LETTER OF NICIAS TO THE DEMOS AT ATHENS.
Although we were very successful at first, a change has taken place since the arrival of Gylippus. Having lost the last battle we have had to withdraw behind our fortifications, and are now rather in the condition of besieged than of besiegers.
1.
ἐν ἄλλαις πολλαῖς ἐπιστολαῖς ἴστε:
ἐν, where we expect
ἐκ, is due possibly to the original pf. meaning of
εἰδέναι: “you have seen (read) in many letters.” Kühn. 431, 1, 3) a. Kr. compares Dem. XLIV. 60,
μεμαθήκατε ἐν τοῖς ἐν ἀρχῇ εἰρημένοις. Cf. Cic.
de Nat. D. i.26.72, ut videmus in scriptis. Compare also the use of
ἐν in expressions of decisive authority, as
iii.53.3.
πολλαῖς (which Vat. omits no doubt only in consequence of the similar endings) helps to give point to the following
οὐχ ἧσσον =
μάλιστα: “you have frequently had information; now, however, it is more important than ever that you learn the truth and determine accordingly.” Cf. c. 8. 4.
ἐν ᾧ ἐσμέν:
in what condition we are. Cf. c. 14. 12;
vi.6.30. For neut. of pron. to indicate condition, measure, degree,
etc., see Kr.
Spr. 43, 4, 4 and 22.
4.
μάχαις ταῖς πλείοσι: order as in 8,
μάχῃ τῇ πρώτῃ,
i.1.6,
παρασκευῇ τῇ πάσῃ, and
i.11.13,
μέρει τῷ ἀεὶ παρόντι.
Συρακοσίους : Thuc. construes
κρατεῖν, when connected with
μάχῃ (
i.108.18;
vi.2.26) or
μαχόμενον (
ii.39.14;
iv.67.29), with the acc.; so also sometimes when
μάχῃ is not expressed, but the whole context points to it (as
ii.39.18;
iii.99.3); otherwise always with the gen.
τὰ τείχη: taken strictly in point of time (
οἰκοδομησαμένων . . . ἦλθε Γύλιππος), it would refer only to the wall of circumvallation, so far as it was finished, and to the round fort on Epipolae; but
ἐν οἷσπερ νῦν ἐσμέν and the following
ἀνεχωρήσαμεν ἐς τὰ τείχη show that also the three forts built on Plemmyrium after the arrival of Gylippus are included.
ἔστιν ὧν:
some. G. 152, N. 2; H. 998. Cf.
i.65.15;
iii.92.22;
vi.88.34.
τῇ ὑστεραίᾳ: “in the battle on the next day.” See on c. 5. 20, and Herbst,
Gegen Cobet, p. 34. Cf. Plut.
Nic. 19,
εἰς τὴν ἐπιοῦσαν ἡμέραν κτἑ.
11.
τὸ πλῆθος: “the superior number,” as in
iv.10.16. This superiority is explained by
οὐδὲ γὰρ . . . τοῦ ὁπλιτικοῦ, since always a part of the foot-force was occupied in guarding the walls (here esp. the wall of circumvallation).
παρῳκοδομήκασιν: cf. c. 6. 16.
μὴ εἶναι: =
μὴ παρεῖναι (or as Vat. reads,
μὴ δυνατὸν εἶναι). Cf.
ii.97.23;
v.40.10.
εἶναι in this sense always with the neg.—
ἢν μή τις: only here in Thue.—
τὸ παρατείχισμα: here, and in c. 43. 7, 35, the Syracusan cross-wall (
τὸ ἐγκάρσιον τεῖχος, c. 7. 5) since now it had passed the Athenian
περιτείχισμα (
vi.101.5).
17.
ἄλλους: obj. of
πολιορκεῖν, ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς subj. of
πάσχειν. Compare similar order in c. 75. 40.
ὅσα γε: restrictive, as in
iv.48.24;
viii.70.5. Kr.
Spr. 62, 1, 4.—
τῆς χώρας: part. gen. depending on
ἐπὶ πολύ. G. 168; H. 730 e. Cf. c. 38. 1; 39. 4; 40. 18; 65. 7;
i.50.6;
iv.3.11.
ἐπὶ πολύ: in local sense,
over a great extent. Kr.
Spr. 43, 4, 3.
