Διονύσιος δὲ πρῶτον ἰδίᾳ πρὸς Δίωνα πρέσβεις ἔπεμπεν ἀποπειρώμενος· ἔπειτα κελεύσαντος ἐκείνου διαλέγεσθαι κοινῇ Συρακουσίοις ὡς ἐλευθέροις οὖσιν, ἐγένοντο λόγοι διὰ τῶν πρέσβεων παρὰ τοῦ τυράννου φιλάνθρωποι, φόρων ὑπισχνουμένου μετριότητα καὶ ῥᾳστώνην στρατειῶν, ὧν ἂν αὐτοὶ σύμψηφοι γένωνται.
At first, Dionysius sent envoys privately to Dion and tried to make terms with him; then, when Dion bade him confer publicly with the Syracusans, on the ground that they were a free people, the envoys brought generous propositions from the tyrant, who promised such moderate taxes and easy military service as the people themselves should agree to by vote.
ταῦτα ἐχλεύαζον οἱ Συρακούσιοι. Δίων δʼ ἀπεκρίνατο τοῖς πρέσβεσι μὴ διαλέγεσθαι πρὸς αὐτοὺς Διονύσιον, εἰ μὴ τὴν ἀρχὴν ἀφίησιν ἀφέντι δὲ συμπράξειν ἄδειαν αὐτός, κἂν ἄλλο τι τῶν μετρίων δύνηται, μεμνημένος τῆς οἰκειότητος.
These offers were derided by the Syracusans, and Dion made answer to the envoys that Dionysius was not to confer with them unless he renounced his sovereignty; but on his renouncing this, Dion would himself procure immunity for him, and any other reasonable privilege that was in his power, mindful of the close relationship between them.
ταῦτα Διονύσιος ἐπῄνει, καὶ πάλιν ἔπεμπε πρέσβεις κελεύων ἥκειν τινὰς εἰς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν τῶν Συρακουσίων, οἷς τὰ μὲν πείθων, τὰ δὲ πειθόμενος διαλέξεται περὶ τῶν κοινῇ συμφερόντων,
These conditions Dionysius approved, and again sent envoys, bidding some of the Syracusans to come to the acropolis, where, both parties making concessions, he would confer with them concerning the common good.
ἐπέμφθησαν οὖν ἄνδρες πρὸς αὐτὸν οὓς Δίων ἐδοκίμασε. καὶ λόγος πολὺς ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας εἰς τούς Συρακουσίους κατῄει Διονύσιον ἀφήσειν τὴν τυραννίδα καὶ μᾶλλον ἑαυτοῦ ποιήσεσθαι χάριν ἢ Δίωνος.
Accordingly, men were sent to him whom Dion approved. And frequent reports came to the Syracusans from the citadel that Dionysius would renounce the tyranny, and would do this to please himself rather than Dion.
ἦν δὲ δόλος ἡ προσποίησις αὕτη τοῦ τυράννου καὶ σκευωρία κατὰ τῶν Συρακουσίων, τούς μὲν γὰρ ἐλθόντας πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐκ τῆς πόλεως συγκλείσας εἶχε, τούς δὲ μισθοφόρους πρὸς ὄρθρον ἐμπλήσας ἀκράτου δρόμῳ πρὸς τὸ περιτείχισμα τῶν Συρακουσίων ἐφῆκε·
But this was a treacherous pretence on the part of the tyrant, and a piece of knavery directed against the Syracusans. For he kept in close custody the deputation that came to him from the city, and towards morning plied his mercenaries with strong wine and sent them on a dash against the siege-wall about the acropolis.
γενομένης δὲ τῆς προσβολῆς ἀνελπίστου καὶ τῶν βαρβάρων θράσει πολλῷ καὶ θορύβῳ καθαιρούντων τὸ διατείχισμα καὶ τοῖς Συρακουσίοις ἐπιφερομένων, οὐδεὶς ἐτόλμα μένων ἀμύνεσθαι, πλὴν τῶν ξένων τῶν Δίωνος, οἳ πρῶτον αἰσθόμενοι τὸν θόρυβον ἐξεβοήθησαν.
The attack was unexpected, and the Barbarians, with great boldness and loud tumult, began to tear down the cross-wall and attack the Syracusans, so that no one dared to stand on the defensive, except the mercenaries of Dion, who first noticed the disturbance and came to the rescue.
οὐδʼ οὗτοι δὲ τῆς βοηθείας τὸν τρόπον συνεφρόνουν οὐδʼ εἰσήκουον ὑπὸ κραυγῆς καὶ πλάνης τῶν φευγόντων Συρακουσίων ἀναπεφυρμένων αὐτοῖς καὶ διεκθεόντων, πρίν γε δὴ Δίων, ἐπεὶ λέγοντος οὐδεὶς κατήκουεν, ἔργῳ τὸ πρακτέον ὑφηγήσασθαι βουλόμενος ἐμβάλλει πρῶτος εἰς τούς βαρβάρους,
And even these knew not how to render aid, nor could they hear what was said to them, owing to the shouts and wild movements of the fugitive Syracusans, who mingled confusedly with them and broke through their ranks. But at last Dion, since no one could hear his orders, wishing to show by his example what should be done charged foremost into the Barbarians.
καὶ γίνεται περὶ αὐτὸν ὀξεῖα καὶ δεινὴ μάχη, γινωσκόμενον οὐχ ἧττον ὑπὸ τῶν πολεμίων ἢ τῶν φίλων· ὥρμησαν γὰρ ἅμα πάντες ἐμβοήσαντες.
Then there arose about him a fierce and dreadful battle, since he was recognized by the enemy as well as by his friends, and all rushed towards him at the same time with loud shouts.
ὁ δʼ ἦν μὲν ἤδη βαρύτερος διʼ ἡλικίαν ἢ κατὰ τοιούτους ἀγῶνας, ἀλκῇ δὲ καὶ θυμῷ τούς προσφερομένους ὑφιστάμενος καὶ ἀνακόπτων τιτρώσκεται λόγχῃ τὴν χεῖρα, πρὸς δὲ τὰ ἄλλα βέλη καὶ τὰς ἐκ χειρὸς πληγὰς μόλις ὁ θώραξ ἤρκεσε διὰ τῆς ἀσπίδος δόρασι πολλοῖς καὶ λόγχαις τυπτόμενος ὧν κατακλασθέντων κατέπεσεν ὁ Δίων.
He was now, by reason of his age, too unwieldy for such struggles, but he withstood and cut down his assailants with vigour and courage until he was wounded in the hand with a lance; besides, his breastplate hardly sufficed to resist the other missiles and hand-to-hand thrusts, and he was smitten through his shield by many spears and lances, and when these were broken off he fell to the ground.
εἶτα ἀναρπασθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν στρατιωτῶν ἐκείνοις μὲν ἡγεμόνα Τιμωνίδην ἐπέστησεν, αὐτὸς δὲ τὴν πόλιν ἵππῳ περιελαύνων τούς τε Συρακουσίους ἔπαυε φυγῆς, καὶ τῶν ξένων τούς φυλάττοντας τὴν Ἀχραδινὴν ἀναστήσας ἐπῆγε τοῖς βαρβάροις ἀκμῆτας ἐκπεπονημένοις καὶ προθύμους ἀπαυδῶσιν ἤδη πρὸς τὴν πεῖραν.
Then, after he had been snatched away by his soldiers, he put Timonides in command of these, while he himself, mounting a horse, rode about the city rallying the flying Syracusans, and bringing up a detachment of his mercenaries who were guarding Achradina, led them against the Barbarians,—fresh and eager reserves against a worn-out foe, and one that already despaired of his cause.
ἐλπίσαντες γὰρ ἅμα τῇ πρώτῃ ῥύμῃ τὴν πόλιν ἅπασαν ἐξ ἐπιδρομῆς καθέξειν, εἶτα παρὰ δόξαν ἐντυγχάνοντες ἀνδράσι πλήκταις καὶ μαχίμοις ἀνεστέλλοντο πρὸς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν.
For they had expected at their first onset to overrun and occupy the whole city, and now that they had unexpectedly encountered men who could smite and fight, they retired towards the acropolis.
ἔτι δὲ μᾶλλον, ὡς ἐνέδωκαν, ἐπικειμένων τῶν Ἑλλήνων τραπόμενοι κατεκλείσθησαν εἰς τὸ τεῖχος, ἑβδομήκοντα μὲν καὶ τέσσαρας ἀποκτείναντες τῶν μετὰ Δίωνος, ἑαυτῶν δὲ πολλοὺς ἀποβαλόντες,
But as they gave ground, the Greeks pressed all the harder upon them, so that they turned their backs and were driven into the shelter of the citadel; they had slain seventy-four of Dion’s men, and had lost many of their own number.
γενομένης δὲ λαμπρᾶς τῆς νίκης οἱ μὲν Συρακούσιοι τοὺς ξένους ἑκατὸν μναῖς ἐστεφάνωσαν, οἱ δὲ ξένοι Δίωνα χρυσῷ στεφάνῳ.
The victory was a brilliant one, and the Syracusans rewarded Dion’s mercenaries with a hundred minas, while the mercenaries honoured Dion with a wreath of gold.
κήρυκες δὲ παρὰ τοῦ Διονυσίου κατέβαινον ἐπιστολὰς πρὸς Δίωνα παρὰ τῶν οἰκείων γυναικῶν κομίζοντες, μία δʼ ἦν ἔξωθεν ἐπιγεγραμμένη, τῷ πατρὶ, παρʼ Ἱππαρίνου·
And now heralds came down from Dionysius bringing letters to Dion from the women of his family. There was also one addressed outside, To his father, from Hipparinus;
τοῦτο γὰρ ἦν ὄνομα τῷ Δίωνος υἱῷ. καίτοι φησὶ Τίμαιος Ἀρεταῖον αὐτὸν ἀπὸ τῆς μητρὸς Ἀρετῆς καλεῖσθαι· Τιμωνίδῃ δὲ μᾶλλον, ὡς οἴομαι, περί γε τούτων πιστευτέον, ἀνδρὶ φίλῳ καὶ συστρατιώτῃ Δίωνος.
for this was the name of Dion’s son. Timaeus, it is true, says he was called Aretaeus, from his mother Arete; but on this point at least, in my opinion, Timonides is rather to be trusted, who was a friend and fellow-soldier of Dion’s.
αἱ μὲν οὖν ἄλλαι τοῖς Συρακουσίοις ἀνεγνώσθησαν ἐπιστολαί πολλὰς ἱκεσίας καὶ δεήσεις ἔχουσαι παρὰ τῶν γυναικῶν, τὴν δὲ παρὰ τοῦ παιδὸς εἶναι δοκοῦσαν οὐκ ἐώντων φανερῶς λυθῆναι βιασάμενος ὁ Δίων ἔλυσεν.
Well, then, the rest of the letters were read aloud to the Syracusans, and contained many supplications and entreaties from the women; but that which purported to be from Dion’s son, the people would not allow to be opened in public. Dion, however, insisted upon it, and opened the letter.
ἦν δὲ παρὰ τοῦ Διονυσίου, τοῖς μὲν γράμμασι πρὸς τὸν Δίωνα, τοῖς δὲ πράγμασι πρὸς τοὺς Συρακοσίους διαλεγομένου, σχῆμα μὲν ἔχουσα δεήσεως καὶ δικαιολογίας, συγκειμένη δὲ πρὸς διαβολὴν τοῦ Δίωνος,
It was from Dionysius, who nominally addressed himself to Dion, but really to the Syracusans; and it had the form of entreaty and justification, but was calculated to bring odium on Dion.
ὑπομνήσεις τε γὰρ ἦσαν ὧν ὑπὲρ τῆς τυραννίδος ἔπραξε προθύμως, καὶ κατὰ τῶν φιλτάτων ἀπειλαὶ σωμάτων, ἀδελφῆς καί τέκνου καὶ γυναικός, ἐπισκήψεις τε δειναὶ μετʼ ὀλοφυρμῶν, καί τὸ μάλιστα κινῆσαν αὐτόν, ἀξιοῦντος μὴ καθαιρεῖν, ἀλλὰ παραλαμβάνειν τὴν τυραννίδα, μηδʼ ἐλευθεροῦν μισοῦντας ἀνθρώπους καὶ μνησικακοῦντας, ἀλλʼ αὐτὸν ἄρχειν, παρέχοντα τοῖς φίλοις καὶ οἰκείοις τὴν ἀσφάλειαν.
For there were reminders of his zealous services in behalf of the tyranny, and threats against the persons of his dearest ones, his sister, children, and wife; there were also dire injunctions coupled with lamentations, and, what affected him most of all, a demand that he should not abolish, but assume, the tyranny; that he should not give liberty to men who hated him and would never forget their wrongs, but take the power himself, and thereby assure his friends and kindred of their safety.
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