History of the Peloponnesian War

Such were the disclosures made by the letter of Nicias. But when the Athenians heard it read, they did not relieve Nicias of his command, but in order that he might not to have to face his difficulties alone while in ill-health, they chose two men who were on the spot, Menander and Euthydemus,[*](Already mentioned as one of those who signed the treaty of Nicias, 422 B.C.; cf. 5.19.2; 5.24.1.) to assist him until the arrival of the other two who should be chosen as his colleagues. And they voted to send another armament, both land-force and fleet, to be recruited from the Athenians on the muster-roll and from the allies.

And as colleagues for Nicias they elected Demosthenes[*](Last mentioned in active service in iv. 66-69.) son of Alcisthenes, and Eurymedon[*](He had been fined after the unsuccessful expedition to Sicily in 424 B. C.; cf. 4.65.3.) son of Thucles. Eurymedon was despatched to Sicily immediately, about the time of the winter solstice, with ten ships; and he took with him one hundred and twenty talents of silver,[*](£24,000; $116,640.) and at the same time bore a message to the army in Sicily that reinforcements would come and that care would be taken of them.

But Demosthenes remained behind and busied himself with preparations for his departure, which he planned to make at the opening of spring, sending to the allies requisitions for troops and getting ready at home money and ships and hoplites.

And the Athenians also sent twenty ships round the Peloponnesus, to see that no one should cross over from Corinth and the Peloponnesus to Sicily.

For the Corinthians, when the Syracusan envoys arrived and reported that the situation in Sicily was more favourable, felt much greater confidence than before, thinking that their former despatch of the fleet had been well timed, and accordingly not only were they themselves preparing to send hoplites to Sicily in merchant-ships, but also the Lacedaemonians were intending in the same manner to despatch troops from the rest of the Peloponnesus.