Page:History of Greece Vol XI.djvu/65

 PLATO AT SYEACUSE. 39 virtuous and that despots could not lay claim to the merit of courage. 1 This meagre abstract does not at all enable us to fol- low the philosopher's argument. But it is plain that he set forth his general views on social and political subjects with as much freedom and dignity of speech before Dionysius as before any sim- ple citi*3r. ; and we are farther told, that the by-standers were greatly captivated by his manner and language. Not so the des- pot himself. After one or two repetitions of the like discourse, he became not merely averse to the doctrine, but hostile to the person, of Plato. According to the statement of Diodorus, he caused the philosopher to be seized, taken down to the Syracusan slave-market, and there put up for sale as a slave at the price of twenty minae ; which his friends subscribed to pay, and thus re- leased him. According to Plutarch, Plato himself was anxious to depart, and was put by Dion aboard a trireme which was about to convey home the Lacedaemonian envoy Pollis. But Dionysius secretly entreated Pollis to cause him to be slain on the voyage or at least to sell him as a slave. Plato was accordingly landed at JEgina, and there sold. He was purchased, or repurchased, by Annikeris of Kyrehe, and sent back to Athens. This latter is the more probable story of the two ; but it seems to be a certain fact that Plato was was really sold, and became for a moment a slave. 2 That Dionysius should listen to the discourse of Plato with re- pugnance, not less decided than that which the Emperor Napoleon was wont to show towards ideologists was an event naturally to be expected. But that, not satisfied with dismissing the philoso- oher, he should seek to kill, maltreat, or disgrace him, illustrates forcibly the vindictive and irritable elements of his character, and shows how little he was likely to respect the lives of those who stood in his way as political opponents. Dionysius was at the same time occupied with new construc- tions, military, civil, and religious, at Syracuse. He enlarged the fortifications of the city by adding a new line of wall, extending along the southern cliff of Epipolae, from Euryalus to the suburb called Neapolis ; which suburb was now, it would appear, sur- 1 Plutarch, Dion, c. 5. j Dion, c. 2.
 * Plutarch, Dion, c. 5 j Diodor. xv. 7; Diogen. Laert. iii. 17; Cornelias