Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/301

 DION. 293 saw a fit opportunity. But Heraclides and his seamen exclaimed against him, that he delayed fighting on pur- pose that he might the longer continue his command ; so that, much against his will, he was forced to an engage- ment and was beaten, his loss however being inconsider- able, and that occasioned chiefly by the dissension that was in the army. He rallied his men, and, having put them in good order and encouraged them to redeem their credit, resolved upon a second battle. But, in the even- ing, he received advice that Heraclides with his fleet was on his way to Syracuse, with the purpose to possess himself of the city and keep him and his army out. In- stantly, therefore, taking with him some of the strongest and most active of his men, he rode off in the dark, and about nine the next morning was at the gates, having ridden seven hundred furlongs that night. Heraclides, though he strove to make all the speed he could, yet, coming too late, tacked and stood out again to sea ; and, being unresolved what course to steer, accidentally he met Goesylus the Spartan, who told him he was come from LacedjBuion to head the Sicilians, as Gylippus had formerly done. Heraclides was only too glad to get hold of him, and fastening him as it might be a sort of amulet to himself, he showed him to the confederates, and sent a herald to Syracuse to summon them to accept the Spar- tan general. Dion returned answer that they had gen- erals enough, and, if they wanted a Spartan to command them, he could supply that office, being himself a citizen of Sparta. When Gaesylus saw this, he gave up all pre- tensions, and sailed in to Dion, and reconciled Heraclides TO him, making Heraclides swear the most solemn oaths to perform what he engaged, Gassyhis himself also under- taking to maintain Dion's right, and inflict chastisement on Heraclides if he broke his faith. The Syracusans then laid up their navy, which was at