Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/164

 138 HISTORY OF GREECE. thians repented of the mistaken vote which had raised up a r3t Periander among them. But to Timoleon, the crimes of his brother occasioned an agony of shame and sorrow. He first went up to the acropolis 1 to remonstrate with him ; conjuring him em- phatically, by the most sacred motives public as well as private, to renounce his disastrous projects. Timophanes repudiated the appeal with contempt. Timoleon had now to choose between his brother and his country. Again he went to the acropolis, accom- panied by JEschylus, brother of the wife of Timophanes by the prophet Orthagoras, his intimate friend per/haps also by an- other friend named Telekleides. Admitted into the presence of Timophanes, they renewed their prayers and supplications ; urg- ing him even yet to recede from his tyrannical courses. But all their pleading was without effect. Timophanes first laughed them to scorn ; presently, he became exasperated, and would hear no more. Finding words unavailing, they now drew their swords and put him to death. Timoleon lent no hand in the deed, but stood a little way off, with his face hidden, and in a flood of tears. 2 With the life of Timophanes passed away the despotism which had already begun its crushing influence upon the Corinthians. The mercenary force was either dismissed, or placed in safe hands; the acropolis became again part of a free city; the Corinthian constitution was revived as before. In what manner this change was accomplished, or with what measure of violence it was accompanied, we are left in ignorance ; for 1 Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 4. avdif uvf(3ij irpbf TOV udetybv, etc. Reipub. Gerend. Prsecept. p. 808 A. That Telekleides was present and took part in the deed though Plutarch directly names only JEschylus and Orthagoras seems to be implied in an indirect allusion afterwards (c. 7), where Telekleides says to Timoleon after his nomination to the Sicilian command, *A.v vvv naZuf uyuvlayf rvpavvov avypyKEvai 6o^op,ev uv 6e The presence of the pr jphet seems to show, that they had just been offering sacrifice, to ascertain the will of the gods respecting what they rero about to do. Nepos says that Timoleon was not actually present at the moment of his brother's death, but stood out of the room to prevent assistance from arriv- ing. Dicdorus (xvi. 65) states that Timoleon slew his brother in the market place. But the account of Plutarch appears preferable.
 * Plutarch, Timoleon, c. 4 ; Cornelius Nepos, Timol. c. 1 ; Plutarch,