away unobserved by Hicetes； and being brought to the camp of Timoleon；
there first appeared in the humble dress of a private person； and
was shortly after sent to Corinth with a single ship and a small sum
of money。 Born and educated in the most splendid court and the most
absolute monarchy that ever was； which he held and kept up for the
space of ten years succeeding his father's death； he had； after Dion's
expedition； spent twelve other years in a continual agitation of
wars and contests； and great variety of fortune； during which time all
the mischiefs he had committed in his former reign were more than
repaid by the ills he himself then suffered； since he lived to see the
deaths of his sons in the prime and vigour of their age； and the
rape of his daughters in the flower of their virginity； and the wicked
abuse of his sister and his wife； who； after being first exposed to
all the lawless insults of the soldiery； was then murdered with her
children； and cast into the sea； the particulars of which are more
exactly given in the life of Dion。
Upon the news of his landing at Corinth； there was hardly a man in
Greece who had not the curiosity to come and view the late
formidable tyrant； and say some words to him； part； rejoicing at his
disasters； were led thither out of mere spite and hatred； that they
might have the pleasure of trampling； as it were； on the ruins of
his broken fortune； but others； letting their attention and their
sympathy turn rather to the changes and revolutions of his life； could
not but see in them a proof of the strength and potency with which
divine and unseen causes operate amidst the weakness of human and
visible things。 For neither art nor nature did in that age produce
anything comparable to this work and wonder of fortune which showed
the very same man； that was not long before supreme monarch of Sicily；
loitering about perhaps in the fish…market； or sitting in a perfumer's
shop drinking the diluted wine of taverns； or squabbling in the street
with common women； or pretending to instruct the singing women of
the theatre； and seriously disputing with them about the measure and
harmony of pieces of music that were performed there。 Such behaviour
on his part was variously criticized。 He was thought by many to act
thus out of pure compliance with his own natural indolent and
vicious inclinations； while finer judges were of the opinion； that
in all this he was playing a politic part； with a design to be
contemned among them； and that the Corinthians might not feel any
apprehension or suspicion of his being uneasy under his reverse of
fortune； or solicitous to retrieve it； to avoid which danger； he
purposely and against his true nature affected an appearance of
folly and want of spirit in his private life and amusements。
However it be； there are sayings and repartees of his left still
upon record； which seem to show that he not ignobly accommodated
himself to his present circumstances； as may appear in part from the
ingenuousness of the avowal he made on coming to Leucadia； which； as
well as Syracuse； was a Corinthian colony； where he told the
inhabitants that he found himself not unlike boys who had been in
fault； who can talk cheerfully with their brothers； but are ashamed to
see their father； so likewise he； he said； could gladly reside with
them in that island； whereas he felt a certain awe upon his mind which
made him averse to the sight of Corinth； that was a common mother to
them both。 The thing is further evident from the reply he once made to
a stranger in Corinth； who deriding him in a rude and scornful
manner about the conferences he used to have with philosophers；
whose company had been one of his pleasures while yet a monarch； and
demanding； in fine； what he was the better now for all those wise
and learned discourses of Plato； 〃Do you think；〃 said he； 〃I have made
no profit of his philosophy when you see me bear my change of
fortune as I do？〃 And when Aristoxenus the musician； and several
others； desired to know how Plato offended him； and what had been
the ground of his displeasure with him； he made answer that； of the
many evils attaching to the condition of sovereignty； the one greatest
infelicity was that none of those who were accounted friends would
venture to speak freely； or tell the plain truth； and that by means of
such he had been deprived of Plato's kindness。 At another time； when
one of those pleasant companions that are desirous to pass for wits；
in mockery to Dionysius； as if he were still the tyrant； shook out the
folds of his cloak； as he was entering into a room where he was； to
show there were no concealed weapons about him； Dionysius； by way of
retort； observed； that he would prefer he would do so on leaving the
room； as a security that he was carrying nothing off with him。 And
when Philip of Macedon； at a drinking party； began to speak in
banter about the verses and tragedies which his father； Dionysius
the elder； had left behind him； and pretended to wonder how he could
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