fortune's guidance； for his preservation； the revenge of a private
quarrel。
But this fortunate escape had effects and consequences beyond the
present； as it inspired the highest hopes and future expectations of
Timoleon； making people reverence and protect him as a sacred person
sent by heaven to revenge and redeem Sicily。 Hicetes； having missed
his aim in this enterprise； and perceiving； also； that many went off
and sided with Timoleon； began to chide himself for his foolish
modesty； that； when so considerable a force of the Carthaginians lay
ready to be commanded by him； he had employed them hitherto by degrees
and in small numbers； introducing their reinforcements by stealth
and clandestinely； as if he had been ashamed of the action。 Therefore；
now laying aside his former nicety； he calls in Mago； their admiral；
with his whole navy； who presently set sail； and seized upon the
port with a formidable fleet of at least a hundred and fifty
vessels； landing there sixty thousand foot； which were all lodged
within the city of Syracuse； so that； in all men's opinion； the time
anciently talked of and long expected； wherein Sicily should be
subjugated by barbarians； was now come to its fatal period。 For in all
their preceding wars and many desperate conflicts with Sicily； the
Carthaginians had never been able； before this； to take Syracuse；
whereas Hicetes now receiving them and putting them into their
hands； you might see it become now as it were a camp of barbarians。 By
this means； the Corinthian soldiers that kept the castle found
themselves brought into great danger and hardship； as； besides that
their provision grew scarce； and they began to be in want； because the
havens were strictly guarded and blocked up； the enemy exercised
them still with skirmishes and combats about their walls； and they
were not only obliged to be continually in arms； but to divide and
prepare themselves for assaults and encounters of every kind； and to
repel every variety of the means of offence employed by a besieging
army。
Timoleon made shift to relieve them in these straits； sending corn
from Catana by small fishing…boats and little skiffs； which commonly
gained a passage through the Carthaginian galleys in times of storm；
stealing up when the blockading ships were driven apart and
dispersed by the stress of weather； which Mago and Hicetes
observing； they agreed to fall upon Catana； from whence these supplies
were brought in to the besieged； and accordingly put off from
Syracuse； taking with them the best soldiers in their whole army。 Upon
this Neon the Corinthian； who was captain of those that kept the
citadel； taking notice that the enemies who stayed there behind were
very negligent and careless in keeping guard； made a sudden sally upon
them as they lay scattered； and； killing some and putting others to
flight； he took and possessed himself of that quarter which they
call Acradina； and was thought to be the strongest and most
impregnable part of Syracuse； a city made up and compacted； as it
were； of several towns put together。 Having thus stored himself with
corn and money； he did not abandon the place； nor retire again into
the castle； but fortifying the precincts of Acradina； and joining it
by works to the citadel； he undertook the defence of both。 Mago and
Hicetes were now come near to Catana； when a horseman； despatched from
Syracuse； brought them tidings that Acradina was taken； upon which
they returned； in all haste； with great disorder and confusion； having
neither been able to reduce the city they went against； nor to
preserve that they were masters of。
These successes； indeed； were such as might leave foresight and
courage a pretence still of disputing it with fortune； which
contributed most to the result。 But the next following event can
scarcely be ascribed to anything but pure felicity。 The Corinthian
soldiers who stayed at Thurii； partly for fear of the Carthaginian
galleys which lay in wait for them under the command of Hanno； and
partly because of tempestuous weather which had lasted for many
days； and rendered the sea dangerous； took a resolution to march by
land over the Bruttian territories； and what with persuasion and force
together； made good their passage through those barbarians to the city
of Rhegium； the sea being still rough and raging as before。 But Hanno；
not expecting the Corinthians would venture out； and supposing it
would be useless to wait there any longer； bethought himself； as he
imagined； of a most ingenious and clever stratagem apt to delude and
ensnare the enemy； in pursuance of which he commanded the seamen to
crown themselves with garlands； and adorning his galleys with bucklers
both of the Greek and Carthaginian make； he sailed away for Syracuse
in this triumphant equipage； and using all his oars as he passed under
the castle with much shouting and laughter； cried out； on purpose to
dishearten the besieged； that he was come from vanquishing and
taking the Corinthian succours； which he fell upon at sea as they were
passing over into Sicily。 While he was thus trifling and playing his
tricks before Syracuse； the Corinthians； now come as far as Rhegium；
observing the coast clear； and that the wind was laid； as it were by
miracle； to afford them in all appearance a quiet and smooth
passage； went immediately aboard on such little barks and
fishing…boats as were then at hand； and got over to Sicily with such
complete safety and in such an extraordinary calm； that they drew
their horses by the reins； swimming along by them as the vessels
went across。
When they were all landed； Timoleon came to receive them； and by
their means at once obtained possession of Messena； from whence he
marched in good order to Syracuse； trusting more to his late
prosperous achievements than his present strength； as the whole army
he had then with him did not exceed the number of four thousand： Mago；
however； was troubled and fearful at the first notice of his coming；
and grew more apprehensive and jealous still upon the following
occasion。 The marshes about Syracuse； that receive a great deal of
fresh water； as well from springs as from lakes and rivers discharging
themselves into the sea； breed abundance of eels； which may be
always taken there in great quantities by any that will fish for them。
The mercenary soldiers that served on both sides were wont to follow
the sport together at their vacant hours； and upon any cessation of
arms； who being all Greeks； and having no cause of private enmity to
each other； as they would venture bravely in fight； so in times of
truce used to meet and converse amicably together。 And at this present
time； while engaged about this common business of fishing； they fell
into talk together； and some expressing their admiration of the
neighbouring sea； and others telling how much they were taken with the
convenience and commodiousness of the buildings and public works；
one of the Corinthian party took occasion to demand of the others：
〃And is it possible that you who are Grecians born should be so
forward to reduce a city of this greatness； and enjoying so many
rare advantages； into the state of barbarism； and lend your assistance
to plant Carthaginans； that are the worst and bloodiest of men； so
much the nearer to us？ whereas you should rather wish there were
many more Sicilies to lie between them and Greece。 Have you so
little sense as to believe； that they come hither with an army； from
the Pillars of Hercules and the Atlantic Sea； to hazard themselves for
the establishment of Hicetes？ who； if he had had the consideration
which becomes a general； would never have thrown out his ancestors and
founders to bring in the enemies of his country in the room of them；
when he might have enjoyed all suitable honour and command； with
consent of Timoleon and the rest of Corinth。〃 The Greeks that were
in pay with Hicetes； noising these discourses about their camp； gave
Mago some ground to suspect； as indeed he had long sought for a
pretence to be gone； that there was treachery contrived against him；
so that； although Hicetes entreated him to tarry； and made it appear
how much stronger they were than the enemy； yet； conceiving they
came far more short of Timoleon in respect of courage and fortune than
they surpassed him in number； he presently went aboard and set sail
for Africa； letting Sicily escape out of his hands with dishonour to
himself； and for such uncertain causes； that no human reason could
give an account of his departure。
The day after he went away； Timoleon came up before the city in
array for a battle。 But when he and his company heard of this sudden
flight； and saw the docks all empty； they could not forbear laughing
at the cowardice of Mago； and in mockery caused proclamation to be
made through the city that a reward would be given to any one who
could bring them tidings whither the Carthaginian fleet had conveyed
itself from them。 However； Hicetes resolving to fight it out alone；
and not quitting his hold of the city； but sticking close to the
quarters he was in possession of； places that were well fortified
and not easy to be attacked； Timoleon divided his forces into three
parts； and fell himself upon the side where the river Anapas ran；
which was most strong and difficult of access； and he commanded
those that were led by Isias； a Corinthian captain； to make their
assault from the post of Acradina； while Dinarchus and Demaretus； that
brought him the last supply from Corinth； were； with a third division；
to attempt the quarter called Epipolae。 A considerable impression
being made from every side at once； the soldiers of Hicetes were
beaten off and put to flight； and this… that the city came to be taken
by storm； and fall suddenly into their hands； upon the defeat and rout
of the enemy… we must in all justice ascribe to the valour of the
assailants and the wise conduct of their general； but that not so much
as a man of the Corinthians was either slain or wounded in the action；
this the good fortune of Timoleon seems to challenge for her own work；
as though； in a sort of rivalry with his own personal exertions； she
made it her aim to exceed and obscure hi