Lacedæmonian assembly.—Great effect of his speech on the Peloponnesians.—Misrepresentations contained in the speech.—Resolutions of the Spartans.—The Lacedæmonians send Gylippus to Syracuse. 163-243 CHAPTER LIX. FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SIEGE OF SYRACUSE BY NIKIAS, DOWN TO THE SECOND ATHENIAN EXPEDITION UNDER DEMOSTHENES, AND THE RESUMPTION OF THE GENERAL WAR. Movements of Nikias in the early spring.—Local condition and fortifications of Syracuse, at the time when Nikias arrived.—Inner and Outer City.—Localities without the wall of the outer city—Epipolæ.—Possibilities of the siege when Nikias first arrived in Sicily—increase of difficulties through his delay.—Increased importance of the upper ground of Epipolæ. Intention of the Syracusans to occupy the summit of Epipolæ.—The summit is surprised by the Athenians.—The success of this surprise was essential to the effective future prosecution of the siege.—First operations of the siege.—Central work of the Athenians on Epipolæ, called The Circle.—First counter-wall of the Syracusans.—Its direction, south of the Athenian circle—its completion.—It is stormed, taken, and destroyed by the Athenians.—Nikias occupies the southern cliff—and prosecutes his line of blockade south of the Circle.—Second counter-work of the Syracusans—reaching across the marsh, south of Epipolæ, to the river Anapus.—This counter-work attacked and taken by Lamachus—general battle—death of Lamachus.—Danger of the Athenian circle and of Nikias—victory of the Athenians.—Entrance of the Athenian fleet into the Great Harbor.—The southern portion of the wall of blockade, across the marsh to the Great Harbor, is prosecuted and nearly finished.—The Syracusans offer no farther obstruction—despondency at Syracuse—increasing closeness of the siege.—Order of the besieging operations successively undertaken by the Athenians.—Triumphant prospects of the Athenians. Disposition among the Sikels and Italian Greeks to favor them.—Conduct of Nikias—his correspondents in the interior of Syracuse.—Confidence of Nikias—comparative languor of his operations.—Approach of Gylippus—he despairs of relieving Syracuse.—Progress of Gylippus, in spite of discouraging reports.—Approach of Gylippus is made known to Nikias. Facility of preventing his farther advance—Nikias despises him, and leaves him to come unobstructed. He lands at Himera in Sicily.—Blindness of Nikias—egregious mistake of letting in Gylippus.—Gylippus levies an army and marches across Sicily from Himera to Syracuse.—The Corinthian Goggylus reaches Syracuse before Gylippus—just in time to hinder the town from capitulating.—Gylippus with his new-levied force enters Syracuse unopposed.—Unaccountable inaction of Nikias.—Vigorous and aggressive measures of Gylippus, immediately on arriving.—Gylippus surprises and captures