Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/527

 PHARAKIDAS. 505 tlia dominion of Dionysius. To the Syracusans this declaration was a denial of all hope. They saw plainly that in any attempt to emancipate themselves, they would have against them not merely the mercenaries of Dionysius, but also the whole force of Sparta, then imperial and omnipotent ; represented on the present occasion by Pharakidas, as it had been in a previous year by Aristus. They were condemned to bear their chains in silence, not without unavailing curses against Sparta. Meanwhile Diony- sius, thus powerfully sustained, was enabled to ride over the peri- lous and critical juncture. His mercenaries crowded in haste around his person, having probably been sent for, as soon as the voice of a free spokesman was heard. 1 And he was thus enabled to dismiss an assembly, which had seemed for one short instant to threaten the perpetuity of his dominion, and to promise emanci pation for Syracuse. During this interesting and momentous scene, the fate of Syra- cuse had hung upon the decision of Pharakidas : for Theodorus, well aware that with a besieging enemy before the gates, the city could not be left without a supreme authority, had conjured the Spartan commander, with his Lacedaemonian and Corinthian allies, to take into his own hands the control and organization of the popular force. There can be little doubt that Pharakidas could have done this, if he had been so disposed, so as at once to make head against the Carthaginians without, and to restrain, if not to put down, the despotism within. Instead of undertaking the tutelary intervention solicited by the people, he threw himself into the opposite scale, and strengthened Dionysius more than ever, at the moment of his greatest peril. The proceeding of Pharakidas was doubtless conformable to his instructions from home, as well as to the oppressive and crushing policy which Sparta, in these days of her unresisted empire (between the vic- tory of JEgospotami and the defeat of Knidus), pursued throughout the Grecian world. 1 Diodor. xiv, 70. Tiapu 6e T?JV -rrpoadoKiav yevofj.ivrjg Trjf uiroQaaeuf, ol fj,ev niG&ofyopoi cvvedpafiov Trpbf rbv Aiovvaiov, ol 6e 'ZvpaKOvaiot KaranTia- yevTEC TTJV fiav%iav, el%ov, 7ro/l/la rnlf ZTraprmratf Karapupevoi. Ka yap rb voorepov 'Aperj?f b AaKedaifiovioc (he is called previously Aristus, xiv, 10). avri'h.afj.flavonevuv avTuv rye ^ev&epia^ kyevero npodorrj^ 1 Kal TOTE $apa.K 6af kvearr) Ttuf -'ipfial^ rtiv 2vpa.Kovai.wv. VOL. x. 22