The attack was begun with fury, and continued with perfeverance for several hours. Both fides were animated with the utmoft vigour of exertion, when a tempeft fuddenly arofe, accompanied with unusual peals of thunder. This event, which inspired the Athenians with fresh courage, confounded the unexperienced credulity of the Syracufans, who were broken and put to flight.

Encouraged by fuccefs, the Athenians pushed the enemy with vigour. The populace of Syracufe clamoured, with their usual licentiousness, against the incapacity or perfidy of their leaders, to whom alone they afcribed their misfortunes. New generals were named in the room of HERMOCRATES and his colleagues; and this injudicious alteration increased the calamities of the city, which at length prepared to capitulate.

While the affembly deliberated concerning the execu tion of a measure, which, however difgraceful, was declared to be neceffary, a galley penetrated into the har bour, which announced a speedy and effectual relief to the befieged city.

The defponding citizens heard, with pleasing astonishment, that GYLIPPUS, a Spartan general, had landed on the western coaft of the island. This determined the wavering irrefolution of the Syracufans. The most

courageous

fallied forth to meet this

courageous generous and powerful protector. A junction was happily affected; the ardour of the troops kindled into enthusiasm; and they diftinguished that memorable day by a signal victory over the Athenians.

The Syracufans had scarcely time to rejoice at their victory, or NICIAS to bewail his defeat, when a numerous and formidable armament appeared on the coast. The foremost gallies, their prows adorned with gaudy ftreamers, pursued a fecure course towards the harbour of Syracufe. The emulation of the rowers was animated by the mingled founds of the trumpet and clarion; and the regular decoration, the elegant fplendor, which diftinguished every part of the equipment, exhibited a pompous fpectacle of naval triumph. Their appearance, even at a distance, announced the country to which they belonged; and both the joy of the besiegers, and the terror of the befieged, acknowledged that Athens was the

ly city in the world capable of sending to sea such a beautiful and magnificent contribution.

NICIAS expected, by the valour of thefe fresh troops, which amounted to above twenty thousand, to obtain in one day the valuable reward of long and fevere labour. He chose the first hour of a moon-light night to attack

the

the enemy. The out-poits were furprised; the guards put to the fword; and three feparate encampments of the Syracufans, Sicilians, and allies, formed a feeble oppofition to the Athenian ardour. As if their victory had already been complete, they urged on the pursuit with a rapidity that difordered their ranks. Meanwhile, the vigilant activity of GYLIPPUS had affembled the whole force of Syracufe. The Athenians were decoyed within the intricate windings of the walls, and their irregular fury was first checked by the firmness of a Spartan phalanx.

A refiftance fo fudden and unexpected might alone have been decifive; but other circumftances were adverse to the Athenians: their ignorance of the ground, the alternate obfcurity of the night, and the deceitful glare of the moon, which, fhining in the front of this phalanx, illumined the splendour of their arms, and multiplied the terror of their numbers.

The foremost ranks of the purfuers were repelled; and as they retreated to the main body, they encountered part of their own army, who were advancing, and unfortunately they mistook them for enemies.

Fear, and then rage, feized the Athenians, who believing themselves encompaffed on all fides, determined

8

to

to force their way, and committed much bloodfhed among their friends, before the miftake could be difcovered.

To prevent the repetition of this dreadful error, their scattered bands were obliged at every moment to demand the watch-word, which was at length betrayed to their adverfaries. The confequence of this was doubly fatal. At every rencounter the filent Athenians were flaughtered without mercy, while the enemy, who knew their watch-word, might at pleasure join, or decline, the battle, and easily opprefs their weakness, or elude their ftrength.

The terror and confufion increased; the rout became general; and GYLIPPUS pursued in good order with his victorious troops. Many abandoned their arms, and explored the unknown paths of the neighbouring rocks. Others threw themfelves from precipices, rather than await the purfuers. Several thousands were left dead or wounded on the fcene of action, and in the morning the greater part of the ftragglers were intercepted by the horfe.

This dreadful and unexpected difafter fufpended the operation of the fiege. The Athenian general spent the time in useless deliberations concerning their future mea

fures,

fures, while the army was obliged to be encamped on the marshy and unhealthy banks of the Anapus.

The viciffitudes of an autumnal atmosphere, corrupted by the foul vapours of an unwholesome foil, made a fevere impreffion on the irritable fibres of men exhausted by fatigue, dejected by disgrace, and deprived of hope. A general ficknefs broke out in the camp. Some of the commanders urged this calamity as a new reafon for haftening their departure, while it was yet poffible. But NICIAS diffuaded from the defign of leaving Sicily until they fhould be warranted to take this important ftep by the pofitive authority of the republic.

Meanwhile the prudence of GYLIPPUS profited of the fame of his victory, to draw a powerful reinforcement from the Sicilian cities: and the tranfports, long expected from the Peloponnefus, finally arrived in the harbour of Ortygia.

The acceffion of fuch powerful auxiliaries to the befieged, and the force of the malady increasing, the Athenians were totally difconcerted. Even NICIAS agreed to fet fail. When the fleet was ready for fea, he recalled the troops from the various ports and fortreffes they occupied, and with a cheerful and magnanimous firmness, 4 Y

VOL. IV.

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