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Messena； where Hippo was tyrant。 Timoleon； however； coming up
against them； and besieging the city both by sea and land； Hippo；
fearful of the event； endeavoured to slip away in a vessel； which
the people of Messena surprised as it was putting off； and seizing
on his person； and bringing all their children from school into the
theatre； to witness the glorious spectacle of a tyrant punished；
they first publicly scourged and then put him to death。 Mamercus
made surrender of himself to Timoleon； with the proviso that he should
be tried at Syracuse and Timoleon should take no part in his
accusation。 Thither he was brought accordingly； and presenting himself
to plead before the people； he essayed to pronounce an oration he
had long before composed in his own defence； but finding himself
interrupted by noise and clamours； and observing from their aspect and
demeanour that the assembly was inexorable； he threw off his upper
garment； and running across the theatre as hard as he could； dashed
his head against one of the stones under the seats with intention to
have killed himself； but he had not the fortune to perish as he
designed； but was taken up alive； and suffered the death of a robber。
Thus did Timoleon cut the nerves of tyranny and put a period to
the wars； and； whereas； at his first entering upon Sicily； the
island was as it were become wild again； and was hateful to the very
natives on account of the evils and miseries they suffered there； he
so civilized and restored it； and rendered it so desirable to all men；
that even strangers now came by sea to inhabit those towns and
places which their own citizens had formerly forsaken and left
desolate。 Agrigentum and Gela； two famous cities that had been
ruined and laid waste by the Carthaginians after the Attic war； were
then peopled again； the one by Megellus and Pheristus from Elea； the
other by Gorgus； from the island of Ceos； partly with new settlers；
partly with the old inhabitants whom they collected again from various
parts； to all of whom Timoleon not only afforded a secure and peaceful
abode after so obstinate a war； but was further so zealous in
assisting and providing for them that he was honoured among them as
their founder。 Similar feelings also possessed to such a degree all
the rest of the Sicilians that there was no proposal for peace； nor
reformation of laws； nor assignation of land； nor reconstruction of
government； which they could think well of； unless he lent his aid
as a chief architect； to finish and adorn the work； and superadd
some touches from his own hand； which might render it pleasing both to
God and man。
Although Greece had in his time produced several persons of
extraordinary worth； and much renowned for their achievements； such as
Timotheus and Agesilaus and Pelopidas and （Timoleon's chief model）
Epaminondas； yet the lustre of their best actions was obscured by a
degree of violence and labour； insomuch that some of them were
matter of blame and of repentance； whereas there is not any one act of
Timoleon's； setting aside the necessity he was placed under in
reference to his brother； to which； as Timaeus observes； we may not
fitly apply that exclamation of Sophocles…
〃O gods！ what Venus； or what grace divine；
Did here with human workmanship combine？〃
For as the poetry of Antimachus； and the painting of Dionysius； the
artists of Colophon； though full of force and vigour； yet appeared
to be strained and elaborate in comparison with the pictures of
Nicomachus and the verses of Homer； which； besides their general
strength and beauty； have the peculiar charm of seeming to have been
executed with perfect ease and readiness； so the expeditions and
acts of Epaminondas or Agesilaus； that were full of toil and effort；
when compared with the easy and natural as well as noble and
glorious achievements of Timoleon； compel our fair and unbiased
judgment to pronounce the latter not indeed the effect of fortune； but
the success of fortunate merit。 Though he himself indeed ascribed that
success to the sole favour of fortune； and both in the letters which
he wrote to his friends at Corinth； and in the speeches he made to the
people of Syracuse； he would say； that he was thankful unto God；
who； designing to save Sicily； was pleased to honour him with the name
and title of the deliverance he vouchsafed it。 And having built a
chapel in his house； he there sacrificed to Good Hap； as a deity
that had favoured him； and devoted the house itself to the Sacred
Genius； it being a house which the Syracusans had selected for him； as
a special reward and monument of his brave exploits； granting him
together with it the most agreeable and beautiful piece of land in the
whole country； where he kept his residence for the most part； and
enjoyed a private life with his wife and children； who came to him
from Corinth。 For he returned thither no more； unwilling to be
concerned in the broils and tumults of Greece； or to expose himself to
public envy （the fatal mischief which great commanders continually run
into； from the insatiable appetite for honours and authority）； but
wisely chose to spend the remainder of his days in Sicily； and there
partake of the blessings he himself had procured； the greatest of
which was to behold so many cities flourish； and so many thousands
of people live happy through his means。
As； however； not only； as Simonides says； 〃on every lark must grow a
crest；〃 but also in every democracy there must spring up a false
accuser； so was it at Syracuse： two of their popular spokesmen；
Laphystius and Demaenetus by name； fell to slander Timoleon。 The
former of whom requiring him to put in sureties that he would answer
to an indictment that would be brought against him； Timoleon would not
suffer the citizens； who were incensed at this demand； to oppose it or
hinder the proceeding； since he of his own accord had been； he said；
at all that trouble； and run so many dangerous risks for this very end
and purpose； that every one who wished to try matters by law should
freely have recourse to it。 And when Demaenetus； in a full audience of
the people； laid several things to his charge which had been done
while he was general； he made no reply to him； but only said he was
much indebted to the gods for granting the request he had so often
made them； namely； that he might live to see the Syracusans enjoy that
liberty of speech which they now seemed to be masters of。
Timoleon； therefore； having by confession of all done the greatest
and the noblest things of any Greek of his age； and alone
distinguished himself in those actions to which their orators and
philosophers； in their harangues and panegyrics at their solemn
national assemblies； used to exhort and incite the Greeks； and being
withdrawn beforehand by happy fortune； unspotted and without blood；
from the calamities of civil war； in which ancient Greece was soon
after involved； having also given full proof； as of his sage conduct
and manly courage to the barbarians and tyrants； so of his justice and
gentleness to the Greeks； and his friends in general； having raised；
too； the greater part of those tro