按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
get any time from his other business to compose such elaborate and
ingenious pieces； he replied； very much to the purpose； 〃It was at
those leisurable hours； which such as you and I； and those we call
happy men； bestow upon our cups。〃 Plato had not the opportunity to see
Dionysius at Corinth； being already dead before he came thither； but
Diogenes of Sinope； at their first meeting in the street there；
saluted him with the ambiguous expression； 〃O Dionysius； how little
you deserve your present life！ Upon which Dionysius stopped and
replied； 〃I thank you； Diogenes； for your condolence。〃 〃Condole with
you！〃 replied Diogenes； 〃do you not suppose that； on the contrary； I
am indignant that such a slave as you； who； if you had your due；
should have been let alone to grow old and die in the state of
tyranny； as your father did before you； should now enjoy the ease of
private persons； and be here to sport and frolic in our society？〃 So
that when I compare those sad stories of Philistus； touching the
daughters of Leptines； where he makes pitiful moan on their behalf； as
fallen from all the blessings and advantages of powerful greatness
to the miseries of an humble life； they seem to me like the
lamentations of a woman who has lost her box of ointment； her purple
dresses； and her golden trinkets。 Such anecdotes will not； I conceive；
be thought either foreign to my purpose of writing Lives； or
unprofitable in themselves； by such readers as are not in too much
haste； or busied and taken up with other concerns。
But if the misfortune of Dionysius appears strange and
extraordinary； we shall have no less reason to wonder at the good
fortune of Timoleon； who； within fifty days after his landing in
Sicily； both recovered the citadel of Syracuse and sent Dionysius an
exile into Peloponnesus。 This lucky beginning so animated the
Corinthians； that they ordered him a supply of two thousand foot and
two hundred horse； who； reaching Thurii； intended to cross over thence
into Sicily； but finding the whole sea beset with Carthaginian
ships； which made their passage impracticable； they were constrained
to stop there； and watch their opportunity： which time； however； was
employed in a noble action。 For the Thurians； going out to war against
their Bruttian enemies； left their city in charge with these
Corinthian strangers； who defended it as carefully as if it had been
their own country； and faithfully resigned it up again。
Hicetes； in the interim； continued still to besiege the castle of
Syracuse； and hindered all provisions from coming in by sea to relieve
the Corinthians that were in it。 He had engaged also； and despatched
towards Adranum； two unknown foreigners to assassinate Timoleon； who
at no time kept any standing guard about his person； and was then
altogether secure； diverting himself； without any apprehension；
among the citizens of the place； it being a festival in honour of
their gods。 The two men that were sent； having casually heard that
Timoleon was about to sacrifice； came directly into the temple with
poniards under their cloaks； and pressing in among the crowd； by
little and little got up close to the altar； but； as they were just
looking for a sign from each other to begin the attempt； a third
person struck one of them over the head with a sword； upon whose
sudden fall； neither he that gave the blow； nor the partisan of him
that received it； kept their stations any longer； but the one；
making way with his bloody sword； put no stop to his flight； till he
gained the top of a certain lofty precipice； while the other； laying
hold of the altar； besought Timoleon to spare his life； and he would
reveal to him the whole conspiracy。 His pardon being granted； he
confessed that both himself and his dead companion were sent thither
purposely to slay him。 While this discovery was made； he that killed
the other conspirator had been fetched down from his sanctuary of
the rock； loudly and often protesting； as he came along； that there
was no injustice in the fact； as he had only taken righteous vengeance
for his father's blood； whom this man had murdered before in the
city of Leontini； the truth of which was attested by several there
present； who could not choose but wonder too at the strange
dexterity of fortune's operations； the facility with which she makes
one event the spring and motion to something wholly different； uniting
every scattered accident and loose particular and remote action； and
interweaving them together to serve her purpose； so that things that
in themselves seem to have no connection or interdependence
whatsoever； become in her hands； so to say； the end and the
beginning of each other。 The Corinthians； satisfied as to the
innocence of this seasonable feat； honoured and rewarded the author
with a present of ten pounds in their money； since he had； as it were；
lent the use of his just resentment to the tutelar genius that
seemed to be protecting Timoleon； and had not pre…expended this anger；
so long ago conceived； but had reserved and deferred； under
fortune's guidance； for his preservation； the revenge of a private
quarrel。
But this fortunate escape had effects and consequences beyond the
present； as it inspired the highest hopes and future expectations of
Timoleon； making people reverence and protect him as a sacred person
sent by heaven to revenge and redeem Sicily。 Hicetes； having missed
his aim in this enterprise； and perceiving； also； that many went off
and sided with Timoleon； began to chide himself for his foolish
modesty； that； when so considerable a force of the Carthaginians lay
ready to be commanded by him； he had employed them hitherto by degrees
and in small numbers； introducing their reinforcements by stealth
and clandestinely； as if he had been ashamed of the action。 Therefore；
now laying aside his former nicety； he calls in Mago； their admiral；
with his whole navy； who presently set sail； and seized upon the
port with a formidable fleet of at least a hundred and fifty
vessels； landing there sixty thousand foot； which were all lodged
within the city of Syracuse； so that； in all men's opinion； the time
anciently talked of and long expected； wherein Sicily should be
subjugated by barbarians； was now come to its fatal period。 For in all
their preceding wars and many desperate conflicts with Sicily； the
Carthaginians had never been able； before this； to take Syracuse；
whereas Hicetes now receiving them and putting them into their
hands； you might see it become now as it were a camp of barbarians。 By
this means； the Corinthian soldiers that kept the castle found
themselves brought into great danger and hardship； as； besides that
their provision grew scarce； and they began to be in want； because the
havens were strictly guarded and blocked up； the enemy exercised
them still with skirmishes and combats about their walls； and they
were not only obliged to be continually in arms； but to divide and
prepare themselves for assaults and encounters of every kind； and to
repel every variety of the means of offence employed by a besieging
army。
Timoleon made shift to relieve them in these straits； sending corn
from Catana