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dion-第3部分

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on shore; Dionysius himself sacrificed to the gods in thankful acknowledgment for the great happiness which had befallen his government。 The citizens; also; began to entertain marvellous hopes of a speedy reformation; when they observed the modesty which now ruled in the banquets; and the general decorum which prevailed in all the court; their tyrant himself also behaving with gentleness and humanity in all their matters of business that came before him。 There was a general passion for reasoning and philosophy; insomuch that the very palace; it is reported; was filled with dust by the concourse of the students in mathematics who were working their problems there。 Some few days after; it was the time of one of the Syracusan sacrifices; and when the priest; as he was wont; prayed for the long and safe continuance of the tyranny; Dionysius; it is said; as he stood by; cried out; 〃Leave off praying for evil upon us。〃 This sensibly vexed Philistus and his party; who conjectured; that if Plato; upon such brief acquaintance; had so far transformed and altered the young man's mind; longer converse and greater intimacy would give him such influence and authority that it would be impossible to withstand him。   Therefore; no longer privately and apart; but jointly and in public; all of them; they began to slander Dion; noising it about that he had charmed and bewitched Dionysius by Plato's sophistry; to the end that when he was persuaded voluntarily to part with his power; and lay down his authority; Dion might take it up; and settle it upon his sister Aristomache's children。 Others professed to be indignant that the Athenians; who formerly had come to Sicily with a great fleet and a numerous land army; and perished miserably without being able to take the city of Syracuse; should now; by means of one sophister; overturn the sovereignty of Dionysius; inveighing him to cashier his guard of ten thousand lances; dismiss a navy of four hundred galleys; disband an army of ten thousand horse and many times over that number of foot; and go seek in the schools an unknown and imaginary bliss; and learn by the mathematics how to be happy; while; in the meantime; the substantial enjoyments of absolute power; riches; and pleasure would be handed over to Dion and his sister's children。   By these means; Dion began to incur at first suspicion; and by degrees more apparent displeasure and hostility。 A letter; also; was intercepted and brought to the young prince which Dion had written to the Carthaginian agents; advising them that; when they treated with Dionysius concerning the peace; they should not come to their audience without communicating with him: they would not fail to obtain by this means all that they wanted。 When Dionysius had shown this to Philistus; and consulted with him; as Timaeus relates; about it; he overreached Dion by a feigned reconciliation; professing; after some fair and reasonable expression of his feelings; that he was at friends with him; and thus; leading him alone to the seaside; under the castle wall; he showed him the letter; and taxed him with conspiring with the Carthaginians against him。 And when Dion essayed to speak in his own defence; Dionysius suffered him not; but immediately forced him aboard a boat; which lay there for that purpose; and commanded the sailors to set him ashore on the coast of Italy。   When this was publicly known; and was thought very hard usage; there was much lamentation in the tyrant's own household on account of the women; but the citizens of Syracuse encouraged themselves; expecting that for his sake some disturbance would ensue; which; together with the mistrust others would now feel; might occasion a general change and revolution in the state。 Dionysius seeing this; took alarm; and endeavoured to pacify the women and others of Dion's kindred and friends; assuring them that he had not banished; but only sent him out of the way for a time; for fear of his own passion; which might be provoked some day by Dion's self…will into some act which he should be sorry for。 He gave also two ships to his relations; with liberty to send into Peloponnesus for him whatever of his property or servants they thought fit。   Dion was very rich; and had his house furnished with little less than royal splendour and magnificence。 These valuables his friends packed up and conveyed to him; besides many rich presents which were sent him by the women and his adherents。 So that; so far as wealth and riches went; he made a noble appearance among the Greeks; and they might judge; by the affluence of the exile; what was the power of the tyrant。   Dionysius immediately removed Plato into the castle; designing; under colour of an honourable and kind reception; to set a guard upon him; lest he should follow Dion; and declare to the world; in his behalf; how injuriously he had been dealt with。 And; moreover; time and conversation (as wild beasts by use grow tame and tractable) had brought Dionysius to endure Plato's company and discourse; so that he began to love the philosopher; but with such an affection as had something of the tyrant in it; requiring of Plato that he should; in return of his kindness; love him only; and attend to him above all other men; being ready to permit to his care the chief management of affairs; and even the government; too; upon condition that he would not prefer Dion's friendship before his。 This extravagant affection was a great trouble to Plato; for it was accompanied with petulant and jealous humours; like the fond passions of those that are desperately in love; frequently he was angry and fell out with him; and presently begged and entreated to be friends again。 He was beyond measure desirous to be Plato's scholar; and to proceed in the study of philosophy; and yet he was ashamed of it with those who spoke against it and professed to think it would ruin him。   But a war about this time breaking out; he sent Plato away; promising him in the summer to recall Dion; though in this he broke his word at once; nevertheless; he remitted to him his revenues; desiring Plato to excuse him as to the time appointed; because of the war; but; as soon as he had settled a peace; he would immediately send for Dion; requiring him in the interim to be quiet; and not raise any disturbance; nor speak ill of him among the Grecians。 This Plato endeavoured to effect; by keeping Dion with him in the academy; and busying him in philosophical studies。   Dion sojourned in the Upper Town of Athens; with Callippus; one of his acquaintance; but for his pleasure he bought a seat in the country; which afterwards; when he went into Sicily; he gave to Speusippus; who had been his most frequent companion while he was at Athens; Plato so arranging it; with the hope that Dion's austere temper might be softened by agreeable company; with an occasional mixture of seasonable mirth。 For Speusippus was of the character to afford him this; we find him spoken of in Timon's Silli; as 〃good at a jest。〃 And Plato himself; as it happened; being called upon to furnish a chorus of boys; Dion took upon him the ordering and management of it; and defrayed the whole expense; Plato giving him this opportunity to oblige the Athenians; which was likely to procure his friend more kindness than himself credit。 Dion went also to see several other cities; visiting the noblest and most statesmanlike persons in Greece; and joining in their recreations and entertainments in their times of festival。 In all which; no sort of vulgar ignorance; or tyrannic assumption; or luxuriousness was remarked in him; but; on the contrary; a great deal of temperance; generosity; and courage; and a well…becoming taste for reasoning and philosophic discourses。 By which means he gained the love and admiration of all men; and in many cities had public honours decreed him; the Lacedaemonians making him a citizen of Sparta; without regard to the displeasure of Dionysius; though at that time he was aiding them in their wars against the Thebans。   It is related that once; upon invitation; he went to pay a visit to Ptoeodorus; the Megarian; a man; it would seem; of wealth and importance; and when; on account of the concourse of people about his door; and the press of business; it was very troublesome and difficult to get access to him; turning about to his friends; who seemed concerned and angry at it; 〃What reason;〃 said he; 〃have we to blame Ptoeodorus; when we ourselves used to do no better when we were at Syracuse?〃   After some little time; Dionysius; envying Dion; and jealous of the favour and interest he had among the Grecians; put a stop upon his incomes; and no longer sent him his revenues; making his own commissioners trustees of the estate。 But; endeavouring to obviate the ill…will and discredit which; upon Plato's account; might accrue to him among the philosophers; he collected in his court many reputed learned men; and ambitiously desiring to surpass them in their debates; he was forced to make use; often incorrectly; of arguments he had picked up from Plato。 And now he wished for his company again; repenting he had not made better use of it when he had it; and had given no greater heed to his admirable lessons。 Like a tyrant; therefore; inconsiderate in his desires; headstrong and violent in whatever he took a will to; on a sudden he was eagerly set on the design of recalling him; and left no stone unturned; but addressed himself to Archytas; the Pythagorean (his acquaintance and friendly relations with whom owed their origin to Plato); and persuaded him to stand as surety for his engagements; and to request Plato to revisit Sicily。   Archytas; therefore; sent Archedemus and Dionysius; some galleys; with divers friends; to entreat his return; moreover; he wrote to himself expressly and in plain terms; that Dion must never look for any favour or kindness if Plato would not be prevailed with to come into Sicily; but if Plato as often declined; Aristippus; the Cyrenaean; then present; said that received letters full of solicitations from his sister and his wife; urging him to beg Plato to gratify Dionysius in this request; and not give him an excuse for further ill…doing。 So that; as Plato says to himself; the third time he set sail for the Strait of Scylla…

        〃Venturing again
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