Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/269

 DION. 2G1 It i.« related that once, upon invitation, he went to pay a visit to Ptoeodorus the Megarian, a man, it would seem, of wealth and importance ; and when, on account of the concourse of people about his doors, and the press of busi- ness, it was very troublesome and difficult to get access to him, turning about to his friends who seemed concerned and angry at it, " What reason," said he, " liave we to blame Ptoeodorus, when we ourselves used to do no better when we were at Syracuse ? " After some little time, Dionysius, envying Dion, and jealous of the favor and interest he had among the Gre- cians, put a stop upon his incomes, and no longer sent him his revenues, making his own commissioners trustees of the estate. But, endeavoring to obviate the ill-will and discredit which, upon Plato's account, might accrue to him among the philosophers, he collected in his court many reputed learned men ; and, ambitiously desiring to surpass them in their debates, he was forced to make use, often incorrectly, of arguments he had picked up from Plato. And now he wished for his comjaany again, repenting he had not made better use of it when he had it, and had given no greater heed to his admirable lessons. Like a tyrant, therefore, inconsiderate in his desires, headstrong and violent in whatever he took a will to, on a sudden he was eagerly set on the design of recalling him, and left no stone unturned, but addressed himself to Archytas the Pythagorean (his acquaintance and friendly relations with whom owed their origin to Plato), and per- suaded him to stand as surety for his engagements, and to request Plato to revisit Sicily. Archytas therefore sent Archedemus, and Dionysius some galleys, with divers friends, to entreat his return; moreover, he wrote to him himself expressly and in plain terms, that Dion must never look for any favor or loud- ness, if Plato would not be prevailed with to come into