CHAP. XXVI - THE SICILIAN EXPEDITION FROM THE ARRIVAL OF GYLIPPUS TO ITS CLOSE

Summary

Gylippus had been joined at Asine, where he had manned two Laconian galleys, by two others from Corinth, under the command of Pythen. With these they sailed to Leucas, where they were led by a concurrence of many false rumours to believe that Syracuse was already completely invested; and Gylippus, considering the affairs of Sicily desperate, only hoped that he might be in time to counteract the influence of the Athenians among the Italian Greeks. While therefore the Corinthians were fitting out a squadron, consisting of ten of their own galleys, two Leucadians, and three from Ambracia, he and Pythen pushed across to Tarentum, and proceeded to Thurii, where, through his father Cleandridas, who in his exile had been admitted a citizen there, he had connections which he hoped might enable him to arm the Thurians against Athens. But his small force, which seemed only fit for a piratical adventure, did not encourage them to comply with his wishes, and he continued his voyage westward. But before he reached Locri he was driven out to sea by a gale from the north, and with some difficulty made Tarentum again, where he was forced to wait for a time to refit. Intelligence of his approach had gone before him to the Athenian camp; and Nicias might easily have provided means for stopping or intercepting his little squadron. The military virtue which Nicias possessed in the highest degree was prudence; the failing toward which he most leaned, timidity.