dion-第8部分

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hem　to　do　the　soldiers　justice；　who；　in　return；　sent　back　other　agents　to　accuse　Dion。　But　when　a　general　meeting　of　the　confederates　met　in　the　town　of　the　Leontines；　and　the　matter　was　heard　and　debated；　the　Syracusans　were　held　to　be　in　fault。　They；　however；　refused　to　stand　to　the　award　of　their　allies；　following　their　own　conceit；　and　making　it　their　pride　to　listen　to　no　one；　and　not　to　have　any　commanders　but　those　who　would　fear　and　obey　the　people。　　　About　this　time；　Dionysius　sent　in　a　fleet；　under　the　command　of　Nypsius　the　Neapolitan；　with　provisions　and　pay　for　the　garrison。　The　Syracusans　fought　him；　had　the　better；　and　took　four　of　his　ships；　but　they　made　very　ill　use　of　their　good　success；　and　for　want　of　good　discipline；　fell　in　their　joy　to　drinking　and　feasting　in　an　extravagant　manner；　with　so　little　regard　to　their　main　interest　that；　when　they　thought　themselves　sure　of　taking　the　castle；　they　actually　lost　their　city。　Nypsius；　seeing　the　citizens　in　this　general　disorder；　spending　day　and　night　in　their　drunken　singing　and　revelling；　and　their　commanders　well　pleased　with　the　frolic；　or　at　least　not　daring　to　try　and　give　any　orders　to　men　in　their　drink；　took　advantage　of　this　opportunity；　made　a　sally；　and　stormed　their　works；　and　having　made　his　way　through　these；　let　his　barbarians　loose　upon　the　city；　giving　up　it　and　all　that　were　in　it　to　their　pleasure。　　　The　Syracusans　quickly　saw　their　folly　and　misfortune；　but　could　not；　in　the　distraction　they　were　in；　so　soon　redress　it。　The　city　was　in　actual　process　of　being　sacked；　the　enemy　putting　the　men　to　the　sword；　demolishing　the　fortifications；　and　dragging　the　women　and　children；　with　lamentable　shrieks　and　cries；　prisoners　into　the　castle。　The　commanders；　giving　all　for　lost；　were　not　able　to　put　the　citizens　in　any　tolerable　posture　of　defence；　finding　them　confusedly　mixed　up　and　scattered　among　the　enemy。　While　they　were　in　this　condition；　and　the　Achradina　in　danger　to　be　taken；　every　one　was　sensible　who　he　was　in　whom　all　their　remaining　hopes　rested；　but　no　man　for　shame　durst　name　Dion；　whom　they　had　so　ungratefully　and　foolishly　dealt　with。　Necessity　at　last　forcing　them；　some　of　the　auxiliary　troops　and　horsemen　cried　out；　〃Send　for　Dion　and　his　Peloponnesians　from　the　Leontines。〃　No　sooner　was　the　venture　made　and　the　name　heard　among　the　people；　but　they　gave　a　shout　for　joy；　and；　with　tears　in　their　eyes；　wished　him　there；　that　they　might　once　again　see　that　leader　at　the　head　of　them；　whose　courage　and　bravery　in　the　worst　of　dangers　they　well　remembered；　calling　to　mind　not　only　with　what　an　undaunted　spirit　he　always　behaved　himself；　but　also　with　what　courage　and　confidence　he　inspired　them　when　he　led　them　against　the　enemy。　They　immediately；　therefore；　despatched　Archonides　and　Telesides　of　the　confederate　troops；　and　of　the　horsemen　Hellanicus　and　four　others。　These；　traversing　the　road　between　at　their　horses'　full　speed；　reached　the　town　of　the　Leontines　in　the　evening。　The　first　thing　they　did　was　to　leap　from　their　horses　and　fall　at　Dion's　feet；　relating　with　tears　the　sad　condition　the　Syracusans　were　in。　Many　of　the　Leontines　and　Peloponnesians　began　to　throng　about　them；　guessing　by　their　speed　and　the　manner　of　their　address　that　something　extraordinary　had　occurred。　　　Dion　at　once　led　the　way　to　the　assembly；　and　the　people　being　gathered　together　in　a　very　little　time；　Archonides　and　Hellanicus　and　the　others　came　in　among　them；　and　in　short　declared　the　misery　and　distress　of　the　Syracusans；　begging　the　foreign　soldiers　to　forget　the　injuries　they　had　received；　and　assist　the　afflicted；　who　had　suffered　more　for　the　wrong　they　had　done　than　they　themselves　who　received　it　would　（had　it　been　in　their　power）　have　inflicted　upon　them。　When　they　had　made　an　end；　there　was　a　profound　silence　in　the　theatre；　Dion　then　stood　up；　and　began　to　speak；　but　tears　stopped　his　words；　his　soldiers　were　troubled　at　his　grief；　but　bade　him　take　good　courage　and　proceed。　When　he　had　recovered　himself　a　little；　therefore；　〃Men　of　Peloponnesus；〃　he　said；　〃and　of　the　confederacy；　I　asked　for　your　presence　here；　that　you　might　consider　your　own　interests。　For　myself；　I　have　no　interests　to　consult　while　Syracuse　is　perishing；　and　though　I　may　not　save　it　from　destruction；　I　will　nevertheless　hasten　thither；　and　be　buried　in　the　ruins　of　my　country。　Yet　if　you　can　find　in　your　hearts　to　assist　us；　the　most　inconsiderate　and　unfortunate　of　men；　you　may　to　your　eternal　honour　again　retrieve　this　unhappy　city。　But　if　the　Syracusans　can　obtain　no　more　pity　nor　relief　from　you；　may　the　gods　reward　you　for　what　you　have　formerly　valiantly　done　for　them；　and　for　your　kindness　to　Dion；　of　whom　speak　hereafter　as　one　who　deserted　you　not　when　you　were　injured　and　abused；　nor　afterwards　forsook　his　fellow…citizens　in　their　afflictions　and　misfortunes。〃　　　Before　he　had　yet　ended　his　speech；　the　soldiers　leapt　up；　and　with　a　great　shout　testified　their　readiness　for　the　service；　crying　out；　to　march　immediately　to　the　relief　of　the　city。　The　Syracusan　messengers　hugged　and　embraced　them；　praying　the　gods　to　send　down　blessings　upon　Dion　and　the　Peloppnnesians。　When　the　noise　was　pretty　well　over；　Dion　gave　orders　that　all　should　go　to　their　quarters　to　prepare　for　their　march；　and　having　refreshed　themselves；　came　ready　armed　to　their　rendezvous　in　the　place　where　they　now　were；　resolving　that　very　night　to　attempt　the　rescue。　　　Now　at　Syracuse；　Dionysius's　soldiers；　as　long　as　day　continued；　ransacked　the　city；　and　did　all　the　mischief　they　could；　but　when　night　came　on；　they　retired　into　the　castle；　having　lost　some　few　of　their　number。　At　which　the　factious　ringleaders　taking　heart；　and　hoping　the　enemy　would　rest　content　with　what　they　had　done　and　make　no　further　attempt　upon　them；　persuaded　the　people　again　to　reject　Dion；　and；　if　he　came　with　the　foreign　soldiers；　not　to　admit　him；　advising　them　not　to　yield；　as　inferior　to　them　in　point　of　honour　and　courage；　but　to　save　their　city　and　defend　their　liberties　and　properties　themselves。　The　populace；　therefore；　and　their　leaders；　sent　messengers　to　Dion　to　forbid　him　to　advance；　while　the　noble　citizens　and　the　horse　sent　others　to　him　to　desire　to　hasten　his　march；　for　which　reason　he　slacked　his　pace；　yet　did　not　remit　his　advance。　And　in　the　course　of　the　night；　the　faction　that　was　against　him　set　a　guard　upon　the　gates　of　the　city　to　hinder　him　from　coming　in。　But　Nypsius　made　another　sally　out　of　the　castle　with　a　far　greater　number　of　men；　and　those　far　more　bold　and　eager　than　before；　who　quite　ruined　what　of　the　rampart　was　left　standing；　and　fell　in；　pell…mell；　to　sack　and　ravage　the　city。　The　slaughter　was　now　very　great；　not　only　of　the　men；　but　of　the　women；　also；　and　children；　for　they　regarded　not　so　much　the　plunder；　as　to　destroy　and　kill　all　they　met。　For　Dionysius；　despairing　to　regain　the　kingdom；　and　mortally　hating　the　Syracusans；　resolved　to　bury　his　lost　sovereignty　in　the　ruin　and　desolation　of　Syracuse。　The　soldiers；　therefore；　to　anticipate　Dion's　succours；　resolved　upon　the　most　complete　and　ready　way　of　destruction；　to　lay　the　city　in　ashes；　firing　all　at　hand　with　torches　and　lamps；　and　at　distance　with　flaming　arrows；　shot　from　their　bows。　The　citizens　fled　every　way　before　them；　they　who；　to　avoid　the　fire；　forsook　their　houses；　were　taken　in　the　streets　and　put　to　the　sword；　they　who　betook　themselves　for　refuge　into　the　houses　were　forced　out　again　by　the　flames；　many　buildings　being　now　in　a　blaze；　and　many　falling　in　ruins　upon　them　as　they　fled　past。　　　This　fresh　misfortune　by　general　consent　opened　the　gates　for　Dion。　He　had　given　up　his　rapid　advance；　when　he　received　advice　that　the　enemies　were　retreated　into　the　castle；　but；　in　the　morning；　some　horse　brought　him　the　news　of　another　assault；　and；　soon　after；　some　of　those　who　before　opposed　his　coming　fled　now　to　him；　to　entreat　him　he　would　hasten　his　relief。　The　pressure　increasing；　Heraclides　sent　his　brother　and　after　him　his　uncle；　Theodotes；　to　beg　him　to　help　them；　for　that　now　they　were　not　able　to　resist　any　longer；　he　himself　was　wounded；　and　the　greatest　part　of　the　city　either　in　ruins　in　or　flames。　When　Dion　met　this　sad　news；　he　was　about　sixty　furlongs　distant　from　the　city。　When　he　had　acquainted　the　soldiers　with　the　exigency；　and　exhorted　them　to　behave　themselves　like　men；　the　army　no　longer　marched　but　ran　forwards；　and　by　the　way　were　met　by　messengers　upon　messengers　entreating　them　to　make　haste。　By　the　wonderful　eagerness　of　the　soldiers；　and　their　extraordinary　speed；　Dion　quickly　came　to　the　city；　and　entered　what　is　called　the　Hecatompedon；　sending　his　light…armed　men　at　once　to　charge　the　enemy；　that；　seeing　them；　the　Syracusans　might　take　courage。　In　the　meantime；　he　drew　up　in　good　order　his　full…armed　men　and　all　the　citizens　that　came　in　and　joined　him；　forming　his　battalions　deep；　and　distributing　his　officers　in　many　separate　commands；　that　he　might　be　able　to　attack　from　many　quarters　at　once；　and　so　be　more　alarming　to　the　enemy。　　　So；　having　made　his　arrangements　and　offered　vows　to　the　gods；　when　he　was　seen　in　the　streets　advancing　at　the　head　of　his　men　to　engage　the　enemy；　a　confused　noise　of　shouts；　congratulations；　vows；　and　prayers　was　raised　by　the　Syracusans；　who　now　called　Dion　their　deliverer　and　tutelar　deity；　and　his　soldiers　their　friends；　brethren；　and　fellow…citizens。　And；　indeed；　at　that　moment；　none　seemed　to　regard　themselves；　or　value　their　safeties；　but　to　be　concerned　more　for　Dion's　life　than　for　all　their　own　together；　as　he　marched　at　the　head　of　them　to　meet　the　danger；　through　blood　and　fire　and　over　heaps　of　dead　bodies　that　lay　in　his　way。　　　And　indeed　the　posture　of　the　enemy　was　in　appearance　terrible；　for　they　were　flushed　and　ferocious　with　victory；　and　had　posted　themselves　very　advantageously　along　the　demolished　works；　which　made　the　access　to　them　very　hazardous　and　difficult。　Yet　that　which　disturbed　Dion's　soldiers　most　was　the　apprehension　they　were　in　of　the　fire；　which　made　their　march　very　troublesome　and　difficult；　for　the　houses　being　in　flames　on　all　sides；　they　were　met　everywhere　with　the　blaze；　and；　treading　upon　burning　ruins　and