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assueti militibus juvare possent incepta,' cum Themisto3, U. C. 540. cui Gelonis filia nupta, rem consociatam paucos post dies A. C. 214. Aristoni cuidam tragico actori, cui et alia arcana committere assuerat, incaute aperit. Huic et genus et fortuna honesta erant; nec ars, quia nihil tale apud Græcos' pudori est, ea deformabat. Itaque, fidem potiorem ratus, quam patriæ debebat, indicium ad prætores defert. Qui, ubi rem haud vanam esse certis indiciis compererunt, consultis senioribus, et auctoritate eorum præsidio ad fores posito, ingressos curiam Themistum atque Andranodorum interfecerunt: et, quum tumultus ab re in speciem atrociore", causam aliis ignorantibus, ortus esset, silentio tandem facto, indicem in curiam introduxerunt. Qui quum ordine omnia edocuisset, et principium conjurationis' factum ab Harmoniæ Gelonis filiæ nuptiis, quibus Themisto juncta esset; Afrorum Hispanorumque auxiliares instructos ad cædem prætorum principumque aliorum; bonaque eorum prædæ futura interfectoribus pronuntiatum; jam mercenariorum manum assuetam imperiis Andranodori paratam fuisse ad Insulam rursus occupandam; singula deinde, quæ per quosque agerentur, totamque viris armisque instructam conjurationem ante oculos posuisset; senatui quidem tam jure cæsi, quam Hieronymus, videbantur. Ante curiam9 variæ atque incertæ rerum multitudinis clamor erat: quam, ferociter minitantem in vestibulo curiæ, corpora conjuratiorum eo metu compresserunt, ut silentes integram plebem in concionem sequerentur. Sopatro mandatum ab senatu

3 Cum Themisto &c.] "Imprudently revealed to the tragic actor Ariston &c. the arrangement he had made with Themistus, to whom Gelon's daughter had been married."

4 Quia nihil tale apud Græcos &c.] Among the aesthetic Greeks, an artist of any description occupied a much higher social rank than any modern community has ever accorded to the possessors of those great natural gifts. Actors were not unfrequently the representatives of the Athenian government at foreign courts.

5 Fidem, potiorem ratus &c.] "Regarding the allegiance he owed his country as the stronger obligation."

6 Ab re in speciem atrociore &c.] "By an act apparently more criminal than it was, as the rest were not aware of its meaning."

7 Principium conjurationis &c.] "The origin of the conspiracy dating from the marriage of H." &c.

8 Singula-quæ per quosque &c.]
"Then, the details of all that was
to be done and by whom, and the
organization of the whole conspiracy
with arms and men," &c.

9 Ante curiam &c.]
"In front
of the house, an outcry arose among
the fickle and uninformed populace;
but, while they threatened loudly
at the doors, the view of the con-
spirators' bodies so subdued them,
that they quietly followed the sen-
sible (moderate) part of the people,"
&c.

The curia stood at one (the
narrower) end of the Forum vetus.
The space in front was called the
comitium, and between these stood
the rostra, from which popular
assemblies were addressed."

U. C. 540. et ab collegis, ut verba faceret. Is, tanquam reos' ageret,
A. C. 214. ab anteacta vita orsus, quæcunque post Hieronis mortem

25.

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sceleste atque impie facta essent, Andranodorum ac The-
mistum arguit fecisse. 'Quid enim sua sponte2 fecisse Hie-
'ronymum puerum, ac vixdum pubescentem facere potu-
'isse? Tutores ac magistros ejus sub aliena invidia regnasse.
Itaque aut ante Hieronymum, aut certe cum Hieronymo
perire eos debuisse. At illos, debitos jam morti destina-
tosque, alia nova scelera post mortem tyranni molitos:
palam primo, quum clausis Andranodorus Insulæ portis
'hereditatem regni creverit3, quæque procurator tenuerat',
'pro domino possederit; proditus deinde ab iis, qui in
Insula erant, circumsessus ab universa civitate, quæ
Achradinam tenuerit, nequicquam palam atque aperte
'petitum regnum, clam et dolo affectare conatus sit, et ne
' beneficio quidem atque honore potuerit vinci, quum inter
'liberatores patriæ insidiator ipse libertatis creatus esset
'prætor. Sed animos iis regios regias conjuges fecisse,
'alteri Hieronis, alteri Gelonis, filias nuptas.' Sub hanc
vocem ex omnibus partibus concionis clamor oritur, nullam
earum vivere debere, nec quemquam superesse tyrannorum
stirpis. Hæc natura multitudinis est; aut servit humiliter,
aut superbe dominatur: libertatem, quæ media est, nec
spernere modice, nec habere sciunt: et non ferme desunt
irarum indulgentes ministri, qui avidos atque intemperantes
plebeiorum animos ad sanguinem et cædes irritent. Sicut
tum extemplo prætores rogationem promulgarunt: accep-
taque pæne prius, quam promulgata, est, ut omnis regia
stirps interficeretur: missique a prætoribus Damaratam

1 Is, tanquam reos &c.] "This man, as if arraigning criminals, began from a former period of their lives, and accused Andranodorus," &c.

2 Quid enim sua sponte &c.] "What had the boy Hieronymus done of himself? What could he have done? &c. It was his guardians and governors who had been reigning in the unpopular name of another."

3 Hereditatem regni creverit.] Hæreditatem cernere is one of the law phrases for taking possession of an inheritance.

4 Quæque procurator tenuerat &c.] "And appropriated as an owner what he had held as an agent."

Ne beneficio quidem atque ho

nore &c.] "And could not be won
over even by kindness and promo-
tion, though," &c.

6 Hæc natura multitudinis est &c.]
The truth of this maxim is attested
by the events of every political revo-
lution in history even to the present
time. The bloody Saturnalia that
have inaugurated every revival of
liberty, from the expulsion of the
Peisistratids to the French Revo-
lution, prove that the general mass
of mankind are still far below that
elevation of sentiment, and that
comprehensive generosity, to which
philosophers believe they may even-
tually attain; and that they are
still, if judged by their actions during
occasional intermissions of restraint,
either slaves, or tyrants, or both.

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Hieronis, et Harmoniam Gelonis filias, conjuges Andrano- U. C. 540. dori et Themisti, interfecerunt.

Heraclea erat filia Hieronis, uxor Zoippi; qui, legatus ab Hieronymo ad regem Ptolemæum missus, voluntarium

Ch. xxvi. This chapter is one of the most favourable specimens of Livy's power in pathetic description. Though such passages must lose considerably in any translation from any language, a view of so remarkable an episode in the nearest English may supply some hints to the learner. "Heraclea was the daughter of Hiero and the wife of Zoippus, who had been sent on an embassy by Hieronymus to Ptolemy, and consigned himself to a voluntary exile. When she knew that they were on their way to her also, she fled to the private altar of the House-Gods, ac companied by her two maiden daughters, with their hair unbound, and other emblems of mourning; and further adjured them, by the memories of her father Hiero, and her brother Gelon alternately, not to suffer her who was innocent to perish in a flame of obloquy kindled by Hieronymus. She owed nothing to his reign but a husband's banishment. Her condition had not been as her sister's, while Hieronymus lived; nor, since his death, was her case the same. Why need she observe, that had the designs of Andranodorus succeeded, the other would share a husband's throne, and she must live in slavery with all the rest? If one were to tell

Zoippus that Hieronymus had fallen and Syracuse was free, who could doubt that he would immediately take ship and return to his country?-How delusive were men's hopes! In his emancipated country, his wife and daughters were in danger of their lives! and how could they endanger liberty and law? What danger to any from her, alone and almost a widow, and her daughters living the life of orphans?-It may be said, that although no danger was apprehended from them, still the royal family were detested. Then, let them transport them away from Syracuse and Sicily, and order them

to be conveyed to Alexandria-a wife to her husband, his daughters to a father!-With ears and hearts unheeding, she perceived some of them drawing their swords, to save the unavailing loss of time. Then, ceasing her supplications for herself, she proceeded to entreat them at least to spare her children, at an age to which even exasperated enemies shew mercy; lest, in punishing tyranny, they should imitate the crimes which they abhorred. While thus addressing them, they forced her from the sanctuary, and put her to death, and then rushed upon the girls, who were sprinkled with their mother's blood; but these, distracted by fear and grief, and impelled by a sort of frenzy, ran from the sanctuary with such impetuosity, that, if an escape into the streets had been possible, they would have agitated the whole city. Even as it was (tum quoque), within the limited space of the house, and amid so many armed men, they passed for some time unwounded, and disengaged themselves from their grasp, though so many and so strong were the hands to be eluded. At last, mortally wounded, after flooding all the house with their blood, they fell and expired; and the massacre so pitiable in itself, was rendered more pitiable still by the circumstance, that a message arrived soon after-as their hearts had been moved to mercy-that they may not be put to death. Then, from pity arose a feeling of indignation, that the punishment had been so hasty, and no room left for second thought, or forbearance.'

This is one of the remarkable instances in history of the cruel and unreasoning fanaticism of a democracy intoxicated by the sudden possession of absolute power, confounding the innocent and inoffensive with the guilty, and indemnifying itself for its customary servility by merci

A. C. 214. 26.

U. C. 540. consciverat exsilium. Ea quum ad se quoque veniri præA. C. 214. scisset, in sacrarium ad penates confugit, cum duabus filia

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bus virginibus, resolutis crinibus, miserabilique alio habitu: et ad ea addidit preces, nunc per memoriam Hieronis patris, Gelonisque fratris; ne se innoxiam invidia Hieronymi conflagrare sinerent. Nihil se ex regno illius, præter exsilium viri, habere: neque fortunam suam eandem vivo 'Hieronymo fuisse, quam sororis ; neque interfecto eo 'causam eandem esse. Quid? quod, si Andranodoro con'silia processissent, illa cum viro fuerit regnatura; sibi cum ceteris serviendum. Si quis Zoippo nuntiet, interfectum Hieronymum, ac liberatas Syracusas, cui dubium esse, ' quin extemplo conscensurus sit navim, atque in patriam 'rediturus? Quantum spes hominum falli! In liberata 'patria conjugem ejus ac liberos de vita dimicare; quid obstantes libertati, aut legibus? Quod ab se cuiquam periculum, a sola ac prope vidua, et puellis in orbitate degentibus, esse ? At enim periculi quidem nihil ab se timeri: invisam tamen regiam stirpem esse. Ablegarent ergo procul ab Syracusis Siciliaque, et asportari Alexan'driam juberent, ad virum uxorem, ad patrem filias.' Aversis auribus animisque, casse ne tempus tereretur, ferrum quosdam expedientes cernebat. Tum, omissis pro se precibus, puellis ut saltem parcerent,' orare institit: a qua ætate etiam hostes iratos abstinere; ne, tyrannos ulcis'cendo, quæ odissent, scelera ipsi imitarentur.' Inter hæc abstractam a penetralibus jugulant: in virgines deinde, respersas matris cruore, impetum faciunt. Quæ, alienata mente simul luctu metuque, velut captæ furore, eo cursu se ex sacrario proripuerunt, ut, si effugium patuisset in publicum, impleturæ urbem tumultu fuerint. Tum quoque haud magno ædium spatio, inter medios tot armatos, aliquoties integro corpore evaserunt: tenentibusque, quum tot ac tam validæ eluctandæ manus essent, sese eripuerunt: tandem, vulneribus confectæ, quum omnia replessent sanguine, exanimes corruerunt; cædemque per se miserabilem miserabiliorem casus fecit, quod paullo post nuntius venit, mutatis repente ad misericordiam animis, ne interficerentur. Ira deinde ex misericordia orta, quod adeo festinatum ad supplicium, neque locus pœnitendi, aut regressus ab ira relictus esset. Itaque fremere multitudo, et in locum Andranodori ac Themisti (nam ambo prætores fuerant) comitia poscere: quæ nequaquam ex sententia prætorum futura essent.

6

less barbarity. A very close parallel
may be traced in the proposition of
one of the French revolutionary

leaders, Barére, that all the descendants of the house of Capet should be exterminated.

8

Statutus est comitiis dies: quo, necopinantibus omnibus, U. C. 540. unus ex ultima turba Epicydem nominavit, tum inde alius A. C. 214. 27. Hippocratem. Crebriores deinde eæ voces, et cum haud dubio assensu multitudinis esse. Et erat confusa concio, non populari modo, sed militari quoque turba, magna ex parte etiam perfugis, qui omnia novare cupiebant, permixtis. Prætores dissimulare primo, et trahenda re esse: postremo victi consensu, et seditionem metuentes, pronuntiant eos prætores. Nec illi primo statim' creati nudare, quid vellent: quanquam ægre ferebant, et de indutiis dierum decem legatos isse ad Ap. Claudium, et, impetratis iis, alios, qui de foedere antiquo renovando agerent, missos. Ad Murgantiam tum classem navium centum Romanus habebat, quonam evaderent motus ex cædibus tyrannorum orti Syracusis, quove eos ageret nova atque insolita libertas, opperiens. Per eosdem dies quum ad Marcellum, venientem in Siciliam, legati Syracusani missi ab Appio essent, auditis conditionibus pacis, Marcellus, posse rem convenire3 ratus, et ipse legatos Syracusas, qui coram cum prætoribus de renovando foedere agerent', misit. Et jam ibi nequaquam eadem quies et tranquillitas erat. Postquam Punicam classem accessisse Pachynum allatum est, dempto timore Hippocrates et Epicydes, nunc apud mercenarios milites, nunc apud transfugas, prodi Romano Syracusas, criminabantur. Ut vero Appius naves ad ostium portus, quo aliæ partis hominibus animus accederet, in statione habere cœpit, ingens in speciem' criminibus vanis accesserat fides ac primo etiam tumultuose decurrerat multitudo ad prohibendos, si in terram egrederentur.

:

In hac turbatione rerum in concionem vocari placuit. 28. Ubi quum alii alio tenderent, nec procul seditione res esset, Apollonides principum unus orationem salutarem, ut in tali tempore, habuit: Nec spem salutis, nec perniciem propi

8 Tum inde alius.] "Followed by another in the same direction."

9 Magna ex parte etiam, &c.] "As the deserters who were anxious for a total revolution, formed a principal ingredient.”

Nec illi primo statim, &c.] "They did not, however, immediately on their election," &c.

2 Murgantiam.] This town (also called Morgantium) stood at the mouth of the river Simæthus (now the Giaretta), commanding a view of the wide and level piana di Catania; about thirty miles north from Syracuse.

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