Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/108

 82 HISTORY OF GREECE. Plato was residing at Syracuse, Dionysius thought fit to withhold one half of the property, on pretence of reserving it for Dion'a son. Presently he took steps yet more violent, threw off all dis- guise, sold the whole of Dion's property, and appropriated or dis- tributed among his friends the large proceeds, not less than one hun- dred talents. 1 Plato, who had the mortification to hear this in- telligence while in the palace of Dionysius, was full of grief and displeasure. He implored permission to depart. But though the mind of Dionysius had now been thoroughly set against him by the multiplied insinuations of the calumniators, 2 it was not with- out difficulty and tiresome solicitations that he obtained permis- sion ; chiefly through the vehement remonstrances of Archytas and his companions, who represented to the despot that they had brought him to Syracuse, and that they were responsible for his safe return. The mercenaries of Dionysius were indeed so ill- disposed to Plato, that considerable precautions were required to bring him away in safety. 3 It was in the spring of 360 u. c. that the philosopher appears to have returned to Peloponnesus from this, his second visit to the younger Dionysius, and third visit to Syracuse. At the Olympic festival of that year, he met Dion, to whom he recounted the recent proceedings of Dionysius. 4 Incensed at the seizure of the property, and hopeless of any permission to return, Dion was now meditating enforcement of his restoration at the point of the sword. But there occurred yet another insult on the part of Dio- Iiysius, which infused a more deadly exasperation into the quarrel. Arete, wife of Dion and half-sister of Dionysius, had continued to reside at Syracuse ever since the exile of her husband. She formed a link between the two, the continuance of which Diony- sius could no longer tolerate, in his present hatred towards Dion. 1 Plato, Epistol. iii. p. 318 A.; vii. p. 346, 347. Plutarch, Dion, c. 15, 16. Plato, Epistol. vii. p. 350 A. B. Plato, Epistol. vii. p. 350 C. The return of Plato and his first meeting with Dion is said to have excited considerable sensation among the specta- tors at the festival (Diogenes Laert. iii. 25). The Olympic festival here alluded to, must be (I conceive) that of 360 R. c. : th. same also in Epistol. ii. p. 310 D.
 * Plutarch, Timolcon, c. 15 on the authority of Arjstoxenus.