Plutarch: Lives of the noble Grecians and Romans
the gods promised him victory; and they that were present,
seeing him assisting at the sacrifice with a garland on his
head, one and all crowned themselves with garlands. There were
about five thousand that had joined his forces in their march;
who, though but ill-provided, with such weapons as came next to
hand, made up by zeal and courage for the want of better arms;
and when once they were told to advance, as if Dion were already
conqueror, they ran forward with shouts and acclamations,
encouraging each other with the hopes of liberty.
The most considerable men and better sort of the citizens of
Syracuse, clad all in white, met him at the gates. The populace
set upon all that were of Dionysius's party, and principally
searched for those they called setters or informers, a number
of wicked and hateful wretches, who made it their business to go
up and down the city, thrusting themselves into all companies,
that they might inform Dionysius what men said, and how they
stood affected. These were the first that suffered, being
beaten to death by the crowd. Timocrates, not being able to
force his way to the garrison that kept the castle, took horse,
and fled out of the city, filling all the places where he came
with fear and confusion, magnifying the amount of Dion's forces,
that he might not be supposed to have deserted his charge
without good reason for it. By this time, Dion was come up, and
appeared in the sight of the people; he marched first in a rich
suit of arms, and by him on one hand his brother, Megacles, on
the other, Callippus the Athenian, crowned with garlands. Of
the foreign soldiers, a hundred followed as his guard, and their
several officers led the rest in good order; the Syracusans
looking on and welcoming them, as if they believed the whole to
be a sacred and religious procession, to celebrate the solemn
entrance, after an absence of forty-eight years, of liberty and
popular government.
Dion entered by the Menitid gate, and, having by sound of
trumpet quieted the noise of the people, he caused proclamation
to be made, that Dion and Megacles, who were come to overthrow
the tyrannical government, did declare the Syracusans and all
other Sicilians to be free from the tyrant. But, being desirous
to harangue the people himself, he went up through the
Achradina. The citizens on each side the way brought victims
for sacrifice, set out their tables and goblets, and as he
passed by each door threw flowers and ornaments upon him, with
vows and acclamations, honoring him as a god. There was under
the castle and the Pentapyla a lofty and conspicuous sundial,
which Dionysius had set up. Getting up upon the top of that, he
made an oration to the people, calling upon them to maintain and
defend their liberty; who, with great expressions of joy and
acknowledgment, created Dion and Megacles generals, with plenary
powers, joining in commission with them, at their desire and
entreaty, twenty colleagues, of whom half were of those that had
returned with them out of banishment. It seemed also to the
diviners a most happy omen, that Dion, when he made his address
to the people, had under his feet the stately monument which
Dionysius had been at such pains to erect; but because it was a
sundial on which he stood when he was made general, they
expressed some fears that the great actions he had performed
might be subject to change, and admit some rapid turn and
declination of fortune.
After this, Dion, taking the Epipolae, released the citizens who
were imprisoned there, and then raised a wall to invest the
castle. Seven days after, Dionysus arrived by sea, and got into
the citadel, and about the same time came carriages bringing the
arms and ammunition which Dion had left with Synalus. These he
distributed among the citizens; and the rest that wanted
furnished themselves as well as they could, and put themselves
in the condition of zealous and serviceable men-at-arms.
Dionysius sent agents, at first privately, to Dion, to try what
terms they could make with him. But he declaring that any
overtures they had to make must be made in public to the
Syracusans as a free people, envoys now went and came between
the tyrant and the people, with fair proposals, and assurances
that they should have abatements of their tributes and taxes,
and freedom from the burdens of military expeditions, all which
should be made according to their own approbation and consent
with him. The Syracusans laughed at these offers, and Dion
returned answer to the envoys that Dionysius must not think to
treat with them upon any other terms but resigning the
government; which if he would actually do, he would not forget
how nearly he was related to him, or be wanting to assist him in
procuring oblivion for the past, and whatever else was
reasonable and just. Dionysius seemed to consent to this, and
sent his agents again, desiring some of the Syracusans to come
into the citadel and discuss with him in person the terms to
which on each side they might be willing, after fair debate, to
consent. There were therefore some deputed, such as Dion
approved of; and the general rumor from the castle was, that
Dionysius would voluntarily resign his authority, and rather do
it himself as his own good deed, than let it be the act of Dion.
But this profession was a mere trick to amuse the Syracusans.
For he put the deputies that were sent to him in custody, and by
break of day, having first, to encourage his men, made them
drink plentifully of raw wine, he sent the garrison of
mercenaries out to make a sudden sally against Dion's works.
The attack was quite unexpected, and the barbarians set to work
boldly with loud cries to pull down the cross-wall, and assailed
the Syracusans so furiously that they were not able to maintain
their post. Only a party of Dion's hired soldiers, on first
taking the alarm, advanced to the rescue; neither did they at
first know what to do, or how to employ the aid they brought,
not being able to hear the commands of their officers, amidst
the noise and confusion of the Syracusans, who fled from the
enemy and ran in among them, breaking through their ranks, until
Dion, seeing none of his orders could be heard, resolved to let
them see by example what they ought to do, and charged into the
thickest of the enemy. The fight about him was fierce and
bloody, he being as well known by the enemy as by his own party,
and all running with loud cries to the quarter where he fought.
Though his time of life was no longer that of the bodily
strength and agility for such a combat, still his determination
and courage were sufficient to maintain him against all that
attacked him; but, while bravely driving them back, he was
wounded in the hand with a lance, his body armor also had been
much battered, and was scarcely any longer serviceable to
protect him, either against missiles or blows hand to hand.
Many spears and javelins had passed into it through the shield,
and, on these being broken back, he fell to the ground, but was
immediately rescued, and carried off by his soldiers. The
command-in-chief he left to Timonides, and, mounting a horse,
rode about the city, rallying the Syracusans that fled; and,
ordering up a detachment of the foreign soldiers out of
Achradina, where they were posted on guard, he brought them as a
fresh reserve, eager for battle, upon the tired and failing
enemy, who were already well inclined to give up their design.
For having hopes at their first sally to retake the whole city,
when beyond their expectation they found themselves engaged with
bold and practiced fighters, they fell back towards the castle.
As soon as they gave ground, the Greek soldiers pressed the
harder upon them, till they turned and fled within the walls.
There were lost in this action seventy-four of Dion's men, and a
very great number of the enemy. This being a signal victory,
and principally obtained by the valor of the foreign soldiers,
the Syracusans rewarded them in honor of it with a hundred
minae, and the soldiers on their part presented Dion with a
crown of gold.
Soon after, there came heralds from Dionysius, bringing Dion
letters from the women of his family, and one addressed outside,
"To his father, from Hipparinus;" this was the name of Dion's
son, though Timaeus says, he was, from his mother Arete's name,
called Aretaeus; but I think credit is rather to be given to
Timonides's report, who was his father's fellow-soldier and
confidant. The rest of the letters were read publicly,
containing many solicitations and humble requests of the women;
that professing to be from his son, the heralds would not have
them open publicly, but Dion, putting force upon them, broke the
seal. It was from Dionysius, written in the terms of it to
Dion, but in effect to the Syracusans, and so worded that, under
a plausible justification of himself and entreaty to him, means
were taken for rendering him suspected by the people. It
reminded him of the good service he had formerly done the
usurping government, it added threats to his dearest relations,
his sister, son, and wife, if he did not comply with the
contents, also passionate demands mingled with lamentations,
and, most to the purpose of all, urgent recommendations to him
not to destroy the government, and put the power into the hands
of men who always hated him, and would never forget their old
piques and quarrels; let him take the sovereignty himself, and
so secure the safety of his family and his friends.
When this letter was read, the Syracusans were not, as they
should have been, transported with admiration at the unmovable
constancy and magnanimity of Dion, who withstood all his dearest
interests to be true to virtue and justice, but, on the
contrary, they saw in this their reason for fearing and
suspecting that he lay under an invincible necessity to be
favorable to Dionysius; and they began therefore to look out for
other leaders, and the rather, because to their great joy they
received the news that Heraclides was on his way. This
Heraclides was one of those whom Dionysius had banished, very
good soldier, and well known for the commands he had formerly
had under the tyrant; yet a man of no constant purpose, of a
fickle temper, and least of all to be relied upon when he had to
act with a colleague in any honorable command. He had had a
difference formerly with Dion in Peloponnesus, and had resolved,
upon his own means, with what ships and soldiers he had, to make
an attack upon Dionysius. When he arrived at Syracuse, with
seven galleys and three small vessels, he found Dionysius
already close besieged, and the Syracusans high and proud of
their victories. Forthwith, therefore, he endeavored by all
ways to make himself popular; and, indeed, he had in him
naturally something that was very insinuating and taking with a
populace that loves to be courted. He gained his end, also, the
easier, and drew the people over to his side, because of the
dislike they had taken to Dion's grave and stately manner, which
they thought overbearing and assuming; their successes having
made them so careless and confident, that they expected popular
arts and flatteries from their leaders, before they had in
reality secured a popular government.
Getting therefore together in an irregular assembly, they chose
Heraclides their admiral; but when Dion came forward, and told
them, that conferring this trust upon Heraclides was in effect
to withdraw that which they had granted him, for he was no
longer their generalissimo if another had the command of the
navy, they repealed their order, and, though much against their
wills, canceled the new appointment. When this business was
over, Dion invited Heraclides to his house, and pointed out to