to see it, but elder people did not relish it, but looked on these
things as enormities, and movements toward tyranny. So that it was
not said amiss by Archestratus, that Greece could not support a second
Alcibiades. Once, when Alcibiades succeeded well in an oration which he
made, and the whole assembly attended upon him to do him honor, Timon,
the misanthrope, did not pass slightly by him, nor avoid him, as he did
others, but purposely met him, and, taking him by the hand, said, "Go
on boldly, my son, and increase in credit with the people, for thou wilt
one day bring them calamities enough." Some that were present laughed at
the saying, and some reviled Timon; but there were others upon whom it
made a deep impression.

The Athenians, even in the lifetime of Pericles, had already cast a
longing eye upon Sicily; but did not attempt any thing till after his
death. Then, under pretence of aiding their confederates, they sent
succor upon all occasions to those who were oppressed by the Syracusans,
preparing the way for sending over a greater force. But Alcibiades
was the person who inflamed this desire of theirs to the height, and
prevailed with them no longer to proceed secretly, and little by little,
in their design, but to sail out with a great fleet, and undertake at
once to make themselves masters of the island. He possessed the people
with great hopes, and he himself entertained yet greater; and the
conquest of Sicily, which was the utmost bound of their ambition, was
but the mere outset of his expectation. Nicias endeavored to divert the
people from the expedition, by representing to them that the taking of
Syracuse would be a work of great difficulty; but Alcibiades dreamed
of nothing less than the conquest of Carthage and Libya and by the
accession of these conceiving himself at once made master of Italy
and of Peloponnesus, seemed to look upon Sicily as little more than a
magazine for the war. The young men were soon elevated with these hopes,
and listened gladly to those of riper years, who talked wonders of
the countries they were going to; so that you might see great numbers
sitting in the wrestling grounds and public places, drawing on the
ground the figure of the island and the situation of Libya and Carthage.

Together with Alcibiades, Nicias, much against his will, was appointed
general: and he endeavored to avoid the command, not the less on account
of his colleague. But the Athenians thought the war wo