s, as it is not every
city that will be able to entertain numbers like ours. We must also
provide ourselves with everything else as far as we can, so as not to be
dependent upon others; and above all we must take with us from home as
much money as possible, as the sums talked of as ready at Egesta are
readier, you may be sure, in talk than in any other way.

"Indeed, even if we leave Athens with a force not only equal to that of
the enemy except in the number of heavy infantry in the field, but
even at all points superior to him, we shall still find it difficult to
conquer Sicily or save ourselves. We must not disguise from ourselves
that we go to found a city among strangers and enemies, and that he who
undertakes such an enterprise should be prepared to become master of the
country the first day he lands, or failing in this to find everything
hostile to him. Fearing this, and knowing that we shall have need of
much good counsel and more good fortune--a hard matter for mortal man to
aspire to--I wish as far as may be to make myself independent of fortune
before sailing, and when I do sail, to be as safe as a strong force
can make me. This I believe to be surest for the country at large,
and safest for us who are to go on the expedition. If any one thinks
differently I resign to him my command."

With this Nicias concluded, thinking that he should either disgust the
Athenians by the magnitude of the undertaking, or, if obliged to sail
on the expedition, would thus do so in the safest way possible. The
Athenians, however, far from having their taste for the voyage taken
away by the burdensomeness of the preparations, became more eager for it
than ever; and just the contrary took place of what Nicias had thought,
as it was held that he had given good advice, and that the expedition
would be the safest in the world. All alike fell in love with the
enterprise. The older men thought that they would either subdue the
places against which they were to sail, or at all events, with so
large a force, meet with no disaster; those in the prime of life felt
a longing for foreign sights and spectacles, and had no doubt that they
should come safe home again; while the idea of the common people and the
soldiery was to earn wages at the moment, and make conquests that would
supply a never-ending fund of pay for the future. With this enthusiasm
of the majority, the few that liked it not, feared to appear unpatriotic
by holding up their