Textus Originalis

LIBRI XIV. XXXIII

Cap. 43. Telorum armorumque et machinarum multitudo. Postea Dionysius conducit copias. — Hoc tempore Astydamas tragoediarum scriptor floruit. Romani, qui Veios obsident, fugantur. Ol. 95, 3 : 398 a. Chr. 44. Dionysius conscribendis militibus operam dat. Rheginos et Messenios beneficiis et oblata amicitia socios conciliare sibi studet. A Rheginis coniugem petens repulsam fert. Ducit deinde Locrensem, eodemque tempore Aristomachen, Syracusanam nobilem. 45. Nuptiarum dies Dionysius et militibus et civibus laetos facit. Tum proposito bello in Carthaginienses, eiusque rationibus oratione expositis, Syracusanorum omnium assensum consecutus est. 46. Direptis subito Poenorum in Sicilia navibus et bonis, ipsisque crudelissime a Dionysio vexatis, legati Carthaginem mittuntur, qui bellum indicant. Ctesias ad hunc annum historiam deduxit. Floruerunt eo tempore Philoxenus, Timotheus, Telestes, Polyidus. Ol. 95, 4 : 397 a. Chr. 47. Carthaginienses pavore capti mittunt in Europam, qui milites conducant. Dionysius Motyam Carthaginiensium coloniam occupare festinat. Graecae urbes cunctae auxilia mittunt. 48. Erycini Dionysio se adiungunt: Motya ad resistendum se parat. Urbis situs. Dionysius Leptini obsidionis curam permittit; pedestrem exercitum ipse in Punicas urbes ducit. 49. Poeni naves, quae erant in portu Syracusano, subita incursione diruunt. Motyam Dionysius oppugnat. 50. Imilco Dionysii naves Motyam obsidentes denuo invadit. 51. Oppugnatio Motyae omnisque apparatus describitur. Parte muri disiecta miles in urbem irruit. 52. Atrocissime intra moenia Motyae urbis pugnatur. 53. Urbs Motya expugnata et exspoliata. Incolae crudelissime caesi aut sub hasta venditi. Leptines cum classe Carthaginienses observat. Sophocles minor fabulas docere incipit.

Traduzione

BOOK XIV. XXXIII

Ch. 43. The multitude of missiles, arms, and engines. Afterwards Dionysius hires troops. — At this time Astydamas, writer of tragedies, flourished. The Romans, who are besieging Veii, are put to flight. Ol. 95, 3 : 398 BC 44. Dionysius devotes his attention to enrolling soldiers. He strives to win over the Rhegians and Messenians as allies by benefits and offered friendship. Seeking a wife from the Rhegians, he meets with refusal. He then marries a Locrian woman, and at the same time Aristomache, a noble Syracusan woman. 45. Dionysius makes the days of the weddings joyful for both soldiers and citizens. Then, having proposed war against the Carthaginians and set forth his plans in a speech, he obtained the assent of all the Syracusans. 46. Having suddenly plundered the ships and goods of the Phoenicians in Sicily, and with the Phoenicians themselves most cruelly harassed by Dionysius, envoys are sent to Carthage to declare war. Ctesias brought his history down to this year. At that time Philoxenus, Timotheus, Telestes, and Polyidus flourished. Ol. 95, 4 : 397 BC 47. The Carthaginians, seized with fear, send men to Europe to hire soldiers. Dionysius hastens to occupy Motya, a colony of the Carthaginians. All the Greek cities send auxiliaries. 48. The Erycinians join themselves to Dionysius: Motya prepares to resist. The site of the city. Dionysius entrusts the care of the siege to Leptines; he himself leads the land army against the Punic cities. 49. The Phoenicians, in a sudden attack, destroy the ships that were in the Syracusan harbor. Dionysius besieges Motya. 50. Himilco again attacks the ships of Dionysius besieging Motya. 51. The siege of Motya and all the preparations are described. Part of the wall having been thrown down, the soldier rushes into the city. 52. The fighting within the walls of the city of Motya is most atrocious. 53. The city of Motya is stormed and plundered. The inhabitants are most cruelly slain or sold at auction. Leptines watches the Carthaginians with his fleet. Sophocles the younger begins to produce plays.

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