Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/131

 DION IS DEPOSED. ]0i portion (called Gyarta) of the Syracusan territory. Dion again refused to reply, desiring him to address the Syracusan public yet advising them to accept the terms. 1 Under the existing mis- trust towards Dion, this advice was interpreted as concealing an intended collusion between him and Dionysius. Herakleidcs promised, that if the war were prosecuted, he would keep Ortygia blocked up until it was surrendered at discretion with all in it as prisoners. But in spite of his promise, Dionysius contrived to elude his vigilance and sail off to Lokri in Italy, with many com- panions and much property, leaving Ortygia in command of his eldest son Apollokrates. Though the blockade was immediately resumed and rendered stricter than before, yet this escape of the despot brought consid- erable discredit on Herakleides. Probably the Dionian partisans were not sparing in their reproach. To create for himself fresh popularity, Herakleides warmly espoused the proposition of a citizen named Hippo, for a fresh division of landed property ; a proposition, which, considering the sweeping alteration of landed property made by the Dionysian dynasty, we may well conceive to have been recommended upon specious grounds of retributive justice, as well as upon the necessity of providing for poor citizens. Dion opposed the motion strenuously, but was outvoted. Other suggestions also, yet more repugnant to him, and even pointed directly against him, were adopted. Lastly, Herakleides, enlarg- ing upon his insupportable arrogance, prevailed upon the people to decree that new generals should be appointed, and that the pay due to the Dionian soldiers, now forming a large arrear, should not be liquidated out of the public purse. 2 It was towards midsummer that Dion was thus divested of his command, about nine months after his arrival at Syracuse. 2 Twenty-five new generals were named, of whom Herakleides was one. The measure, scandalously ungrateful and unjust, whereby the soldiers were deprived of the pay due to them, was dictated by pure antipathy against Dion: for it does not seem to have been 1 Plutarch, Dion, c. 37; Diodor. xvi. 17. 3 Plutarch, Dion, c. 38. tispovf [tea;vvTOf, etc.
 * Plutarch, Dion, c. 37; Dio4or. xvl 17.