them, in order to pay the last sad duty to their remains.

There now remained but two methods for them to choose, either to attempt the passage a second time, for which they had ships and soldiers sufficient, or to abandon their fleet to the enemy, and retire by land. Demosthenes pro posed the former; but the sailors, in the deepest affliction, refused to obey, fully persuaded that it would be impossible for them to sustain a second engagement. The second method was, therefore, resolved upon; and accordingly they prepared to set out in the night, to conceal the march of their army from the enemy.

But Hermocrates, who suspected their design, was very sensible that it was of the utmost importance not to suffer so great a body of forces. to escape, since they otherwise might fortify themselves in some corner of the island, and renew the war. The Syracusans were, at that time, in the midst of their festivity and rejoicings, and meditating nothing but how they might divert themselves after the toils they had sustained in fight. They were then solemnizing the festival of Hercules. To desire the Syracusans to take up arms again in order to pursue the enemy, and to attempt to draw them from their diversions, either by force or persuasion, would have been to no purpose; for which reason, another expedient was employed. Hermocrates sent out a few horsemen, who were to

pass for friends of the Athenians, and ordered them to cry aloud, Tell Nicias not to retire till day-light, for the Syracusans lie in ambush for him, and have seized on their passes. This false advice stopped Nicias at once, and he did not even set out the next day, in order that the soldiers might have more time to prepare for their departure, and carry off whatever might be necessary for their subsistence, and abandon the rest.

avenues.

The enemy had time enough for seizing the The next morning early they possessed themselves of the most difficult passes, fortified those places where the rivers were fordable, broke down the bridges, and spread detachments of horse up and down the plain, so that there was not one place which the Athenians could pass without fighting. They set out upon their march the third day after the battle, with a design to retire to Catana. The whole army was in an inexpressible consternation, to see such a great number of men either dead or dying, some of whom were left exposed to wild beasts, and the rest to the cruelty of the enemy. Those who were sick and wounded, conjured them, with tears, to take them along with the army, and held by their clothes when they were going, or else, crawling after them, followed them as far as their strength would permit; and when this failed, had recourse to tears, sighs, imprecations, and, sending up te

wards heaven plaintive and dying groans, they called upon the gods as well as men, to avenge their cruelty, whilst every place echoed with lamentations.

The whole army was in a deplorable condition. All the Athenians were seized with the deepest melancholy. They were inwardly tortured with rage and anguish, when they represented to themselves the greatness from which they were fallen, the extreme misery to which they were reduced, and the still greater evils from which they foresaw it would be impossible for them to escape. They could not bear the comparison, for ever present in their thoughts, of the triumphant state in which they had left Athens, in the midst of the good wishes and acclamations of the people, with the ignominy of their retreat, aggravated by the cries and imprecations of their relations and fellow-citizens.

But the most melancholy part of the spectacle, and that which most deserved compassion, was Nicias: dejected and worn out by a tedious illness, deprived of the most necessary comforts, at a time when his age and infirmities required them most, pierced not only with his private grief, but with that of others, all which preyed upon his mind. However, this great man, superior to all his evils, thought of nothing but how he might best comfort his soldiers, and revive their courage. He ran up and down in all places, crying aloud, that their situation was not

yet desperate, and that other armies had escaped from greater dangers; that they ought not to accuse themselves, or grieve too immoderately for misfortunes, which they had not occasioned; that, if they had offended some god, his vengeance must be satiated by this time; that Fortune, after having so long favoured the enemy, would at last be tired of persecuting them; that their bravery and their numbers made them still formidable; (being still near forty thousand strong;) that no city in Sicily would be able to withstand them, nor prevent their settling wherever they might think proper; that they had no more to do, but to take care severally of themselves, and march in good order; that, by a prudent and courageous retreat, which was now become their only resource, they would not only save themselves, but also their country, and enable it to recover its former grandeur.

The army marched in.two bodies, both drawn up in the form of a phalanx, the first being commanded by Nicias, and the second by Demosthe nes, with the baggage in the centre. Being come to the river Anapis, they forced their passage, and afterwards were charged by the enemy's cavalry, as well as archers, who discharged perpetually upon them. They were annoyed in this manner during several days' march, every one of the passes being guarded, and the Athenians being obliged to dispute every inch of their way. The

enemy did not care to hazard a battle against an army, which despair alone might render invincible; and the instant the Athenians presented the Syracusans battle, the latter retired; but, whenever the former proceeded in their march, they advanced and charged them in their retreat.

Demosthenes and Nicias, seeing the miserable condition to which the troops were reduced, being in extreme want of provisions, and great numbers of them wounded, judged it advisable to retire towards the sea, by a quite contrary way from that in which they then marched, and to make directly for Camarina and Gela, instead of proceeding to Catana, as they first intended. They set out in the night, after lighting a great number of fires. The retreat was made in great confusion and disorder, as generally happens to great armies in the gloomy horrors of the night, especially when the enemy is not far off. However, the van guard, commanded by Nicias, went forward in good order; but above half the rear guard, with Demosthenes at their head, quitted from the main body, and lost their way. On the next day, the Syracusans, who, on the report of their retreat, had marched with the utmost diligence, came up with Demosthenes about noon, and, having surrounded. him with their horse, drove him into a narrow place, inclosed with a wall, where his soldiers fought like lions. Perceiving, at the close of the