" Those,'' he says, ^' who are disposed to imagine that the violent feelings and
proceedings incited at Athens by the mutilation of the Hermae were the con-
sequence of her democratical government, may be reminded of an analogous
event of modem times. ... In the year 1766, at Abbeville in France, two
young gentlemen of good family (the Chevalier d'Etallonde and Chevalier de
la Barre) were tried, convicted, and condemned for having injured a wooden
crucifix which stood on the bridge of that town: in aggravation of this



Digitized by



Googk



ALKIBIADES. 857

and thence to Sparta. Here, with utter fihamelessness, this
infamous traitor urged the sending of aid to Syracuse against
the Athenians, and the renewal of the war in Hellas in a
manner most destructive to them. On being told that the
republic had condenmed him to death in his absence, he is
said to have exclaimed, "I shall show them that I am alive."
He fully redeemed his word,*

Destruction of the Athenians in Sicily,

In the mean while, Lamachus lost his life in battle, and
Nikias continued alone the war in Sicily, with characteris-
tic carefulness. At first he met with some success, hav-
ing besieged Syracuse and put it in extreme periL lu. the
following year assistance came to the Syracusans, in the
shape of three thousand Spartan warriors under command of
GyUppus, a man no less experienced than Nikias, and much
more energetic and skillful ; and affairs changed their as-
pect. In the beginning of 413 b. c. the Athenians sent to
the aid of Nikias seventy triremes and five thousand hoplites,
among whom were twelve hundred Athenian citizens of the
best class, all under the command of Demosthenes ; but again
the attack against Syracuse failed. The fleet of the Athe-
nians was destroyed in four unfortunate naval engagements,

offense, they were charged with having sung indecent songs. The evidence
to prove these points was exceedingly doubtful ; nevertheless both were con*
demned to have their tongues cut out by the roots, to have their right hands
cat off at the church gate, then to be tied to a post in the market-place with
an iron chain, and burnt by a slow fire. 