as though； in a sort of rivalry with his own personal exertions； she
made it her aim to exceed and obscure his actions by her favours； that
those who heard him commended for his noble deeds might rather
admire the happiness than the merit of them。 For the fame of what
was done not only passed through all Sicily； and filled Italy with
wonder； but even Greece itself； after a few days； came to ring with
the greatness of his exploit； insomuch that those of Corinth； who
had as yet no certainty that their auxiliaries were landed on the
island； had tidings brought them at the same time that they were
safe and were conquerors。 In so prosperous a course did affairs run；
and such was the speed and celerity of execution with which fortune；
as with a new ornament； set off the native lustres of the performance。
Timoleon； being master of the citadel； avoided the error which
Dion had been guilty of。 He spared not the place for the beauty and
sumptuousness of its fabric； and； keeping clear of those suspicions
which occasioned first the unpopularity and afterwards the fall of
Dion； made a public crier give notice that all the Syracusans who were
willing to have a hand in the work should bring pick…axes and
mattocks； and other instruments； and help him to demolish the
fortifications of the tyrants。 When they all came up with one
accord； looking upon that order and that day as the surest
foundation of their liberty； they not only pulled down the castle； but
overturned the palaces and monuments adjoining； and whatever else
might preserve any memory of former tyrants。 Having soon levelled
and cleared the place； he there presently erected courts for
administration of justice； ratifying the citizens by this means； and
building popular government on the fall and ruin of tyranny。 But since
he had recovered a city destitute of inhabitants； some of them dead in
civil wars and insurrections； and others being fled to escape tyrants；
so that through solitude and want of people the great market…place
of Syracuse was overgrown with such quantity of rank herbage that it
became a pasture for their horses； the grooms lying along in the grass
as they fed by them； while also other towns； very few excepted； were
become full of stags and wild boars； so that those who had nothing
else to do went frequently a…hunting； and found game in the suburbs
and about the walls； and not one of those who possessed themselves
of castles； or made garrisons in the country； could be persuaded to
quit their present abode； or would accept an invitation to return back
into the city； so much did they all dread and abhor the very name of
assemblies and forms of government and public speaking； that had
produced the greater part of those usurpers who had successively
assumed a dominion over them… Timoleon； therefore； with the Syracusans
that remained； considering this vast desolation； and how little hope
there was to have it otherwise supplied； thought good to write to
the Corinthians； requesting that they would send a colony out of
Greece to repeople Syracuse。 For else the land about it would lie
unimproved； and besides this； they expected to be involved in a
greater war from Africa； having news brought them that Mago had killed
himself； and that the Carthaginians； out of rage for his ill…conduct
in the late expedition； had caused his body to be nailed upon a cross；
and that they were raising a mighty force； with design to make their
descent upon Sicily the next summer。
These letters from Timoleon being delivered at Corinth； and the
ambassadors of Syracuse beseeching them at the same time that they
would take upon them the care of their poor city； and once again
become the founders of it； the Corinthians were not tempted by any
feeling of cupidity to lay hold of the advantage。 Nor did they seize
and appropriate the city to themselves； but going about first to the
games that are kept as sacred in Greece； and to the most numerously
attended religious assemblages； they made publication by heralds； that
the Corinthians； having destroyed the usurpation at Syracuse and
driven out the tyrant； did thereby invite the Syracusan exiles； and
any other Siceliots； to return and inhabit the city； with full
enjoyment of freedom under their own laws； the land being divided
among them in just and equal proportions。 And after this； sending
messengers into Asia and the several islands where they understood
that most of the scattered fugitives were then residing； they bade
them all repair to Corinth； engaging that the Corinthians would afford
them vessels and commanders； and a safe convoy； at their own
charges； to Syracuse。 Such generous proposals； being thus spread
about； gained them the just and honourable recompense of general
praise and benediction； for delivering the country from oppressors；
and saving it from barbarians； and restoring it at length to the
rightful owners of the place。 These； when they were assembled at
Corinth； and found how insufficient their company was； besought the
Corinthians that they might have a supplement of other persons； as
well out of their city as the rest of Greece； to go with them as joint
colonists； and so raising themselves to the number of ten thousand；
they sailed together to Syracuse。 By this time great multitudes； also；
from Italy and Sicily had flocked in to Timoleon； so that； as
Athanis reports； their entire body amounted now to sixty thousand men。
Among these he divided the whole territory； and sold the houses for
a thousand talents； by which method he both left it in the power of
the old Syracusans to redeem their own； and made it a means also for
raising a stock for the community； which had been so much impoverished
of late and was so unable to defray other expenses； and especially
those of a war； that they exposed their very statues to sale； a
regular process being observed； and sentence of auction passed upon
each of them by majority of votes； as if they had been so many
criminals taking their trial； in the course of which it is said that
while condemnation was pronounced upon all other statues； that of
the ancient usurper Gelo was exempted； out of admiration and honour
and for the sake of the victory he gained over the Carthaginian forces
at the river Himera。
Syracuse being thus happily revived； and replenished again by the
general concourse of inhabitants from all parts； Timoleon was desirous
now to rescue other cities from the like bondage； and wholly and
once for all to extirpate arbitrary government out of Sicily。 And
for this purpose； marching in to the territories of those that used
it； he compelled Hicetes first to renounce the Carthaginian
interest； and； demolishing the fortresses which were held by him； to
live henceforth among the Leontinians as a private person。 Leptines；
also； the tyrant of Apollonia and divers other little towns； after
some resistance made； seeing the danger he was in of being taken by
force； surrendered himself； upon which Timoleon spared his life； and
sent him away to Corinth； counting it a glorious thing that the mother
city should expose to the view of other Greeks these Sicilian tyrants；
living now in an exiled and a low condition。 After this he returned to
Syracuse； that he might have leisure to attend to the establishment of
the new constitution； and assist Cephalus and Dionysius； who were sent
from Corinth to make laws； in determining the most important points of
it。 In the meanwhile； desirous that his hired soldiers should not want
action； but might rather enrich themselves by some plunder from the
enemy； he despatched Dinarchus and Demaretus with a portion of them
into the part of the island belonging to the Carthaginians； where they
obliged several cities to revolt from the barbarians； and not only
lived in great abundance themselves； but raised money from their spoil
to carry on the war。
Meantime； the Carthaginians landed at the promontory of Lilybaeum；
bringing with them an army of seventy thousand men on board two
hundred galleys； besides a thousand other vessels laden with engines
of battery； chariots； corn； and other military stores； as if they
did not intend to manage the war by piecemeal and in parts as
heretofore； but to drive the Greeks altogether and at once out of
all Sicily。 And indeed it was a force sufficient to overpower the
Siceliots； even though they had been at perfect union among
themselves； and had never been enfeebled by intestine quarrels。
Hearing that part of their subject territory was suffering
devastation； they forthwith made toward the Corinthians with great
fury； having Asdrubal and Hamilcar for their generals； the report of
whose number and strength coming suddenly to Syracuse； the citizens
were so terrified； that hardly three thousand； among so many myriads
of them； had the courage to take up arms and join Timoleon。 The
foreigners； serving for pay； were not above four thousand in all；
and about a thousand of these grew faint…hearted by the way； and
forsook Timoleon in his march towards the enemy； looking on him as
frantic and distracted； destitute of the sense which might have been
expected from his time of life； thus to venture out against an army of
seventy thousand men； with no more than five thousand foot and a
thousand horse； and； when he should have kept those forces to defend
the city； choosing rather to remove them eight days' journey from
Syracuse； so that if they were beaten from the field； they would
have no retreat； nor any burial if they fell upon it。 Timoleon；
however； reckoned it some kind of advantage； that these had thus
discovered themselves before the battle； and encouraging the rest； led
them with all speed to the river Crimesus； where it was told him the
Carthaginians were drawn together。
As he was marching up an ascent； from the top of which they expected
to have a view of the army and of the strength of the enemy； there met
him by chance a train of mules loaded with parsley； which his soldiers
conceived to be an ominous occurrence or ill…boding token； because
this is the herb with which we not unfrequently adorn the sepulchres
of the dead； and there is a proverb derived from the custom； used of
one who is dangerously sick；