Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/135

 DANGER OF SYRACUSE 109 checked his utterance, while his soldiers around cheered him with encouraging sympathy. At length he found voice to say. " I have convened you, Peloponnesians and allies, to deliberate about your own conduct. For me, deliberation would be a dis- grace, while Syracuse is in the hands of the destroyer. If I cannot save my country, I shall go and bury myself in its flaming ruins. For you, if, in spite of what has happened, you still choose to assist us, misguided and unhappy Syracusans, we shall owe it to you that we still continue a city. But if, in disdainful sense of wrong endured, you shall leave us to our fate, I here thank you for all your past valor and attachment to me, praying that the gods may reward you for it. Remember Dion, as one who neith- er deserted you when you were wronged, nor his own fellow-citi- zens when they were in misery." This address, so replete with pathos and dignity, went homt to the hearts of the audience, filling them wilh passionate einoUon and eagerness to follow him. Universal shouts called upon .lira to put himself at their head instantly and march to Syra .use ; while the envoys present fell upon his neck, invoking blf;ssing8 both upon him and upon the soldiers. As soon as the excitement had subsided, Dion gave orders that every man should take his evening meal forthwith, and return in arms to the spot, prepared for a night-march to Syracuse. By daybreak, Dion and his band were within a few miles of the northern wall of Epipol*. Messengers from Syracuse here met him, inducing him to slacken his march and proceed with caution. Herakleides and the other generals had sent a message forbidding his nearer approach, with notice that the gates would be closed against him ; yet at the same time, counter-messages arrived from many eminent citizens, entreating him to persevere, and promising him both admittance and support. Nypsius, hav- ing permitted his troops to pillage and destroy in Syracuse throughout the preceding day, had thought it prudent to withdraw them back into Ortygia for the night. His retreat raised the courage of Herakleides and his colleagues ; who, fancying that the attack was now over, repented of the invitation which they had permitted to be sent to Dion. Under this impression they despatched to him the second message of exclusion ; keeping guard at the gate in ths northern wall to make their threat good VOL. XT 10