25.29
This
address was received with universal approval. It was, however, decided to
elect magistrates before sending the envoys. From amongst the magistrates
so elected they selected the envoys who were to be sent to Marcellus. Their
leader addressed him in the following terms: "It is not we, the people of
Syracuse, who have revolted from you, but Hieronymus, who acted much
more wickedly towards us than towards you. And when peace had been
restored by the tyrant's death it was no Syracusan, but the king's creatures
Hippocrates and Epicydes, who disturbed it, by crushing us on the one hand
by fear, on the other by treachery. No man can say that there was ever a time
during which we enjoyed liberty when we were not at peace with you. Now,
at all events, no sooner have we become our own masters through the death
of the oppressors of Syracuse than we come to you to give up our arms, to
surrender ourselves, our city and its fortifications, to accept any condition
which you may lay upon us. To you, Marcellus, the gods have vouchsafed
the glory of capturing the noblest and fairest of Grecian cities. Whatever
memorable achievement we have wrought by sea or land enhances the
splendour of your triumph. Would you wish that it should be only a glorious
tradition how great a city you have captured, rather than that it should be a
spectacle for the eyes of posterity to rest upon? That it should exhibit to all
who visit it by land or sea the trophies we have won from Athenians and
Carthaginians, which are now the trophies you have won from us? That you
should hand down to your house an unharmed Syracuse to be kept under the
patronage and protection of all who bear the name of Marcellus? Let not the
memory of Hieronymus weigh more with you than that of Hiero. He was
your friend for a far longer time than the other was your enemy. You found
in him a real benefactor; this man's madness only availed to his own
destruction." As far as the Romans were concerned they could have gained
all they wanted in perfect security. It was amongst the besieged themselves
that war existed with all its perils. The deserters, thinking that they were
being betrayed, communicated their fears to the mercenaries; they all flew to
arms, and beginning with the murder of the magistrates they commenced a
general massacre of the citizens, killing in their desperate madness everybody
they met, and plundering all they could lay hands on. Then, that they might
not be without officers, they elected six, three to command in Achradina and
three in Nasos. When the tumult had somewhat subsided and the
mercenaries found out on inquiry what agreement had been come to with the
Romans, the truth began to dawn upon them, and they realised that their
case was quite distinct from that of the deserters.
