Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/130

 104 HISTORY OF GREECE. the situation, which made them mistrustful. Who could assort them that such a feeling, to the requisite pitch, was to be found in the bosom of Dion ? or who could fbretel which, among painfully conflicting sentiments, would determine his conduct ? The position of Dion forbade the possibility of his obtaining full confidence. Moreover his enemies, not content with inflaming the real causes of mistrust, fabricated gross falsehoods against him as well as against the mercenaries under his command. A Syracusan named Sosis, brother to one of the guards of Dionysius, made a violent speech in the Syracusan assembly, warning his countrymen to beware of Dion, lest they should find themselves saddled with a strict and sober despot in place of one who was always intoxicated. On the next day Sosis appeared in the Assembly with a wound on the head, which he said that some of the soldiers of Dion had in- flicted upon him in revenge for his speech. Many persons pre- sent, believing the story, warmly espoused his cause ; while Dion had great difficulty in repelling the allegation, and in obtaining time for the investigation of its truth. On inquiry, it was discov ered that the wound was a superficial cut inflicted by Sosis him- self with a razor, and that -the whole tale was an infamous calum- ny which he had been bribed to propagate. 1 In this particular instance, it was found practicable to convict the delinquent of shameless falsehood. But there were numerous other attacks and perversions less tangible, generated by the same hostile interests and tending towards the same end. Every day the suspicion and unfriendly sentiment of the Syracusans, towards Dion and hi? soldiers, became more imbittered. The naval victory gained by Herakleides and the Syracusan fleet over Philistus, exalting both the spirit of the Syracusans and the glory of the admiral, still further lowered the influence of Dion. The belief gained ground that even without him and his soldiers, the Syracusans could defend themselves, and gain pos- session of Ortygia. It was now that the defeated Dionysius sent from thence a fresh embassy to Dion, offering to surrender to him the place with its garrison, magazine of arms, and treasure equiv- alent to five months' full pay on condition of being allowed to retire to Italy, and enjoy the revenues of a large and productive 1 Plutarch, Dion, c. 34.