The book of the ancient Greeks: An introduction to the history and civilization of Greece from the coming of the Greeks to the conquest of Corinth by Rome in 146 B.C. — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The book of the ancient Greeks: An introduction to the history and civilization of Greece from the coming of the Greeks to the conquest of Corinth by Rome in 146 B.C.
John Stuart Mill · en
About the middle of summer the expedition started for Sicily.
Early in the morning of the day appointed for their departure,
the Athenians and such of their allies as had already joined them
went down to the Peiraeus and began to man the ships. The entire
population of Athens accompanied them, citizens and strangers
alike. The citizens came to take farewell, one of an
acquaintance, another of a kinsman, another of a son; the crowd
as they passed along were full of hope and full of tears; hope of
conquering Sicily, tears because they doubted whether they would
ever see their friends again, when they thought of the long
voyage on which they were sending them. At the moment of parting
the danger was nearer; and terrors which had never occurred to
them when they were voting the {308} expedition now entered into
their souls. Nevertheless their spirits revived at the sight of
the armament in all its strength and of the abundant provisions
which they had made. The strangers and the rest of the multitude
came out of curiosity, desiring to witness an enterprise of which
the greatness exceeded belief.
No armament so magnificent or costly had ever been sent out by
any single Hellenic power. Never had a greater expedition been
sent to a foreign land; never was there an enterprise in which
the hope of future success seemed to be better justified by
actual power.
When the ships were manned and everything required for the voyage
had been placed on board, silence was proclaimed by the sound of
the trumpet, and all with one voice before setting sail offered
up the customary prayers; these were recited, not in each ship,
but by a single herald, the whole fleet accompanying him. On
every deck both officers and men, mingling wine in bowls, made
libations from vessels of gold and silver. The multitude of
citizens and other well-wishers who were looking on from the land
joined in the prayer. The crews raised the Paean, and when the
libations were completed, put to sea.[10]
In due time they reached Sicily, where the generals in command held a
conference as to the best way of beginning the attack.
In the meantime the enemies of Alcibiades in Athens took up the
charges of impiety which had been made against him and did not rest
until an order had been sent to Sicily ordering his return that he
might be brought to trial.
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