Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/272

 264 DION. you." Thus, they say, Plato was dismissed ; but his q-wti writings do not altogether agree with this account. Dion was angry at all this, and not long after declared open enmity to Dionysius, on hearing what had been done with his wife ; on which matter Plato, also, had had some confidential correspondence with Dionysius. Thus it was. After Dion's banishment, Dionysius, when he sent Plato back, had desired him to ask Dion privately, if he would be averse to his wife's marrying another man. For there went a report, whether true, or raised by Dion's enemies, that his marriage was not pleasing to him, and that he lived with his wife on uneasy terms. When Plato therefore came to Athens, and had men- tioned the subject to Dion, he wrote a letter to Diony- sius, speaking of other matters openly, but on this in lan- guage expressly designed to be understood by him alone, to the effect that he had talked with Dion about the busi- ness, and that it was evident he would highly resent the affront, if it should be i^ut into execution. At that time, therefore, while there were yet great hopes of an accom- modation, he took no new steps with his sister, suffering her to live with Dion's child. But when things were come to that pass, that no reconciliation could be expected, and Plato, after his second visit, was again sent away in dis- pleasure, he then forced Arete, against her will, to marry Timocrates, one of his favorites ; in this action coming short even of his father's justice and lenity ; for he, when Polyxenus, the husband of his sister, Theste, became his enemy, and fled in alarm out of Sicily, sent for his sister, and taxed her, that, being privy to her husband's flight, she had not declared it to him. But the lady, confident and fearless, made him this reply : " Do you believe me, brother, so bad a wife, or so timorous a woman, that, having known my husband's flight, I would not have