treachery。 Mamercus； however； the tyrant of Catana； and Hicetes； after
all； either envying Timoleon the glory of his exploits； or fearing him
as one that would keep no agreement； or having any peace with tyrants；
made a league with the Carthaginians； and pressed them much to send
a new army and commander into Sicily； unless they would be content
to hazard all and to be wholly ejected out of that island。 And in
consequence of this； Gisco was despatched with a navy of seventy sail。
He took numerous Greek mercenaries also into pay； that being the first
time they had ever been enlisted for the Carthaginian service； but
then it seems the Carthaginians began to admire them； as the most
irresistible soldiers of all mankind。 Uniting their forces in the
territory of Messena； they cut off four hundred of Timoleon's paid
soldiers； and within the dependencies of Carthage； at a place called
Hierae； destroyed； by an ambuscade； the whole body of mercenaries that
served under Euthymus the Leucadian； which accidents； however； made
the good fortune of Timoleon accounted all the more remarkable； as
these were the men that； with Philomelus of Phocis and Onomarchus； had
forcibly broken into the temple of Apollo at Delphi； and were
partakers with them in the sacrilege； so that being hated and
shunned by all； as persons under a curse； they were constrained to
wander about in Peloponnesus； when； for want of others； Timoleon was
glad to take them into service in his expedition for Sicily； where
they were successful in whatever enterprise they attempted under his
conduct。 But now； when all the important dangers were past； on his
sending them out for the relief and defence of his party in several
places； they perished and were destroyed at a distance from him； not
all together； but in small parties； and the vengeance which was
destined for them； so accommodating itself to the good fortune which
guarded Timoleon as not to allow any harm or prejudice for good men to
arise from the punishment of the wicked； the benevolence and
kindness which the gods had for Timoleon was thus as distinctly
recognized in his disasters as in his successes。
What most annoyed the Syracusans was their being insulted and mocked
by the tyrants； as； for example； by Mamercus； who valued himself
much upon his gift for writing poems and tragedies； and took occasion；
when coming to present the gods with the bucklers of the hired
soldiers whom he had killed； to make a boast of his victory in an
insulting elegiac inscription：…
〃These shields with purple； gold； and ivory wrought；
Were won by us that but with poor ones fought。〃
After this； while Timoleon marched to Calauria； Hicetes made an
inroad into the borders of Syracuse； where he met with considerable
booty； and having done much mischief and havoc； returned back to
Calauria itself； in contempt of Timoleon and the slender force he
had then with him。 He； suffering Hicetes to pass forward； pursued
him with his horsemen and light infantry； which Hicetes perceiving；
crossed the river Damyrias； and then stood in a posture to receive
him； the difficulty of the passage； and the height and steepness of
the bank on each side； giving advantage enough to make him
confident。 A strange contention and dispute； meantime； among the
officers of Timoleon a little retarded the conflict； no one of them
was willing to let another pass over before him to engage the enemy；
each man claiming it as a right to venture first and begin the
onset； so that their fording was likely to be tumultuous and without
order； a mere general struggle which should be the foremost。 Timoleon；
therefore； desiring to decide the quarrel by lot； took a ring from
each of the pretenders； which he cast into his own cloak； and； after
he had shaken all together； the first he drew out had； by good
fortune； the figure of a trophy engraved as a seal upon it； at the
sight of which the young captains all shouted for joy； and； without
waiting any longer to see how chance would determine it for the
rest； took every man his way through the river with all the speed they
could make； and fell to blows with the enemies； who were not able to
bear up against the violence of their attack； but fled in haste and
left their arms behind them all alike； and a thousand dead upon the
place。
Not long after； Timoleon； marching up to the city of the
Leontines； took Hicetes alive； and his son Eupolemus； and Euthymus；
the commander of his horse； who were bound and brought to him by their
own soldiers。 Hicetes and the stripling his son were then executed
as tyrants and traitors； and Euthymus； though a brave man； and one
of singular courage； could obtain no mercy； because he was charged
with contemptuous language in disparagement of the Corinthians when
they first sent their forces into Sicily； it is said that he told
the Leontini in a speech that the news did not sound terrible； nor was
any great danger to be feared because of…
〃Corinthian women coming out of doors。〃
So true it is that men are usually more stung and galled by
reproachful words than hostile actions： and they bear an affront
with less patience than an injury； to do harm and mischief by deeds is
counted pardonable from the enemies； as nothing less can be expected
in a state of war； whereas virulent and contumelious words appear to
be the expression of needless hatred； and to proceed from an excess of
rancour。
When Timoleon came back to Syracuse； the citizens brought the
wives and daughters of Hicetes and his son to a public trial； and
condemned and put them to death。 This seems to be the least pleasing
action of Timoleon's life； since if he had interposed； the unhappy
women would have been spared。 He would appear to have disregarded
the thing； and to have given them up to the citizens； who were eager
to take vengeance for the wrongs done to Dion； who expelled Dionysius；
since it was this very Hicetes who took Arete the wife and Aristomache
the sister of Dion； with a son that had not yet passed his
childhood； and threw them all together into the sea alive； as
related in the life of Dion。
After this； he moved towards Catana against Mamercus； who gave him
battle near the river Abolus； and was overthrown and put to flight；
losing above two thousand men； a considerable part of whom were the
Phoenician troops sent by Gisco to his assistance。 After this defeat
the Carthaginians sued for peace； which was granted on the
conditions that they should confine themselves to the country within
the river Lycus； that those of the inhabitants who wished to remove to
the Syracusan territories should be allowed to depart with their whole
families and fortunes； and； lastly； that Carthage should renounce
all engagements to the tyrants。 Mamercus； now forsaken and
despairing of success； took ship for Italy with the design of bringing
in the Lucanians against Timoleon and the people of Syracuse； but
the men in his galleys turning back and landing again and delivering
up Catana to Timoleon； thus obliged him to fly for his own safety to
Messena； where Hippo was tyrant。 Timoleon； however； coming up
against them； and besieging the city both by sea and land； Hippo；
fearful of the event； endeavoured to slip away in a vessel； which
the people of Messena surprised as it was putting off； and seizing
on his person； and bringing all their children from school into the
theatre； to witness the glorious spectacle of a tyrant punished；
they first publicly scourged and then put him to death。 Mamercus
made surrender of himself to Timoleon； with the proviso that he should
be tried at Syracuse and Timoleon should take no part in his
accusation。 Thither he was brought accordingly； and presenting himself
to plead before the people； he essayed to pronounce an oration he
had long before composed in his own defence； but finding himself
interrupted by noise and clamours； and observing from their aspect and
demeanour that the assembly was inexorable； he threw off his upper
garment； and running across the theatre as hard as he could； dashed
his head against one of the stones under the seats with intention to
have killed himself； but he had not the fortune to perish as he
designed； but was taken up alive； and suffered the death of a robber。
Thus did Timoleon cut the nerves of tyranny and put a period to
the wars； and； whereas； at his first entering upon Sicily； the
island was as it were become wild again； and was hateful to the very
natives on account of the evils and miseries they suffered there； he
so civilized and restored it； and rendered it so desirable to all men；
that even strangers now came by sea to inhabit those towns and
places which their own citizens had formerly forsaken and left
desolate。 Agrigentum and Gela； two famous cities that had been
ruined and laid waste by the Carthaginians after the Attic war； were
then peopled again； the one by Megellus and Pheristus from Elea； the
other by Gorgus； from the island of Ceos； partly with new settlers；
partly with the old inhabitants whom they collected again from various
parts； to all of whom Timoleon not only afforded a secure and peaceful
abode after so obstinate a war； but was further so zealous in
assisting and providing for them that he was honoured among them as
their founder。 Similar feelings also possessed to such a degree all
the rest of the Sicilians that there was no proposal for peace； nor
reformation of laws； nor assignation of land； nor reconstruction of
government； which they could think well of； unless he lent his aid
as a chief architect； to finish and adorn the work； and superadd
some touches from his own hand； which might render it pleasing both to
God and man。
Although Greece had in his time produced several persons of
extraordinary worth； and much renowned for their achievements； such as
Timotheus and Agesilaus and Pelopidas and （Timoleon's chief model）
Epaminondas； yet the lustre of their best actions was obscured by a
degree of violence and labour； insomuch that some of them were
matter of blame and of repentance； whereas there is not any one act of
Timoleon's； setting aside the necessity he was placed under in
reference to his brother；