298 NICIAS.

and observing him to be extremely solicitous to support the offers of the Lacedaemonians, he persuaded the peo- ple to refuse them. Now, therefore, that the siege was protracted, and they heard of the difficulties that pressed their army, they grew enraged against Cleon. But he turned all the blame upon Nicias, charging it on his softness and coward- dice, that the besieged were not yet taken. " Were I general," said he, " they should not hold out so long." The Athenians not unnaturally asked the question, " Why then, as it is, do not you go with a squadron against them?" And Nicias standing up resigned his command at Pylos to him, and bade him take what forces he pleased along with him, and not be bold in words, out of barm's way, but go forth and perform some real service for the commonwealth. Cleon, at tbe first, tried to draw back, disconcerted at the proposal, which he had never ex- pected ; but the Athenians insisting, and Nicias loudly upbraiding him, he thus provoked, and fired with ambi- tion, took upon him the charge, and said further, that within twenty days after he embarked, he would either kill the enemy upon the place, or bring them alive to Athens. This the Athenians were readier to laugh at than to believe, as on other occasions, also, his bold asser- tions and extravagances used to make them sport, and were pleasant enough. As, for instance, it is reported that onoe when the people were assembled, and had waited his coming a long time, at last he appeared with a garland on his head, and prayed them to adjourn to the next day. u For," said he, " I am not at leisure to-day ; I have sacri- ficed to the gods, and am to entertain some strangers." Whereupon the Athenians laughing rose up, and dis- solved the assembly. However, at this time he had good fortune, and in conjunction with Demosthenes, conducted