Plutarch · Life of Dion Δίων

Plutarch, Life of Dion 41.1–46.7: Nypsius burns Syracuse and Dion returns to save it

Nypsius brings supplies to the acropolis, and while the victorious Syracusans carouse he breaks down their siege-wall and sacks the city. Messengers from the allies and horsemen beg Dion at Leontini for help, and he weeps before his mercenaries, who bid him lead them that night. As the city burns, Dion hurries on, is hailed as saviour and god, and drives Nypsius' men back into the acropolis.

Sections 41.1–46.7 · 1816 words · click a number to copy its link

ἐκ τούτου καταπλέουσιν εἰς τὴν πόλιν παρὰ Διονυσίου τριήρεις Νύψιον ἄγουσαι τὸν Νεαπολίτην, σῖτον καὶ χρήματα κομίζοντα τοῖς πολιορκουμένοις.

After this, there put in at the city triremes from Dionysius, under the command of Nypsius the Neapolitan, who brought food and money for the beleaguered garrison of the acropolis.

γενομένης δὲ ναυμαχίας ἐνίκων μὲν οἱ Συρακούσιοι καὶ τέσσαρας τῶν τυραννικῶν νεῶν ἔλαβον, ὑβρίσαντες δὲ τῇ νίκῃ, καὶ διʼ ἀναρχίαν τὸ χαῖρον εἰς πότους καὶ συνουσίας μανικὰς τρέψαντες, οὕτω τῶν χρησίμων ἠμέλησαν ὥστε τὴν ἀκρόπολιν ἔχειν δοκοῦντες ἤδη καὶ τὴν πόλιν προσαπέβαλον.

In a naval battle that ensued the Syracusans were indeed victorious, and captured four of the tyrant’s ships, but they were made wanton by their victory, and in their utter lack of discipline turned their rejoicing into drinking-bouts and mad carousals, and were so neglectful of their real interests that, when they thought themselves already in possession of the acropolis, they actually lost both it and their city besides.

ὁ γὰρ Νύψιος ὁρῶν οὐδὲν ὑγιαῖνον ἐν τῇ πόλει μέρος, ἀλλὰ τὸν μὲν ὄχλον αὐλήμασι καὶ μέθαις εἰς νύκτα βαθεῖαν ἀφʼ ἡμέρας κατεχόμενον, τοὺς δὲ στρατηγοὺς ἐπιτερπομένους τε τούτῳ τῷ πανηγυρισμῷ καὶ προσάγειν ἀνάγκην μεθύουσιν ἀνθρώποις ὀκνοῦντας,

For Nypsius, seeing no saving remnant in the city, but the multitude given over to music and revelry from dawn till midnight, and their generals delighted with this festivity and reluctant to use compulsion with men in their cups,

ἄριστα τῷ καιρῷ χρησάμενος ἐπεχείρησε τῷ τειχίσματι καὶ κρατήσας καὶ διαθρύψας ἐφῆκε τοὺς βαρβάρους, κελεύσας χρῆσθαι τοῖς προστυγχάνουσιν ὡς βούλονται καὶ δύνανται.

made the best use of his opportunity and attacked their siege-works, and having mastered these and broken them down, he let his Barbarians loose upon the city, bidding them treat those whom they encountered as they could and would.

ταχέως μὲν οὖν οἱ Συρακούσιοι τὸ κακὸν ᾔσθοντο, βραδέως δὲ καὶ χαλεπῶς συνεβοήθουν ἐκπεπληγμένοι.

Quickly, then, were the Syracusans aware of the mischief, but slowly and with difficulty did they rally to oppose it, so utterly distracted were they.

πόρθησις γὰρ ἦν τὰ γινόμενα τῆς πόλεως, τῶν μὲν ἀνδρῶν φονευομένων, τῶν δὲ τειχῶν κατασκαπτομένων, γυναικῶν δὲ καὶ παίδων ἀγομένων εἰς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν μετʼ οἰμωγῆς, ἀπεγνωκότων δὲ τὰ πράγματα τῶν στρατηγῶν καὶ χρῆσθαι μὴ δυναμένων τοῖς πολίταις πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους ἀναπεφυρμένους καὶ συμμεμιγμένους αὐτοῖς πανταχόθεν.

For it was a sack of the city that was now going on, its men being slain, its walls torn down, and its women and children dragged shrieking to the acropolis, while its generals gave up all for lost and were unable to employ the citizens against the enemy, who were everywhere inextricably mingled with them.

οὕτω δὲ τῶν κατὰ τὴν πόλιν ἐχόντων καὶ τοῦ κινδύνου πρὸς τὴν Ἀχραδινὴν πλησιάζοντος, εἰς ὃν μόνον ἦν καὶ λοιπὸν ἀπερείσασθαι τὴν ἐλπίδα πάντες μὲν ἐφρόνουν, ἔλεγε δὲ οὐδείς, αἰσχυνόμενοι τὴν ἀχαριστίαν καὶ τὴν ἀβουλίαν τὴν πρὸς Δίωνα.

While the city was in this plight and the Achradina in imminent peril, all knew who was the only man left upon whom they could fasten their hopes, but no one spoke his name, because they were ashamed of their ingratitude and folly towards Dion.

πλήν γε δὴ τῆς ἀνάγκης ἐκβιαζομένης παρὰ τῶν συμμάχων καὶ τῶν ἱππέων γίνεται φωνὴ καλεῖν Δίωνα καὶ μεταπέμπεσθαι τοὺς Πελοποννησίους ἐκ Λεοντίνων.

However, now that necessity constrained them, some of the allies and horsemen cried out that Dion and his Peloponnesians should be summoned from Leontini.

ὡς δὲ πρῶτον ἠκούσθη καὶ ἀπετολμήθη τοῦτο, κραυγὴ καὶ χαρὰ καὶ δάκρυα τοὺς Συρακουσίους κατεῖχεν εὐχομένους ἐπιφανῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα καὶ ποθοῦντας τὴν ὄψιν αὐτοῦ καὶ μεμνημένους τῆς παρὰ τὰ δεινὰ ῥώμης καὶ προθυμίας, ὡς οὐ μόνον αὐτὸς ἦν ἀνέκπληκτος, ἀλλὰ κἀκείνους παρεῖχε θαρροῦντας καὶ ἀδεῶς τοῖς πολεμίοις συμφερομένους.

As soon as this venture was made and the name heard, the Syracusans fell to shouting and weeping for joy; they prayed that Dion might appear upon the scene, and yearned for the sight of him, and called to mind his ardour and vigour in the presence of danger, remembering that he was not only undaunted himself, but made them also bold and fearless in engaging their enemies.

εὐθὺς οὖν ἐκπέμπουσι πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀπὸ μὲν τῶν συμμάχων Ἀρχωνίδην καὶ Τελεσίδην, ἀπὸ δὲ τῶν ἱππέων πέντε τοὺς περὶ Ἑλλάνικον.

Immediately, therefore, they sent a delegation to him, Archonides and Telesides from the allies, and Hellanicus with four others from the horsemen.

οὗτοι διελάσαντες τὴν ὁδὸν ἵπποις ἀπὸ ῥυτῆρος ἧκον εἰς Λεοντίνους τῆς ἡμέρας ἤδη καταφερομένης.

These, sending their horses over the road at full gallop, came to Leontini just as the sun was setting.

ἀποπηδήσαντες δὲ τῶν ἵππων καὶ τῷ Δίωνι πρώτῳ προσπεσόντες δεδακρυμένοι τὰς συμφορὰς τῶν Συρακοσίων ἔφραζον.

Then, leaping from their horses and throwing themselves at the feet of Dion first of all, with streaming eyes they told him the calamities of the Syracusans.

ἤδη δὲ καὶ τῶν Λεοντίνων τινὲς ἀπήντων καὶ τῶν Πελοποννησίων ἡθροίζοντο πρὸς τὸν Δίωνα πολλοί, τῇ σπουδῇ καὶ τῇ δεήσει τῶν ἀνδρῶν ὑπονοοῦντες εἶναί τι καινότερον.

Presently, too, some of the Leontines came up and many of the Peloponnesians gathered about Dion, conjecturing from the haste and suppliant address of the men that something quite extraordinary was the matter.

εὐθὺς οὖν ἡγεῖτο πρὸς τὴν ἐκκλησίαν αὐτοῖς, καὶ συνδραμόντων προθύμως οἱ περὶ τὸν Ἀρχωνίδην καὶ τὸν Ἑλλάνικον εἰσελθόντες ἐξήγγειλάν τε βραχέως τὸ μέγεθος τῶν κακῶν, καὶ παρεκάλουν τοὺς ξένους ἐπαμῦναι τοῖς Συρακουσίοις, τὸ μνησικακεῖν ἀφέντας, ὡς μείζονα δίκην δεδωκότων αὐτῶν ἢ λαβεῖν ἂν οἱ κακῶς πεπονθότες ἠξίωσαν.

At once, then, Dion led his visitors to the place of assembly, the people eagerly gathered there, Archonides and Hellanicus with their companions came before them, reported to them briefly the great disaster, and called upon the mercenaries to put away their feelings of resentment and come to the aid of the Syracusans, since those who had wronged them had suffered a heavier punishment than those who had been wronged would have thought it right to exact.

παυσαμένων δὲ τούτων σιγὴ μὲν εἶχε πολλὴ τὸ θέατρον ἀναστάντος δὲ τοῦ Δίωνος καὶ λέγειν ἀρξαμένου πολλὰ τῶν δακρύων ἐκπίπτοντα τὴν φωνὴν ἐπέσχεν· οἱ δὲ ξένοι παρεκάλουν θαρρεῖν καὶ συνήχθοντο.

When the messengers had made an end of speaking, there was a profound silence in the theatre; then Dion rose and began to speak, but copious tears checked his utterance; his mercenaries, however, sympathized with him and bade him take heart.

μικρὸν οὖν ἀναλαβὼν ἐκ τοῦ πάθους ἑαυτὸν ὁ Δίων, ἂνδρες, ἔφη, Πελοποννήσιοι καὶ σύμμαχοι, βουλευσομένους ὑμᾶς ἐνταῦθα περὶ ὑμῶν αὐτῶν συνήγαγον.

Accordingly, after he had recovered a little from his grief, he said: Men of Peloponnesus and allies, I have brought you together here to deliberate upon your own course of action.

ἐμοὶ δὲ περὶ ἐμαυτοῦ βουλεύεσθαι καλῶς οὐκ ἔχει Συρακουσῶν ἀπολλυμένων, ἀλλʼ εἰ σῶσαι μὴ δυναίμην, ἄπειμι τῷ πυρὶ καὶ τῷ πτώματι τῆς πατρίδος ἐνταφησόμενος.

As for me, it is not meet that I should consult my own interests now that Syracuse is perishing, but if I cannot save her, I shall return to seek a grave amid the blazing ruins of my native city.

ὑμεῖς δέ, βουλόμενοι μὲν ἔτι καὶ νῦν βοηθεῖν τοῖς ἀβουλοτάτοις ἡμῖν καὶ δυστυχεστάτοις, ὑμέτερον ἔργον οὖσαν ὀρθοῦτε τὴν Συρακουσίων πόλιν·

But you, if you are willing even now, after all that has passed, to come to our help, who are the most foolish and the most unfortunate of men, pray restore the city of Syracuse and the work of your own hands.

εἰ δὲ μεμφόμενοι Συρακουσίοις ὑπερόψεσθε, τῆς γε πρότερον ἀρετῆς καὶ προθυμίας περὶ ἐμὲ χάριν ἀξίαν κομίζοισθε παρὰ τῶν θεῶν, μεμνημένοι Δίωνος, ὡς οὔθʼ ὑμᾶς ἀδικουμένους πρότερον οὔθʼ ὕστερον τοὺς πολίτας δυστυχοῦντας ἐγκαταλιπόντος.

If, however, in your displeasure at the Syracusans, you shall leave them to their fate, at least for your former bravery and zeal in my behalf may you obtain a worthy reward from the gods, and may you think of Dion as one who abandoned neither you when you were wronged, nor, afterwards, his fellow citizens when they were in distress.

ἔτι δʼ αὐτοῦ λέγοντος οἱ μὲν ξένοι μετὰ κραυγῆς ἀνεπήδησαν ἄγειν καὶ βοηθεῖν κατὰ τάχος κελεύοντες, οἱ δὲ πρέσβεις τῶν Συρακουσίων περιβαλόντες ἠσπάσαντο πολλὰ μὲν ἐκείνῳ, πολλὰ δὲ τοῖς ξένοις ἀγαθὰ παρὰ τῶν θεῶν εὐχόμενοι.

While he was still speaking, the mercenaries sprang to their feet with shouts and bade him lead them speedily to the city’s relief, while the Syracusan envoys embraced them passionately, invoking many blessings from the gods upon Dion, and many upon his mercenaries.

καταστάντος δὲ τὸν θορύβου παρήγγειλεν ὁ Δίων εὐθὺς ἀπιόντας παρασκευάζεσθαι καὶ δειπνήσαντας ἥκειν μετὰ τῶν ὅπλων εἰς αὐτὸν ἐκεῖνον τὸν τόπον, ἐγνωκὼς διὰ νυκτὸς βοηθεῖν.

And when the tumult was allayed, Dion ordered his men to go to their quarters and make themselves ready, and, after taking supper, to come with their arms to that very place, for he was determined to go to the rescue by night.

ἐν δὲ ταῖς Συρακούσαις τῶν Διονυσίου στρατηγῶν, ἄχρι μὲν ἦν ἡμέρα, πολλὰ κακὰ τὴν πόλιν ἐργασαμένων, γενομένης δὲ νυκτὸς ἀναχωρησάντων εἰς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν καί τινας ἐξ ἑαυτῶν ὀλίγους ἀποβαλόντων,

But the soldiers of Dionysius at Syracuse, as long as it was day, did much mischief to the city; when night came, however, they retired to the acropolis, having lost some few of their number.

ἀναθαρρήσαντες οἱ δημαγωγοὶ τῶν Συρακουσίων, καί τοὺς πολεμίους ἐλπίσαντες ἀτρεμήσειν ἐπὶ τοῖς διαπεπραγμένοις, παρεκάλουν τοὺς πολίτας αὖθις ἐᾶν Δίωνα, κἂν προσίῃ μετὰ τῶν ξένων, μὴ δέχεσθαι μηδὲ παραχωρεῖν τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐκείνοις ὡς κρείττοσιν, ἀλλὰ σῴζειν τὴν πόλιν καί τὴν ἐλευθερίαν αὐτοὺς διʼ ἑαυτῶν.

Upon this, the popular leaders of the Syracusans plucked up courage, and in the hope that the enemy would rest content with what they had done, exhorted the citizens once more to ignore Dion, and if he should come up with his mercenaries, not to admit them, nor yield precedence to them as superior in point of bravery, but to save their city and their liberty by their own efforts.

πάλιν οὖν ἐπέμποντο πρὸς τὸν Δίωνα, παρὰ μὲν τῶν στρατηγῶν ἀποτρέποντες, παρὰ δὲ τῶν ἱππέων καί τῶν γνωρίμων πολιτῶν ἐπισπεύδοντες τὴν πορείαν.

Accordingly, fresh messengers were sent to Dion, some from the generals forbidding his advance, but others from the horsemen and more reputable citizens urging him to hasten it.

καί διὰ τοῦτο βραδέως ἅμα καί κατὰ σπουδὴν πορευόμενος προσῄει.

For this reason he came marching on now slowly, and now at top speed.

τῆς δὲ νυκτὸς προελθούσης οἱ μὲν μισοῦντες τὸν Δίωνα κατεῖχον τὰς πύλας ὡς ἀποκλείσοντες αὐτόν, ὁ δὲ Νύψιος, ἐκ τῆς ἄκρας αὖθις πολλῷ προθυμοτέρους γεγονότας καί πλείονας ἐφιεὶς τοὺς μισθοφόρους, τὸ μὲν προτείχισμα πᾶν εὐθὺς κατέσκαπτε, τὴν δὲ πόλιν κατέτρεχε καί διήρπαζεν.

As the night advanced the enemies of Dion took possession of the gates in order to shut him out, but Nypsius, sending his mercenaries once more from the citadel in greater numbers and with more impetuosity than before, tore down at once the entire siege-wall, and overran and sacked the city.

ἦν δὲ φόνος μὲν οὐκέτι μόνον ἀνδρῶν, ἀλλὰ καί γυναικῶν καὶ παίδων, ἁρπαγαὶ δʼ ὀλίγαι, φθόρος δὲ πάντων πολύς.

And now there was a slaughter not only of men, but also of women and children; there was little haling away of prisoners, but a great destruction of all alike.

ἀπεγνωκότος γὰρ ἤδη τὰ πράγματα τὸν Διονυσίου καί τοὺς Συρακουσίους δεινῶς μεμισηκότος, ὥσπερ ἐνταφιάσαι τὴν τυραννίδα τῇ πόλει πίπτουσαν ἐβούλετο.

For since Dionysius now despaired of his cause and fiercely hated the Syracusans, he wished to make their city as it were a tomb for his falling tyranny.

καί τοῦ Δίωνος προκαταλαμβάνοντες τὴν βοήθειαν ἐπὶ τὸν ὀξύτατον διὰ πυρὸς πάντων ὄλεθρον καί ἀφανισμὸν ἐχώρησαν, τὰ μὲν ἐγγὺς ἀπὸ χειρῶν δᾳσὶ καί λαμπάσιν ὑποπιμπράντες, εἰς δὲ τὰ πρόσω διασπείροντες ἀπὸ τόξων πυροβόλους.

So his soldiers, forestalling the succour which Dion was bringing, resorted to the speediest destruction and annihilation of everything by burning, setting fire to what was near them with the brands and torches in their hands, and scattering fiery arrows from their bows among the remoter parts.

φευγόντων δὲ τῶν Συρακουσίων οἱ μὲν ἐν ταῖς ὁδοῖς ἐφονεύοντο καταλαμβανόμενοι, τὸ δὲ εἰς τὰς οἰκίας καταδυόμενον αὖθις ὑπὸ τοῦ πυρὸς ἐξέπιπτε, πολλῶν ἤδη φλεγομένων καί καταφερομένων ἐπὶ τοὺς διαθέοντας.

As the Syracusans fled, some were overtaken and slain in the streets, and those who sought cover in their houses were driven out again by the fire, many buildings being now a-blaze and falling upon those who were running about.

τοῦτο τὸ πάθος μάλιστα τὴν πόλιν ἀνέῳξε Δίωνι πάντων συμφωνησάντων. ἔτυχε μὲν γὰρ οὐκέτι σπουδῇ πορευόμενος, ὡς ἤκουσεν εἰς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν κατακεκλεῖσθαι τοὺς πολεμίους.

Owing to this disaster more than to any thing else, the city was thrown open to Dion by unanimous consent. For he was no longer marching in haste, since he had heard that the enemy had shut themselves up in the acropolis.

προϊούσης δὲ τῆς ἡμέρας πρῶτον ἱππεῖς ἀπήντησαν αὐτῷ τὴν δευτέραν κατάληψιν ἀπαγγέλλοντες· ἔπειτα καὶ τῶν ὑπεναντιουμένων ἔνιοι παρῆσαν ἐπείγεσθαι δεόμενοι.

But as the day advanced, first, horsemen met him with tidings of the second capture of the city; next, even some of his opponents came with entreaties that he would hasten his march.

συντείνοντος δὲ τοῦ κακοῦ μᾶλλον Ἡρακλείδης τὸν ἀδελφὸν ἐξέπεμψεν, εἶτα Θεοδότην τὸν θεῖον, ἱκετεύων ἀρήγειν, ὡς μηδενὸς ἀντέχοντος τοῖς πολεμίοις, αὐτοῦ δὲ τετρωμένου, τῆς δὲ πόλεως μικρὸν ἀπεχούσης ἀνατετράφθαι καὶ καταπεπρῆσθαι.

Moreover, as the mischief grew worse, Heracleides sent out his brother, and then Theodotes his uncle, begging Dion to help them, since no one now resisted the enemy, he himself was wounded, and the city was almost demolished and consumed by fire.

τοιούτων ἀγγελμάτων τῷ Δίωνι προσπεσόντων ἔτι μὲν ἑξήκοντα σταδίους τῶν πυλῶν ἀπεῖχε· φράσας δὲ τὸν κίνδυνον τοῖς ξένοις καὶ παρακελευσάμενος οὐκέτι βάδην ἦγεν, ἀλλὰ δρόμῳ τὸ στράτευμα πρὸς τὴν πόλιν, ἄλλων ἐπʼ ἄλλοις ἀντιαζόντων καὶ δεομένων ἐπείγεσθαι.

When these amazing messages reached Dion, he was still sixty furlongs distant from the city gates; but after telling his mercenaries of the city’s peril and exhorting them, he led his army towards the city, no longer in marching step, but on the run, while one messenger after another met him and begged him to hasten.

χρησάμενος δὲ θαυμαστῷ τάχει καὶ προθυμίᾳ τῶν ξένων εἰσέβαλε διὰ τῶν πυλῶν εἰς τὴν Ἑκατόμπεδον λεγομένην·

His mercenaries advancing with astonishing speed and ardour, he burst through the gates into what was called the Hecatompedon,

καὶ τοὺς μὲν ἐλαφροὺς εὐθὺς ἀφῆκεν ἐλθεῖν πρὸς τοὺς πολεμίους, ὡς ἰδοῦσι θαρσῆσαι τοῖς Συρακουσίοις ἐγγένοιτο, τοὺς δʼ ὁπλίτας αὐτὸς συνέταττε καὶ τῶν πολιτῶν τοὺς ἐπιρρέοντας καὶ συνισταμένους, ὀρθίους λόχους ποιῶν καὶ διαιρῶν τὰς ἡγεμονίας, ὅπως πολλαχόθεν ἅμα προσφέροιτο φοβερώτερον.

and at once sent his light-armed troops to charge upon the enemy, in order that the Syracusans might take courage at the sight he also marshalled his men-at-arms in person, together with those of the citizens who kept running up and forming with them, dividing his commands and forming companies in column, that he might make a more formidable attack from many points at once.

ἐπεὶ δὲ ταῦτα παρασκευασάμενος καὶ τοῖς θεοῖς προσευξάμενος ὤφθη διὰ τῆς πόλεως ἄγων ἐπὶ τοὺς πολεμίους, κραυγῇ καὶ χαρὰ καὶ πολὺς ἀλαλαγμὸς εὐχαῖς ὁμοῦ καὶ παρακλήσεσι μεμιγμένος ἐγίνετο παρὰ τῶν Συρακουσίων, τὸν μὲν Δίωνα σωτῆρα καὶ θεὸν ἀποκαλούντων, τοὺς δὲ ξένους ἀδελφοὺς καὶ πολίτας.

When he had made these preparations and had prayed to the gods, and was seen leading his forces through the city against the enemy, shouts of joy and loud battle-cries mingled with prayers and supplications were raised by the Syracusans, who called Dion their saviour and god, and his mercenaries their brethren and fellow citizens.

οὐδεὶς δὲ φίλαυτος οὕτως ἦν καὶ φιλόψυχος παρὰ τὸν τότε καιρόν ὃς οὐ μᾶλλον ὑπὲρ μόνου Δίωνος ἢ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων ἀγωνιῶν ἐφαίνετο, πρώτου πρὸς τὸν κίνδυνον πορευομένου διʼ αἵματος καὶ πυρὸς καὶ νεκρῶν πολλῶν κειμένων ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις.

And no one was so fond of self or fond of life in that emergency as not to show himself more anxious about Dion alone than about all the rest, as he marched at their head to meet the danger, through blood and fire and the mass of dead bodies lying in the streets.

ἦν μὲν οὖν καὶ τὰ παρὰ τῶν πολεμίων φοβερά παντάπασιν ἀπηγριωμένων καὶ παρατεταγμένων παρὰ τὸ τείχισμα χαλεπὴν ἔχον καὶ δυσεκβίαστον τὴν πρόσοδον ὁ δʼ ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς κίνδυνος ἐτάραττε μᾶλλον τοὺς ξένους καὶ δύσεργον ἐποίει τὴν πορείαν.

It was true, indeed, that the enemy presented a formidable appearance, for they had become altogether savage, and had drawn themselves up along the demolished siege-wall, which made the approach to them difficult and hard to force; but the peril from the fire disturbed the mercenaries of Dion more, and made their progress arduous.

κύκλῳ γὰρ ὑπὸ τῆς φλογὸς περιελάμποντο τὰς οἰκίας περινεμομένης· καὶ διαπύροις ἐπιβαίνοντες ἐρειπίοις καὶ καταφερομένοις ἀπορρήγμασι μεγάλοις ὑποτρέχοντες ἐπισφαλῶς, καὶ πολὺν ὁμοῦ καπνῷ διαπορευόμενοι κονιορτόν, ἐπειρῶντο συνέχειν καὶ μὴ διασπᾶν τὴν τάξιν.

For they were surrounded on all sides by glowing flames which were spreading among the houses; they trod upon blazing ruins and ran at the risk of their lives under falling fragments of great size; they made their way through clouds of dust and smoke; and yet they tried to keep together and not break their ranks.

ὡς δὲ προσέμιξαν τοῖς πολεμίοις, ἐν χερσὶ μὲν ὀλίγων πρὸς ὀλίγους ἐγίνετο μάχη διὰ τὴν στενότητα καὶ τὴν ἀνωμαλίαν τοῦ τόπου, κραυγῇ δὲ καὶ προθυμίᾳ τῶν Συρακουσίων ἐπιρρωσάντων ἐβιάσθησαν οἱ περὶ τὸν Νύψιον.

Moreover, when they joined battle with the enemy, only a few on each side could fight at close quarters, so narrow and uneven was the place; but the Syracusans encouraged them with eager shouts, and Nypsius and his men were overpowered.

καὶ τὸ μὲν πλεῖστον αὐτῶν εἰς τὴν ἀκρόπολιν ἐγγὺς οὖσαν ἀναφεῦγον ἐσῴζετο· τοὺς δʼ ἀπολειφθέντας ἔξω καὶ διασπαρέντας ἀνῄρουν οἱ ξένοι διώκοντες.

Most of them fled back into the acropolis, which was near, and so saved themselves; but those who were left outside and scattered hither and thither, were pursued and slain by the mercenaries.

ἀπόλαυσιν δὲ τῆς νίκης ἐν τῷ παραυτίκα καὶ χαρὰν καὶ περιβολὰς ἔργῳ τηλικούτῳ πρεπούσας οὐ παρέσχεν ὁ καιρός, ἐπὶ τὰς οἰκίας τραπομένων τῶν Συρακουσίων καὶ τὸ πῦρ μόλις ἐν τῇ νυκτὶ κατασβεσάντων.

No immediate enjoyment of their victory, however, and none of the glad congratulations befitting so great an achievement were possible for the Syracusans in that emergency; they turned their attention to their burning houses, and only by toiling all night did they succeed in putting out the fire.

English translation by Bernadotte Perrin (1918). Original text: Bernadotte Perrin (ed. and trans.), Plutarch's Lives, vol. 6, Loeb Classical Library, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann, 1918 (Greek text as digitised by Perseus).

Greek text and translation from the Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Perseus Digital Library); translation public domain. Introductions, summaries and notes © GreekMythology.com.

Life of Dion 41.1–46.7: Nypsius burns Syracuse and Dion…