§7.49.1ὁ μὲν Νικίας τοσαῦτα λέγων ἰσχυρίζετο, αἰσθόμενος τὰ ἐν ταῖς Συρακούσαις ἀκριβῶς καὶ τὴν τῶν χρημάτων ἀπορίαν καὶ ὅτι ἦν αὐτόθι πολὺ τὸ βουλόμενον τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις γίγνεσθαι τὰ πράγματα καὶ ἐπικηρυκευόμενον πρὸς αὐτὸν ὥστε μὴ ἀπανίστασθαι, καὶ ἅμα ταῖς γοῦν ναυσὶ μᾶλλον ἢ πρότερον ἐθάρσησε κρατήσειν.
Nicias spoke to this effect and maintained his position firmly, because he had accurate knowledge of the affairs in Syracuse, of their lack of money, and of the fact that there was a large party there wishing the state of affairs to fall into the hands of the Athenians and sending messengers to him not to withdraw; and at the same time, he felt more confident than before of victory, at least with their ships.
§7.49.2ὁ δὲ Δημοσθένης περὶ μὲν τοῦ προσκαθῆσθαι οὐδ’ ὁπωσοῦν ἐνεδέχετο· εἰ δὲ δεῖ μὴ ἀπάγειν τὴν στρατιὰν ἄνευ Ἀθηναίων ψηφίσματος, ἀλλὰ τρίβειν αὐτοῦ, ἔφη χρῆναι ἢ ἐς τὴν Θάψον ἀναστάντας τοῦτο ποιεῖν ἢ ἐς τὴν Κατάνην, ὅθεν τῷ τε πεζῷ ἐπὶ πολλὰ τῆς χώρας ἐπιόντες θρέψονται πορθοῦντες τὰ τῶν πολεμίων καὶ ἐκείνους βλάψουσι, ταῖς τε ναυσὶν ἐν πελάγει καὶ οὐκ ἐν στενοχωρίᾳ, ἣ πρὸς τῶν πολεμίων μᾶλλόν ἐστι, τοὺς ἀγῶνας ποιήσονται, ἀλλ’ ἐν εὐρυχωρίᾳ, ἐν ᾗ τά τε τῆς ἐμπειρίας χρήσιμα σφῶν ἔσται καὶ ἀναχωρήσεις καὶ ἐπίπλους οὐκ ἐκ βραχέος καὶ περιγραπτοῦ ὁρμώμενοί τε καὶ καταίροντες ἕξουσιν.
Demosthenes, however, would not on any account agree to remaining there; but if they must not withdraw the army without a decree of the Athenians, but must wear the enemy out on the spot, he said they ought to do this either by removing to Thapsus or to Catana, from where they could go out with their infantry against many parts of the enemy's territory, maintain themselves by ravaging the country, and damage the enemy, and they would fight their sea battles not in a narrow space, which was rather in favor of the enemy, but in the open sea. In such an open space, their experience would be of use to them, and they would have retreats and advances not starting from and returning to a narrow and prescribed limit.
§7.49.3τό τε ξύμπαν εἰπεῖν, οὐδενὶ τρόπῳ οἱ ἔφη ἀρέσκειν ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ ἔτι μένειν, ἀλλ’ ὅτι τάχιστα ἤδη ἐξανίστασθαι καὶ μὴ μέλλειν.
To put it briefly, he said that remaining any longer in the same place did not please him in any way, but that they should withdraw as quickly as possible and not delay.
καὶ ὁ Εὐρυμέδων αὐτῷ ταῦτα ξυνηγόρευεν.
And Eurymedon joined him in advocating this same view.
§7.49.4ἀντιλέγοντος δὲ τοῦ Νικίου ὄκνος τις καὶ μέλλησις ἐνεγένετο καὶ ἅμα ὑπόνοια μή τι καὶ πλέον εἰδὼς ὁ Νικίας ἰσχυρίζηται.
But because Nicias opposed, a certain hesitation and delay arose, and at the same time a suspicion that Nicias might be insisting because he knew something more.
καὶ οἱ μὲν Ἀθηναῖοι τούτῳ τῷ τρόπῳ διεμέλλησάν τε καὶ κατὰ χώραν ἔμενον.
In this manner, therefore, the Athenians delayed and remained where they were.