Textus Originalis

XXXIV ARGUMENTUM

Cap. Ol. 96, 1 : 396 a. Chr. 54. Dionysius hostium urbes oppugnare et agros vastare pergit. Halicyaei ad Syracusanos deficiunt; Egestani obsidentium castra incendunt. Interea Carthaginienses quam maximas copias cogunt, Imilconi summum imperium tradunt. Militum et navium numerus. 55. Recto cursu Panormum petit Imilco, expositisque ibi copiis Erycem per proditionem, Motyam vi, Halicyaeos ultro fidem offerentes recipit. Dionysius Syracusas recedit. 56. Imilco, Himera et Cephaloedio in amicitiam allectis, Lipara potitus, Messanam versus progreditur. Messenii mulieres et pueros in vicinas urbes abducunt. 57. Imilco Messanam expugnat. 58. Siculi omnes deficiunt ad Poenos. Dionysius servitia armat, mercennarios conducit a Lacedaemoniis, castella munit. Castra habet iuxta Taurum. Messanam penitus devastant Carthaginienses. 59. Imilco Magonem cum classe Catinam tendere iubet; ipse cum pedestribus copiis eodem proficiscitur. Dionysius Leptinem Magoni obviam mittit. 60. Proelium navale, quo Syracusani funduntur; Mago Catinam occupat. 61. Dionysius primo cum Imilcone pugnam inire parat; mox mutato consilio Syracusas tutari festinat. Discessum graviter ferentes Siciliotae Dionysii castra relinquunt. Campani, quamvis ab Imilcone sollicitati, in Dionysii societate permanent. 62. Dionysius nova ex Graecia et Italia auxilia requirit. Imilco magna classe portum Syracusanorum occupat, simulque pedestrem aciem ante moenia instruit, agros vastat. 63. Imilco templa Syracusanorum expilat; hinc fortuna eius in peius mutatur. Dionysio ex Peloponneso et ex Italia auxilia subveniunt. 64. Absente Dionysio Syracusani navibus victoriam reportant; qua elati de abroganda Dionysii tyrannide cogitant. Redit Dionysius. 65—69. Theodori Syracusani pro libertate recuperanda gravissima oratio.

Traduzione

XXXIV ARGUMENT

Ch. Ol. 96, 1 : 396 BC 54. Dionysius continues to attack the enemy's cities and ravage their lands. The Halicyaeans defect to the Syracusans; the Egestans set fire to the besiegers' camp. Meanwhile the Carthaginians gather as large forces as possible and entrust the supreme command to Himilco. The number of soldiers and ships. 55. Himilco heads for Panormus by a direct course, and having landed his forces there, receives Eryx through treachery, Motya by force, and the Halicyaeans voluntarily offering their allegiance. Dionysius withdraws to Syracuse. 56. Himilco, having brought Himera and Cephaloedium into friendship, gains possession of Lipara, and advances towards Messana. The Messenians lead away their women and children to neighboring cities. 57. Himilco storms Messana. 58. All the Sicels defect to the Phoenicians. Dionysius arms the slaves, hires mercenaries from the Lacedaemonians, and fortifies strongholds. He has his camp near Taurus. The Carthaginians thoroughly devastate Messana. 59. Himilco orders Mago to proceed with the fleet to Catania; he himself sets out for the same place with the land forces. Dionysius sends Leptines to meet Mago. 60. A naval battle, in which the Syracusans are routed; Mago occupies Catania. 61. Dionysius at first prepares to join battle with Himilco; soon, changing his plan, he hastens to protect Syracuse. The Siceliots, taking his departure badly, leave Dionysius' camp. The Campanians, although solicited by Himilco, remain in alliance with Dionysius. 62. Dionysius seeks new auxiliaries from Greece and Italy. Himilco, with a great fleet, occupies the Syracusan harbor, and at the same time draws up his land army before the walls and ravages the fields. 63. Himilco plunders the temples of the Syracusans; from this point his fortune changes for the worse. Auxiliaries from the Peloponnese and from Italy arrive for Dionysius. 64. In the absence of Dionysius, the Syracusans gain a victory with their ships; elated by this, they think about abolishing the tyranny of Dionysius. Dionysius returns. 65—69. The most weighty speech of Theodorus the Syracusan for recovering freedom.