Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans
which Plato, out of respect for past hospitalities, and because
of his age, would have nothing to do. But Speusippus and the
rest of his friends assisted and encouraged him, bidding him
deliver Sicily, which with lift-up hands implored his help, and
with open arms was ready to receive him. For when Plato was
staying at Syracuse, Speusippus, being oftener than he in
company with the citizens, had more thoroughly made out how
they were inclined; and though at first they had been on their
guard, suspecting his bold language, as though he had been set
on by the tyrant to trepan them, yet at length they trusted him.
There was but one mind and one wish or prayer among them all,
that Dion would undertake the design, and come, though without
either navy, men, horse, or arms; that he would simply put
himself aboard any ship, and lend the Sicilians his person and
name against Dionysius. This information from Speusippus
encouraged Dion, who, concealing his real purpose, employed his
friends privately to raise what men they could; and many
statesmen and philosophers were assisting to him, as, for
instance, Eudemus the Cyprian, on whose death Aristotle wrote
his Dialogue of the Soul, and Timonides the Leucadian. They
also engaged on his side Miltas the Thessalian, who was a
prophet, and had studied in the Academy. But of all that were
banished by Dionysius, who were not fewer than a thousand, five
and twenty only joined in the enterprise; the rest were afraid,
and abandoned it. The rendezvous was in the island Zacynthus,
where a small force of not quite eight hundred men came
together, all of them, however, persons already distinguished in
plenty of previous hard service, their bodies well trained and
practiced, and their experience and courage amply sufficient to
animate and embolden to action the numbers whom Dion expected to
join him in Sicily.
Yet these men, when they first understood the expedition was
against Dionysius, were troubled and disheartened, blaming Dion,
that, hurried on like a madman by mere passion and despair, he
rashly threw both himself and them into certain ruin. Nor were
they less angry with their commanders and muster-masters, that
they had not in the beginning let them know the design. But
when Dion in his address to them had set forth the unsafe and
weak condition of arbitrary government, and declared that he
carried them rather for commanders than soldiers, the citizens
of Syracuse and the rest of the Sicilians having been long ready
for a revolt, and when, after him, Alcimenes, an Achaean of the
highest birth and reputation, who accompanied the expedition,
harangued them to the same effect, they were contented.
It was now the middle of summer, and the Etesian winds blowing
steadily on the seas, the moon was at the full, when Dion
prepared a magnificent sacrifice to Apollo; and with great
solemnity marched his soldiers to the temple in all their arms
and accouterments. And after the sacrifice, he feasted them all
in the race-course of the Zacynthians, where he had made
provision for their entertainment. And when here they beheld
with wonder the quantity and the richness of the gold and silver
plate, and the tables laid to entertain them, all far exceeding
the fortunes of a private man, they concluded with themselves,
that a man now past the prime of life, who was master of so much
treasure, would not engage himself in so hazardous an enterprise
without good reason of hope, and certain and sufficient
assurances of aid from friends over there. Just after the
libations were made, and the accompanying prayers offered, the
moon was eclipsed; which was no wonder to Dion, who understood
the revolutions of eclipses, and the way in which the moon is
overshadowed and the earth interposed between her and the sun.
But because it was necessary that the soldiers, who were
surprised and troubled at it, should be satisfied and
encouraged, Miltas the diviner, standing up in the midst of the
assembly, bade them be of good cheer, and expect all happy
success, for that the divine powers foreshowed that something at
present glorious and resplendent should be eclipsed and
obscured; nothing at this time being more splendid than the
sovereignty of Dionysius, their arrival in Sicily should dim
this glory, and extinguish this brightness. Thus Miltas, in
public, descanted upon the incident. But concerning a swarm of
bees which settled on the poop of Dion's ship, he privately told
him and his friends, that he feared the great actions they were
like to perform, though for a time they should thrive and
flourish, would be of short continuance, and soon suffer a
decay. It is reported, also, that many prodigies happened to
Dionysius at that time. An eagle, snatching a javelin from one
of the guard, carried it aloft, and from thence let it fall into
the sea. The water of the sea that washed the castle walls was
for a whole day sweet and potable, as many that tasted it
experienced. Pigs were farrowed perfect in all their other
parts, but without ears. This the diviners declared to portend
revolt and rebellion, for that the subjects would no longer give
ear to the commands of their superiors. They expounded the
sweetness of the water to signify to the Syracusans a change
from hard and grievous times into easier and more happy
circumstances. The eagle being the bird of Jupiter, and the
spear an emblem of power and command, this prodigy was to denote
that the chief of the gods designed the end and dissolution of
the present government. These things Theopompus relates in his
history.
Two ships of burden carried all Dion's men; a third vessel, of
no great size, and two galleys of thirty oars attended them. In
addition to his soldiers' own arms, he carried two thousand
shields, a very great number of darts and lances, and abundant
stores of all manner of provisions, that there might be no want
of anything in their voyage; their purpose being to keep out at
sea during the whole voyage, and use the winds, since all the
land was hostile to them, and Philistus, they had been told, was
in Iapygia with a fleet, looking out for them. Twelve days they
sailed with a fresh and gentle breeze; on the thirteenth, they
made Pachynus, the Sicilian cape. There Protus, the chief
pilot, advised them to land at once and without delay, for if
they were forced again from the shore, and did not take
advantage of the headland, they might ride out at sea many
nights and days, waiting for a southerly wind in the summer
season. But Dion, fearing a descent too near his enemies, and
desirous to begin at a greater distance, and further on in the
country, sailed on past Pachynus. They had not gone far, before
stress of weather, the wind blowing hard at north, drove the
fleet from the coast; and it being now about the time that
Arcturus rises, a violent storm of wind and rain came on, with
thunder and lightning, the mariners were at their wits' end, and
ignorant what course they ran, until on a sudden they found they
were driving with the sea on Cercina, the island on the coast of
Africa, just where it is most craggy and dangerous to run upon.
Upon the cliffs there they escaped narrowly of being forced and
staved to pieces; but, laboring hard at their oars, with much
difficulty they kept clear until the storm ceased. Then,
lighting by chance upon a vessel, they understood they were upon
the Heads, as it is called, of the Great Syrtis; and when they
were now again disheartened by a sudden calm, and beating to and
fro without making any way, a soft air began to blow from the
land, when they expected anything rather than wind from the
south and scarce believed the happy change of their fortune.
The gale gradually increasing, and beginning to blow fresh, they
clapped on all their sails, and, praying to the gods, put out
again into the open sea, steering right from Africa for Sicily.
And, running steady before the wind, the fifth day they arrived
at Minoa, a little town of Sicily, in the dominion of the
Carthaginians, of which Synalus, an acquaintance and friend of
Dion's, happened at that time to be governor; who, not knowing
it was Dion and his fleet, endeavored to hinder his men from
landing; but they rushed on shore with their swords in their
hands, not slaying any of their opponents (for this Dion had
forbidden, because of his friendship with the Carthaginians),
but forced them to retreat, and, following close, pressed in a
body with them into the place, and took it. As soon as the two
commanders met, they mutually saluted each other; Dion delivered
up the place again to Synalus, without the least damage done to
anyone therein, and Synalus quartered and entertained the
soldiers, and supplied Dion with what he wanted.
They were most of all encouraged by the happy accident of
Dionysius's absence at this nick of time; for it appeared that
he was lately gone with eighty sail of ships to Italy.
Therefore, when Dion was desirous that the soldiers should
refresh themselves there, after their tedious and troublesome
voyage, they would not be prevailed with, but, earnest to make
the best use of that opportunity, they urged Dion to lead them
straight on to Syracuse. Leaving therefore their baggage, and
the arms they did not use, Dion desired Synalus to convey them
to him as he had occasion, and marched directly to Syracuse.
The first that came in to him upon his march were two hundred
horse of the Agrigentines who were settled near Ecnomum, and,
after them, the Geloans. But the news soon flying to Syracuse,
Timocrates, who had married Dion's wife, the sister of
Dionysius, and was the principal man among his friends now
remaining in the city, immediately dispatched a courier to
Dionysius with letters announcing Dion's arrival; while he
himself took all possible care to prevent any stir or tumult in
the city, where all were in great excitement, but as yet
continued quiet, fearing to give too much credit to what was
reported. A very strange accident happened to the messenger who
was sent with the letters; for being arrived in Italy, as he
traveled through the land of Rhegium, hastening to Dionysius at
Caulonia, he met one of his acquaintance, who was carrying home
part of a sacrifice. He accepted a piece of the flesh, which
his friend offered him, and proceeded on his journey with all
speed; having traveled a good part of the night, and being
through
weariness forced to take a little rest, he laid himself down in
the next convenient place he came to, which was in a wood near
the road. A wolf, scenting the flesh, came and seized it as it
lay fastened to the letter-bag, and with the flesh carried away
the bag also, in which were the letters to Dionysius. The man,
awaking and missing his bag, sought for it up and down a great
while, and, not finding it, resolved not to go to the king
without his letters, but to conceal himself, and keep out of the
way.
Dionysius, therefore, came to hear of the war in Sicily from
other hands, and that a good while after. In the meantime, as
Dion proceeded in his march, the Camarineans joined his forces,
and the country people in the territory of Syracuse rose and
joined him in a large body. The Leontines and Campanians, who,
with Timocrates, guarded the Epipolae, receiving a false alarm
which was spread on purpose by Dion, as if he intended to attack
their cities first, left Timocrates, and hastened off to carry
succor to their own homes. News of which being brought to Dion,
where he lay near Macrae, he raised his camp by night, and came
to the river Anapus, which is distant from the city about ten
furlongs; there he made a halt, and sacrificed by the river,
offering vows to the rising sun. The soothsayers declared that