‘If in my youth, and even at the very height of those great follies you have just now heard about, I have been able to do somewhat for the state, what may I not do, when opportunity presents itself, in the time of my maturer, my more sober years? At any rate, you have joined with me one of whom none can say that he is likely to offend by too great temerity.’
He then answered the taunt of Nikias as to his youth, and the mischievous attempt of his colleague to stir up the old against the young.
‘Above all things, never let this wicked policy of setting old and young at variance turn you from your purpose. But, as in the good old days our forefathers, old and young together, by their united counsels and their united efforts, brought Athens to its present greatness, so do you now endeavour to make her prosper.’
Then he went through the various questions practically. He showed how many of the Greek colonies in Sicily, even the Dorian colonies, would come over to them on their first success. He ridiculed the exaggerated report of the strength of Syrakuse by sea and land, and laughed at the fears Nikias had confessed that the Spartans might take advantage of the absence of the Athenian fleet.
‘Why, we shall leave behind us a larger fleet than that of all the other Grecian people put together.’
Then he appealed to the generosity of his hearers, and to their love of honourable dealing, not to break the oath of allegiance they had sworn to weaker states, who were relying on them and praying for their aid.
‘How have we made this empire of ours, which all men wonder at, but by assisting our allies, whether Grecian or barbarian, when called upon? If now, when our aid is sought, we stay at home in idle negligence, we shall but stay to see that empire crumbling bit by bit away. Not thus did our great ancestors build up the state. They anticipated attacks and stopped them. They waited not for them to come.’
This oration, which we can but so imperfectly turn from its strong original into our modern tongue, electrified the people. There was no longer any doubt about the expedition. Even Nikias professed himself convinced. Yet he played an unworthy part. He attempted, by a weak device, to accomplish that by trick which he had failed to do by argument.
Nikias spoke again, and demanded exorbitant preparations of men, ships, and commissariat, hoping by this means to damp the ardour of those who would have to provide these things. It had the contrary effect. Demokrates exposed the artifice, and called on the strategos to declare in precise terms what and how much he wanted. The people ratified their vote, gave Nikias all he asked for—more than was necessary—and left it to the generals to judge what force they thought would be sufficient.
Through this underhand and unsuccessful scheme Nikias struck the first blow against the fortune of the Sicilian expedition. In attempting to stop it he made it assume a greater size than was originally intended. As in the case of the invading force of Xerxes against Greece, its unwieldy proportions became an element of weakness.