e sums which the state had already spent upon the expedition and was
sending out in the hands of the generals, and those which individuals
had expended upon their personal outfit, or as captains of galleys had
laid out and were still to lay out upon their vessels; and if he had
added to this the journey money which each was likely to have provided
himself with, independently of the pay from the treasury, for a voyage
of such length, and what the soldiers or traders took with them for the
purpose of exchange--it would have been found that many talents in all
were being taken out of the city. Indeed the expedition became not
less famous for its wonderful boldness and for the splendour of its
appearance, than for its overwhelming strength as compared with the
peoples against whom it was directed, and for the fact that this was the
longest passage from home hitherto attempted, and the most ambitious in
its objects considering the resources of those who undertook it.

The ships being now manned, and everything put on board with which they
meant to sail, the trumpet commanded silence, and the prayers customary
before putting out to sea were offered, not in each ship by itself, but
by all together to the voice of a herald; and bowls of wine were mixed
through all the armament, and libations made by the soldiers and their
officers in gold and silver goblets. In their prayers joined also the
crowds on shore, the citizens and all others that wished them well. The
hymn sung and the libations finished, they put out to sea, and first
out in column then raced each other as far as Aegina, and so hastened to
reach Corcyra, where the rest of the allied forces were also assembling.

CHAPTER XIX

_Seventeenth Year of the War--Parties at Syracuse--Story of Harmodius
and Aristogiton--Disgrace of Alcibiades_

Meanwhile at Syracuse news came in from many quarters of the expedition,
but for a long while met with no credence whatever. Indeed, an assembly
was held in which speeches, as will be seen, were delivered by
different orators, believing or contradicting the report of the Athenian
expedition; among whom Hermocrates, son of Hermon, came forward, being
persuaded that he knew the truth of the matter, and gave the following
counsel:

"Although I shall perhaps be no better believed than others have been
when I speak upon the reality of the expedition, and although I know
that those who either make or repeat statements thought not wo