniens, surtout depuis leur récent avantage, ils jugèrent à propos de faire la même réponse aux deux partis. Ils déclarèrent que, se trouvant alliés des uns et des autres, ils croiraient manquer à leurs serments si, dans l’état actuel des choses, ils se départaient d’une stricte neutralité. Les députés se retirèrent.

Pendant ce temps, les Syracusains continuaient leurs préparatifs de défense. Les Athéniens, campés à Naxos, faisaient des démarches auprès des Sicules, pour en attirer le plus possible à leur parti. Ceux de la plaine, pour la plupart sujets de Syracuse, se tenaient à l’écart ; mais ceux de l’intérieur, qui - de tout temps avaient joui de l’indépendance, étaient, à peu d’exceptions près, avec les Athéniens. Ils apportaient des vivres à l'armée, quelques-uns même de l’argent. Les Athéniens mar-' chèrent contre les récalcitrants et en contraignirent un certain nombre ; les Syracusains, qui envoyaient de tous côtés des garnisons et des renforts, les empêchèrent de venir à bout du reste. Durant l’hiver, les Athéniens se transportèrent de Naxos à Catane, rétablirent les baraquements incendiés par les Syracusains, et s’y logèrent pour la fin de la saison. Ils firent partir une trirème pour Carthage, dans le but de faire amitié et d’obtenir, s’il se pouvait, quelques secours. Ils députèrent pareillement en Tyrrhénie, où certaines villes promettaient leur coopération. Us demandèrent aux Sicules et aux Égestains de leur fournir le plus possible de chevaux. Enfin ils firent provision de briques, de fer et de tous les objets nécessaires pour les travaux du siège, dans le dessein de commencer les opérations dès le printemps.

Les députés syracusains, partis pour Corinthe et Lacédémone, essayèrent, sur leur passage, d’éclairer les Grecs d’Italie sur les entreprises des Athéniens, et de leur faire comprendre qu’elles les menaçaient également. Arrivés à Corinthe, ils exposèrent l'objet de leur mission, firent valoir leur communauté d’origine, et réclamèrent des secours qu’ils obtinrent sans difficulté ; puis ils partirent pour Lacédémone avec des députés corinthiens, qui devaient presser les Lacédémoniens d’activer la guerre contre Athènes et de faire parvenir dès renforts en Sicile. A Lacédémone, ces députés se rencontrèrent avec Alcibiade. Celui-ci, en quittant Thurii avec ses compagnons d’exil sur un bâtiment de transport, avait d’abord passé à Cyllènè en Élide ; puis, sur l’invitation expresse des Lacédémoniens , il s’était rendu à Sparte, muni d’un sauf-conduit ; car il n’était pas sans inquiétude, à cause de la part qu’il avait prise dans l’affaire de Mantinée. Les députés de Corinthe et de Syracuse se trouvèrent d’accord avec lui pour adresser les mêmes sollicitations aux Lacédémoniens, qu’ils réussirent à persuader. Jusque-là les éphores et les magistrats avaient bien eu l’intention de députer aux Syracusains pour les détourner défaire un accommodement avec Athènes, mais ils n'étaient pas décidés à les secourir. Alcibiade parut dans rassemblée, et entraîna les Lacédémoniens par le discours suivant :

[1] Thus Euphemus spoke. But what the Camarinaeans had felt was this: They were well disposed to the Athenians, except in so far as they thought that these would enslave Sicily; but with the Syracusans, as is usual with next-door neighbours, they were always at variance. And it was because they were more afraid of the Syracusans, as being so near, that they had in the first instance sent them the few horsemen, ¹ lest they might prove superior to the Athenians even without their aid; and they now resolved for the future to keep on giving to them rather than to the Athenians assistance in fact, though as moderately as possible, and for the present, in order that they might not seem to show less favour to the Athenians, especially since these had proved the stronger in the battle, to give in word the same answer to both.

[2] Having thus determined, they made answer, that, as they were allies of both parties that were at war, it seemed to them to be consistent with their oath to aid neither at present.

[3] So the envoys of both sides went away.
  The Syracusans on their side were getting ready for the war, while the Athenians who were encamped at Naxos were negotiating with the Sicels, in the effort to bring over as many of them as possible.

[4] Now, of the Sicels that lived more toward the flat country and were subjects of the Syracusans not many ² had revolted; but the Sicel settlements in the interior, which even before had always been independent, with few exceptions straightway sided with the Athenians, bringing down grain for the army and in some cases money also.

[5] Against those that did not come over the Athenians took the field, and compelled some to do so, but were kept from compelling others by the Syracusans, who sent garrisons to their relief. Removing also the anchorage of their fleet from Naxos to Catana, and restoring the camp which had been burned by the Syracusans, they passed the winter there.

[6] They sent also a trireme to Carthage on a mission of friendship, in the hope that they might be able to get some aid; and they sent one also to Tyrrhenia, as some of the cities there offered of themselves to join them in the war. They also despatched messengers to the various Sicel tribes, and sending to Egesta urged them to send as many horses as possible;

[7] and they were getting ready for the circumvallation bricks and iron and whatever else was needful, with a view to taking the war in hand as soon as spring opened.
  Meanwhile the Syracusan envoys, who had been sent to Corinth and Lacedaemon, as they sailed along the coast tried to persuade the Italiots ³ not to tolerate the conduct of the Athenians, as the plot was aimed equally against them;

[8] and when they reached Corinth they made an appeal to the Corinthians, urging them to send them aid on grounds of kinship. And the Corinthians at once took the lead in voting to aid them with all zeal themselves, and also sent envoys along with them to Lacedaemon, to help in persuading them not only to prosecute the war at home more openly against the Athenians, but also to send aid in some form to Sicily.

[9] Accordingly there were present at Lacedaemon these envoys from Corinth, and also Alcibiades with his fellow-exiles. He had, at the time of which we have spoken, ⁴ at once crossed over on a freight-boat from Thuria, going first to Cyllene in Elis, and had afterwards, on the summons of the Lacedaemonians themselves, come to Lacedaemon under safe-conduct;

[10] for he feared them on account of his intrigues in the affair of the Mantineans. So it happened that in the Lacedaemonian assembly the Syracusans, the Corinthians, and Alcibiades, making the same appeal, were prevailing upon the Lacedaemonians. The ephors indeed and others in authority were already intending to send envoys to Syracuse to prevent their making terms with the Athenians, but were not disposed to send them aid; Alcibiades, however, coming forward, inflamed the Lacedaemonians and goaded them on, speaking as follows:

[1] To this effect spoke Euphemus. Now the Camarinaeans had felt on the subject as follows: Towards the Athenians they were well inclined, except so far as they might think that they would subjugate Sicily, but with the Syracusans they had always, in the spirit of borderers, been at variance. Being, however, more afraid of the Syracusans, who were close at hand, lest they might, even without their assistance, gain the ascendency, they both sent them in the first instance that small body of horse, and determined for the future to do more actual service for the Syracusans, (though as sparingly as possible;) but for the present, that they might not seem to show less respect for the Athenians—since they had even proved the stronger in the battle—they resolved to give a verbal answer that should be fair to both parties.

[2] Having, therefore, adopted this counsel, they answered,

[3] And so the ambassadors on each side returned.

The Syracusans were now preparing their forces for war, while the Athenians encamped at Naxos were negotiating with the Sicels, to get as many as possible to join

[4] them. Now such of the Sicels as lived more on the plains, and who were subject to the Syracusans, in most cases stood aloof from them; but those who occupied the interior, their homes having before this always been independent, immediately, with a very few exceptions, sided with the Athenians, and carried down corn for the army, and in some cases money

[5] also. Against those who did not come over to them the Athenians made an expedition, and compelled some, but were prevented from compelling others by the Syracusans' sending them garrisons, and coming to their aid. Having moved their station for the winter from Naxos to Catana, and having raised again the camp which had been burned down by the Syracusans, they remained there the rest of that

[6] season. They sent at this time a trireme to Carthage with proposals of friendship, on the chance of their obtaining any help, and another to Tyrrhenia, as some of its cities had of their own accord offered to join them in the war. They also despatched messengers about to the Sicels, and likewise to Segesta, desiring that they would forward to them as many horses as

[7] possible; while they also prepared for the circumvallation bricks, iron, and all other requisites, intending to commence hostilities in the spring. The Syracusan ambassadors, on the other hand, who had been despatched to Corinth and Lacedaemon, both endeavoured, as they coasted along, to persuade the Greeks of Italy not to look with in difference on the proceedings of the Athenians, since they were aimed equally at themselves, and when they were come to Corinth, delivered an address to them, begging for assistance on the ground of their

[8] connexion. The Corinthians immediately, in the first place, themselves voted to assist them with the greatest zeal, and then sent envoys with them to Lacedaemon, to join in persuading that people also both to carry on the war with the Athenians more openly at home, and to send succours to

[9] Sicily. Accordingly the ambassadors from Corinth came to Lacedaemon, and Alcibiades also, with his fellow exiles, who had crossed straightway on board a vessel of burden from Thuria to Cyllene, in the Elean territory, in the first instance, and then afterwards, when the Lacedaemonians themselves had sent for him, proceeded to Lacedaemon under

[10] treaty; for he was afraid of them, owing to the part he had taken in the Mantinean business. And the result was. that in the Lacedaemonian assembly the Corinthians, the Syracusans, and Alcibiades, by urging the same request, prevailed on the people there. But when the ephors and the authorities, though they purposed sending ambassadors to Syracuse, to urge them to make no terms with the Athenians, were not disposed to assist them, Alcibiades came forward, and exasperated and instigated the Lacedaemonians by addressing them as follows:

[1] Atque haec contra Euphemus dixit Cama· rinaei vero sic animis erant affecti. Atheniensibus quidem erant lienevoli, nisi quatenus eos subacturos Siciliam suspicabantur, cum Syracusanis vero semper pro agrorum vicinitate controversias habebant; quum tamen Syracusanos, qui vidni erant, non minus formidarent, ne vel sine suis auxiliis superiores evaderent, et antea paucos illos equites iis miserant, et in posterum auxilia quidem subministrare placebat potius Syracusanis re ipsa, quam parcissime possent, ut praesentia vero ne Atheniensibus mious tribuisse viderentur, praesertim quod ex proelio victores discessissent, verbis respousum par utrisque dare.

[2] Quum autem sic statuissent, responderunt: quoniam bellum geratur inter illos, qui utrique sibi socii sint, videri sibi aequum esse, in praesentia neu Iris opem ferre. Atque utrorumque legati sic abierunt.

[3] Et Syracusani quidem res suas ad bellum apparaliaet; Atlienienses vero, qui apud Naxum staliva habebant, apud Siculos agebant, ut quam plurimi ad se transirent.

[4] Et Siculorum quidem illi praecipue, qui campestria loca incolebant, et qui Syracusanorum imperio parebant, plerique ab Atheniensium societate abhorrebant; illorum vero, qui loca mediterranea tenebant , conciliabota, quae etiam antea semper libera erant, exceptis paucis seseconfestim Atheniensibus adjunxeruut, et commeatum ad illorum exercitum comportarunt, quidam et pecunias.

[5] Athenienses veru bellum illis inferentes, qui suam societatem sequi recusabant, partim quidem vi coegerunt,' partim vero ne cogerent, a Syracusanis praesidia mittentibus et opem ferentibus arcebantur. Iidem per hiemem Naxo Catanam translata navium statione castra, quae a Syracusanis incensa erant, rursus excitarunt et illic hiemarunt.

[6] Triremem autem amicitiae conciliandae causa Carthaginem miserant, si quod auxilium illinc impetrare possent; miserant etiam in He-truriam, quia nonnullae civitates ultro se belli socias fure spoponderant. Nuntios etiam ad Siculos circummittebant, et Egestam missis legatis imperabant, ut sibi quam plurimos equos mitterent, et cetera ad urbis ctrcumvallaUonem necessaria , lateres et ferrum, praeparabant, ut vere statim fe-cunte bellum capessituri.

[7] Syracusanorum vero legali, qui Corinthum et Lacedae-monem missi erant, oram Italiae praetervehentes Italis persuadere conabantur, ne negligerent ea, quae ab Atheniensibus fierent, quod et in illorum perniciem haec pariter struerentur, et quum Corinthum pervenissent, verba faciebant, postulantes, ut pro cognationis jure sibi auxilium ferrent.

[8] Atque Corinthii confestim ipsi primi decreverunt omni studio succurrendum, et cum iis legatos Lacedamonem mittebant, quo his quoque persuaderent, ut et illic beti uro apertius gererent adversus Athenienses, et aliquod auxilium in Siciliam mitterent.

[9] Et Corinthii legati Lacedaemone aderant, et simul etiam Alcibiades cum exsilii Sociis, qui tunc statim quo dixi tempore in fuga advectus navi oneraria cx agro Thurio primum ad Cyllenen agri Elei, mox deinde Laccd.vinonem, ab ipsis Lacedaemoniis accitus, data publica (ide profeclus erat; metuebat enim illos propter res ad Mantineam gestas.

[10] Contigit autem, ut in Lacedaemoniorum concione et Corinlliii et Syracusani et Alcibiades eadem rogantes Lacedaemoniis persuaderent. Et quum ephori et magistratus in animo haberent legatos mittere Syracusas, ut impedirent, ne cum Atheniensibus paciscerentur, nec tamen ad opem ferendam animo essent prompto, Alcibiades in medium progressus exacuebat Lacedaemonios et excitavit hujusmodi verbis :

Tali cose disse Eufemo, ed i Cauiarinesi erano cosi affetti dell’animo : per una parte volevan bene agli Ateniesi, se non in quanto sospettavano die volessero soggiogar la Sicilia; per l’altra erano sempre in discordia co’Siracusani per causa de’confin!. E siccome temevano non di meno che questi co’quali vicinavano, ottenessero vittoria anche senza loro , così da prima aveano mandato ad essi pochi cavalli, ed erano risoluti d'aiutarli in seguito il più mezzanamente che si potesse coi fatti. Ma nel caso presente per non parere d’essersi raffreddati in benevolenza verso gli Ateniesi, tanto più che erano stati vincitori dell' battaglia , fermarono di dar le medesime parole di risposta ad entrambi. E secondo questo consiglio risposero, che poiché si dava il (¿aso della guerra fra due alleati loro, al presente credevansi in dovere per giuramento di starsene di mezzo. E gli ambasciatori delle due parti se n’andarono.

I Siracusani disponevano le cose loro per la guerra ; e gli Ateniesi accampati in Nasso trattavano co' Siculi per aggiugnerne il più che potessero alla parte loro. Non molli tra essi che più che altro abitavano per la pianura ed erano soggetti a’Siracusani, si alienarono ; quelli poi più dentro terra (ove sempre anche di prima indipendentemente abitavano) di subito, salvo pochi , furono con gli Ateniesi, e portarono all’esercito frumento, ed alcuni eziandio del denaro. E gli Ateniesi guerreggiando coloro che non si unissero con essi, ve ne costringevano alcuni, ad altri impedivano la comunicazione coi Siracusani, che mandavano presidii e soccorsi; e nell’inverno levatisi da Nasso e andati a Catana, rimisero in piedi gli alloggiamenti bruciati già da9 Siracusani, e vi svernarono. Spedirono poi una trireme a Cartagine ricercandone l’amicizia, se possibil fosse cavarne qualche vantaggio ; e mandarono in Etruria ove alcune città si esibivano di uuirsi anch’esse con loro a questa guerra. Fecero inoltre andare in giro de’messaggi ai Siculi e ad Egesta ordinando di allestir per loro più cavalli che potessero; e preparavano tutte le altre cose per la circonvallazione, come mattoni e ferro e quanto occorreva, intendendo di ricominciar la guerra alla primavera. Frattanto i legati siracusani inviati a Corinto ed a Sparla nel trascorrere la costa si davano cura di persuadere gli Itali a non voler porre in non cale quello che facevano gli Ateniesi, perchè di sicuro macchinato anche contro loro; e poiché furono a Corinto tennero discorso facendo intendere che doveano soccorrere i Siracusani per titolo di parentela. I Corintii decretarono subito di voler essere i primi a soccorrerli con tutta sollecitudine , e mandaron con loro ambasciatori a Sparta perchè cooperassero a persuadere i Lacedemoni di far guerra più apertamente agli Ateniesi, c di spedire qualche aiuto in Sicilia. E già gli ambasciatori de’Corintii erano pervenuti a Sparta ove era andato anche Alcibiade, il quale insieme con gli altri usciti era subito da Turio sopra una nave oneraria , tragittato in principio a Gliene, donde ultimamente fu da' Lacedemoni richiamato a Sparta con salvocondotto, perchè temeva di loro a cagione delle cose de' Mantineesi. E nell’assemblea ivi tenuta accadde che i Corintii, i Siracusani ed Alcibiade persuadevano i Lacedemoni domandando tutti lo stesso. Ma perchè gli efori e gli altri magistrati pensavano di mandare ambasciatori a' Siracusani per impedire loro di pattuire cogli Ateniesi, e non eran disposti a spedire aiuti ; allora Alcibiade fattosi innanzi rinfocolava ed eccitava gli animi dei Lacedemoni con queste parole :