Page 485 the Mercenaries, with all the Treasure they had got, might pass over to Italy. Dion's Advice was, That the Terms should be accepted: But the People being wrought over to a contrary Opinion by the importunate Orators, opposed Dion, for that they doubted not but to take the Castle by Storm. Dionysius hereupon committed the Custody of the Castle to the Stoutest of the Mercenaries; but he himself having brought aboard all his Treasures and Houshold-Goods, without being discover'd, set sail and Landed in Italy.
In the mean time the Syracusians were divided into Factions, while some were for Heraclides to have the Chief Command in the Army, and likewise the Sovereign Power, because he was judg'd a Person that was not ambitious of the Tyranny: But others were for intrusting the Chief Power and Authority in the Hands of Dion. Moreover, there were great Arrears due to the Soldiers that came out of Peloponnesus to the Assistance of the Syracusians: The City therefore being very low in Money, and the Soldiers defrauded of their Pay, they gather'd themselves into a Body, being Three thousand valiant Men, all old and expert Soldiers, far excelling the Syracusians in Courage: These mov'd Dion to go along with them, and leave the Syracusians, that they might be revenged of them in due time as a Common Enemy: Which he at first deny'd; but the present Exigency of Affairs requiring it, he at length took upon him the Command of the Foreigners, and joining himself to them, marched to the Leontines: But the Syracusians getting into a Body, pursu'd the Mercenaries, and engag'd them in their march, but were forc'd to retire with the loss of a great Number of their Fellow Citizens.
But Dion, thô he had obtain'd a great Victory, yet he was willing to forget the Injuries offer'd him by the Syracusians. For when they sent a Trumpet to him to have Liberty to carry off the Bodies of the Dead, he not only agreed to that, but freely discharg'd many Prisoners without Ransom. For many when they were ready to be knock'd on the Head in the Pursuit, declar'd they were Favourers of Dion's Party; and by that means escaped present Death.
Afterwards Dionysius sent Nypsius, a Citizen of Naples, a Valiant and expert Soldier, as his General, and with him Transport-Ships loaden with Corn and other Provision, who loosing from Locris, made straight for Syracuse.
In the mean time, the Garison-Soldiers of the Tyrant in the Castle, tho' they were driven then to the utmost Extremity for want of Bread, yet endur'd Famine for some time with great Resolution. But at length Nature stooping to Necessity, and having no prospect of Relief any other way, they call'd a Council of War in the Night, and resolv'd to surrender the Castle and themselves to the Syracusians the next Day. Night therefore being now ended, the Mercenaries sent Trumpets to the Townsmen to treat of Peace, which was no sooner done, but presently Nypsius at spring of day arrives with the Fleet, and anchor'd in the Port of Arethusa. Whereupon, on a Sudden their present Necessities were turn'd into large and plentiful Supplies of all sorts of Provision. Then the General having landed his Men, call'd a Council of War, and in an Oration, fitted for the present Occasion, so spoke to 'em, that he wrought 'em to a Resolution chearfully to undergo all future Hardships to the utmost Extremity. And thus the Acropolis ready to be deliver'd into the Hands of the Syracusians, was unexpectedly preserv'd. Hereupon, the Syracusians with all speed Mann'd out as many Gallies as they had at hand, and on a sudden fell upon the Enemy, while they were discharging their Vessels of their Corn and Provision: And although this Incursion was Sudden and Unexpected, and that the Garison in the Castle oppos'd the Enemies Galleys in a tumultuous and disorderly Manner, yet it came to a formal Sea-fight, in which the Syracusians got the Victory, and sunk some of the Enemy's Ships, took others, and forc'd the rest to the Shore. Being encourag'd with this Success, they offer'd to the Gods abundance of Sacrifices for the Victory: But giving themselves in the mean time to Quaffing and Drinking, and likewise Slighting and Despising them in the Castle as a beaten Enemy, they were careless in their Guards: So that Nypsius desirous to repair his late Loss by a new Engagement, orders a select Body of his Men in the Night, and on the sudden assaults the Wall lately built; and finding the Guard, through overmuch Confidence, and their Surfeiting and Drunkenness, fallen fast asleep, set Scaling-Ladders (made for the purpose) to the Walls: By which means some of the stoutest Fellows of the Garison mounted the Wall, kill'd the Centinels, and open'd the Gates. This sudden Assault being made upon the City, the Syracusian Commanders not yet recover'd of their drunken Fit, endeavour'd to help their Fellows as well as they could. But through their Wine not knowing how to use their Hands, some were knock'd on the Head, others took to their Heels. And now the City being taken, and almost all the Soldiers issu'd out of the Castle and entred within the Walls, and the Citizens by reason of this sudden and unexpected Surprize, and the Confusion that was amongst them,
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Bible Study The King James Bible (kjv), World English Bible (web) and Bible in Basic English (bbe) are all examples of public domain books. The King James Bible (kjv) online uses the content from these books and open source software to enhance Bible study capabilities. The site includes the verse of the day, search tools, christian literature and links to related content. It demonstrates the use of open source to create a valuable service.