Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/118

 92 HISTORY OF GREECE. ficial wreaths, as if marching in a joy jus festival procession, with victory already assured. 1 As yet Dion had not met with the smallest resistance. Timokrateg (left at Syracuse with the large mercenary force as vicegerent), while he sent an express to apprise Dionysius, kept his chief hold on the two military positions or horns of the city ; the island of Ortygia at one extremity, and Epipolas with Euryalus on the oth- er. It has already been mentioned that Epipolre was a triangle slope, with walls bordering both the northern and southern cliffs, and forming an angle on the western apex, where stood the strong fort of Euryalus. Between Ortygia and Epipoke lay the populous quarters of Syracuse, wherein the great body of citizens resided. As the disaffection of the Syracusans was well known, Timokrates thought it unsafe to go out of the city, and meet Dion on the road, for fear of revolt within. But he perhaps might have occupied the important bridge over the Anapus, had not a report reached him that Dion was directing his attack first against Leontini. Many of the Campanian mercenaries under the com- mand of Timokrates, having properties in Leontini, immediately quitted Epipolas to go thither and defend them. 2 This rumor false, and perhaps intentionally spread by the invaders not only carried off much of the garrison elsewhere, but also misled Timo- krates ; insomuch that Dion was allowed to make his night march, to reach the Anapus, and to find it unoccupied. It was too late for Timokrates to resist, when the rising sun had once exhibited the army of Dion crossing the Anapus. The effect produced upon the Syracusans in the populous quarters was electric. They rose like one man to welcome their deliverer, and to put down the dynasty which had hung about their neckr for forty-eight years. Such of the mercenaries of Dionysius as were in these central portions of the city were forced to seek shelter in Epipolse, while his poh'ce and spies were pursued and seized, to undergo the full terrors of a popular vengeance. 3 Far from being able to go forth against Dion, Timokrates could not 1 Plutarch, Dion, c. 27, 28, 29. Diodorus (xvi. 10) also raent ons the itriking fact of the wreaths worn by this approaching army. Plutarch, De Curiositate, p. 523 A.
 * Plutarch, Dion, c. 27.