here； when this step has the joint approval of himself； me； and you
his friends； and this shall be open to him on the understanding that
he does not plot against me。 You and your friends and Dion's friends
here must be sureties for him in this； and he must give you
security。 Let the funds which he receives be deposited in the
Peloponnese and at Athens； with persons approved by you； and let
Dion enjoy the income from them but have no power to take them out
of deposit without the approval of you and your friends。 For I have no
great confidence in him； that； if he has this property at his
disposal； he will act justly towards me； for it will be no small
amount； but I have more confidence in you and your friends。 See if
this satisfies you； and on these conditions remain for the present
year； and at the next season you shall depart taking the property with
you。 I am quite sure that Dion will be grateful to you； if you
accomplish so much on his behalf。〃
When I heard this proposal I was vexed； but after reflection said
I would let him know my view of it on the following day。 We agreed
to that effect for the moment； and afterwards when I was by myself I
pondered the matter in much distress。 The first reflection that came
up； leading the way in my self…communing； was this： 〃Come suppose that
Dionysios intends to do none of the things which he has mentioned； but
that； after my departure； he writes a plausible letter to Dion； and
orders several of his creatures to write to the same effect； telling
him of the proposal which he has now made to me； making out that he
was willing to do what he proposed； but that I refused and
completely neglected Dion's interests。 Further； suppose that he is not
willing to allow my departure； and without giving personal orders to
any of the merchants； makes it clear； as he easily can； to all that he
not wish me to sail； will anyone consent to take me as a passenger；
when I leave the house： of Dionysios？〃
For in addition to my other troubles； I was lodging at that time
in the garden which surround his house； from which even the gatekeeper
would have refused to let me go； unless an order had been sent to
him from Dionysios。 〃Suppose however that I wait for the year； I shall
be able to write word of these things to Dion； stating the position in
which I am； and the steps which I am trying to take。 And if
Dionysios does any of the things which he says； I shall have
accomplished something that is not altogether to be sneered at； for
Dion's property is； at a fair estimate； perhaps not less than a
hundred talents。 If however the prospect which I see looming in the
future takes the course which may reasonably be expected； I know not
what I shall do with myself。 Still it is perhaps necessary to go on
working for a year； and to attempt to prove by actual fact the
machinations of Dionysios。〃
Having come to this decision； on the following day I said to
Dionysios； 〃I have decided to remain。 But；〃 I continued； 〃I must ask
that you will not regard me as empowered to act for Dion； but will
along with me write a letter to him； stating what has now been
decided； and enquire whether this course satisfies him。 If it does
not； and if he has other wishes and demands； he must write particulars
of them as soon as possible； and you must not as yet take any hasty
step with regard to his interests。〃
This was what was said and this was the agreement which was made；
almost in these words。 Well； after this the trading…ships took their
departure； and it was no longer possible for me to take mine； when
Dionysios； if you please； addressed me with the remark that half the
property must be regarded as belonging to Dion and half to his son。
Therefore； he said； he would sell it； and when it was sold would
give half to me to take away； and would leave half on the spot for the
son。 This course； he said； was the most just。 This proposal was a blow
to me； and I thought it absurd to argue any longer with him；
however； I said that we must wait for Dion's letter； and then once
more write to tell him of this new proposal。 His next step was the
brilliant one of selling the whole of Dion's property； using his own
discretion with regard to the manner and terms of the sale and of
the purchasers。 He spoke not a word to me about the matter from
beginning to end； and I followed his example and never talked to him
again about Dion's affairs； for I did not think that I could do any
good by doing so。 This is the history so far of my efforts to come
to the rescue of philosophy and of my friends。
After this Dionysios and I went on with our daily life； I with my
eyes turned abroad like a bird yearning to fly from its perch； and
he always devising some new way of scaring me back and of keeping a
tight hold on Dion's property。 However； we gave out to all Sicily that
we were friends。 Dionysios； now deserting the policy of his father；
attempted to lower the pay of the older members of his body guard。 The
soldiers were furious； and； assembling in great numbers； declared that
they would not submit。 He attempted to use force to them； shutting the
gates of the acropolis； but they charged straight for the walls；
yelling out an unintelligible and ferocious war cry。 Dionysios took
fright and conceded all their demands and more to the peltasts then
assembled。
A rumour soon spread that Heracleides had been the cause of all
the trouble。 Hearing this； Heracleides kept out of the way。
Dionysios was trying to get hold of him； and being unable to do so；
sent for Theodotes to come to him in his garden。 It happened that I
was walking in the garden at the same time。 I neither know nor did I
hear the rest of what passed between them； but what Theodotes said
to Dionysios in my presence I know and remember。 〃Plato；〃 he said；
〃I am trying to convince our friend Dionysios that； if I am able to
bring Heracleides before us to defend himself on the charges which
have been made against him； and if he decides that Heracleides must no
longer live in Sicily； he should be allowed （this is my point） to take
his son and wife and sail to the Peloponnese and reside there；
taking no action there against Dionysios and enjoying the income of
his property。 I have already sent for him and will send for him again；
and if he comes in obedience either to my former message or to this
one…well and good。 But I beg and entreat Dionysios that； if anyone
finds Heracleides either in the country or here； no harm shall come to
him； but that he may retire from the country till Dionysios comes to
some other decision。 Do you agree to this？〃 he added； addressing
Dionysios。 〃I agree；〃 he replied； 〃that even if he is found at your
house； no harm shall be done to him beyond what has now been said。〃
On the following day Eurybios and Theodotes came to me in the
evening； both greatly disturbed。 Theodotes said； 〃Plato； you were
present yesterday during the promises made by Dionysios to me and to
you about Heracleides？〃 〃Certainly；〃 I replied。 〃Well；〃 he
continued； 〃at this moment peltasts are scouring the country seeking
to arrest Heracleides； and he must be somewhere in this neighbourhood。
For Heaven's sake come with us to Dionysios。〃 So we went and stood
in the presence of Dionysios； and those two stood shedding silent
tears； while I said： 〃These men are afraid that you may take strong
measures with regard to Heracleides contrary to what was agreed
yesterday。 For it seems that he has returned and has been seen
somewhere about here。〃 On hearing this he blazed up and turned all
colours； as a man would in a rage。 Theodotes； falling before him in
tears； took his hand and entreated him to do nothing of the sort。
But I broke in and tried to encourage him； saying： 〃Be of good
cheer； Theodotes； Dionysios will not have the heart to take any
fresh step contrary to his promises of yesterday。〃 Fixing his eye on
me； and assuming his most autocratic air he said； 〃To you I promised
nothing small or great。〃 〃By the gods；〃 I said； 〃you did promise
that forbearance for which our friend here now appeals。〃 With these
words I turned away and went out。 After this he continued the hunt for
Heracleides； and Theodotes； sending messages； urged Heracleides to
take flight。 Dionysios sent out Teisias and some peltasts with
orders to pursue him。 But Heracleides； as it was said； was just in
time； by a small fraction of a day； in making his escape into
Carthaginian territory。
After this Dionysios thought that his long cherished scheme not to
restore Dion's property would give him a plausible excuse for
hostility towards me； and first of all he sent me out of the
acropolis； finding a pretext that the women were obliged to hold a
sacrificial service for ten days in the garden in which I had my
lodging。 He therefore ordered me to stay outside in the house of
Archedemos during this period。 While I was there； Theodotes sent for
me and made a great outpouring of indignation at these occurrences；
throwing the blame on Dionysios。 Hearing that I had been to see
Theodotes he regarded this； as another excuse； sister to the
previous one； for quarrelling with me。 Sending a messenger he enquired
if I had really been conferring with Theodotes on his invitation
〃Certainly；〃 I replied； 〃Well；〃 continued the messenger； 〃he ordered
me to tell you that you are not acting at all well in preferring
always Dion and Dion's friends to him。〃 And he did not send for me
to return to his house； as though it were now clear that Theodotes and
Heracleides were my friends； and he my enemy。 He also thought that I
had no kind feelings towards him because the property of Dion was
now entirely done for。
After this I resided outside the acropolis among the mercenaries。
Various people then came to me； among them those of the ships' crews
who came from Athens； my own fellow citizens； and reported that I
was evil spoken of among the peltasts； and that som