in it, to give them the neceffary refreshment; and left this city (after laying it entirely in ruins) in the beginning of the fpring. He afterwards befieged Gela, and took it, notwithstanding the fuccours which were brought by Dionyfius the tyrant, who had feized upon the government of Syracufe. Imilcon ended.the war by a treaty with Dionyfius. The articles of it were, that the Carthaginians, befides their ancient acquifi tions in Sicily, fhould ftill poffefs the country of the Sicanians*, Selinuntum, Agrigentum, and Hymera; as likewife that of Gelo and Camarina, with leave for the inhabitants to refide in their refpective dismantled cities, on condition of their paying a tribute to Car thage that the Leontines, the Meffenians, and all the Sicilians fhould retain their own laws, and preserve their liberty and independence: laftly, that the Syracufans fhould ftill continue fubject to Dionyfius. Af ter this treaty was concluded, Imilcon returned to Carthage, where the plague ftill made dreadful havoc. Dionyfius had concluded the late peace with the Carthaginians, in no other view but to get time to eftablifh his new authority, and make the neceffary preparations for the war, which he meditated against them. As he was very fenfible how formidable thofe people were, he used his utmost endeavours to enable himself to invade them with fuccefs; and his defign was wonderfully well feconded by the zeal of his fubjects. The fame of this prince, the ftrong defire he had to diftinguifh himfelf, the charms of gain, and the profpect of the re wards which he promised thofe who fhould fhow the greatest induftry; invited, from all quarters, into Sicily, the most able artists and workmen at that time in the world. All Syracufe now became in a manner a common work-fhop, in every part of which men were feen making fwords, helmets, fhields, and military engines; and in preparing all things neceffary for building fhips and fitting out fleets. The invention of five benches A. M. 3600. A. Carth. 442. Rome, 344. Ant. J. C. 404. The Sicanians and Sicilians were anciently two distinct people. of of oars (or Quinqueremes) was at that time very recent, for, till then, only three had been used. Dionyfius animated the workmen by his prefence, and by the applaufes he gave, and the bounty which he beftowed feasonably; but chiefly by his popular and engaging behaviour, which excited more ftrongly than any other conduct, the industry and ardour of the workmen, the moft excellent of whom, in every art, had frequently the honour to dine with him. When all things were ready, and a great number of forces had been levied in different countries, he called the Syracufans together, laid his defign before them, and reprefented the Carthaginians as the profeffed enemies to the Greeks; that they had no lefs in view than the invasion of all Sicily; the fubjecting all the Grecian cities; and that, in cafe their progrefs was not checked, the Syracufans themfelves would foon be, attacked; that the reason why the Carthaginians did not attempt anyenterprise, and continue inactive, was owing entirely to the dreadful havoc made by the plague among them; which (he obferved) was a favourable opportunity for the Syracufans. Though the tyranny and the tyrant were equally odious to Syracufe, yet the hatred the people in queftion bore to the Carthaginians, prevailed over all other confiderations; and every one, guided more by the views of an interefted policy, than by the dictates of juftice, received the fpeech with applaufe. Upon this, without the leaft complaint made of treaties violated, or making a declaration of war, Dionyfius gave up to the fury of the populace, the perfons and poffeffions of the Carthaginians. Great numbers of them refided at that time in Syracufe, and traded there on the faith of treaties. But now the common people ran to their houses, plundered their effects, and pretended they were fufficiently authorised to exercise every ignominy, and inflict every kind of punishment on them; for the cruelties they had exercifed against the natives of the country. And this horrid example of perfidy and inhumanity was followed throughout the whole island of Si cily. This was the bloody fignal of the war which was declared against them. Dionyfius having thus begun to do himself juftice in his way) fent deputies to Carthage, to require them to reftore all the Sicilian cities to their liberties; and that otherwife all the Carthaginians found in them fhould be treated as enemies. This news spread a general alarm in Carthage, especially when they reflected on the fad condition to which they were reduced. Dionyfius opened the campaign with the fiege of Motya, which was the magazine of the Carthaginians in Sicily; and he befieged the town with fo much vigour, that it was impoffible for Imilcon, the Carthaginian admiral, to relieve it. He brought forward his engines, battered the place with his battering-rams, advanced towers fix ftories high to the wall (rolled upon wheels) and of an equal height with their houses; from thefe towers, he greatly annoyed the befieged, with furious difcharges of volleys of arrows and ftones fent from his Catapultas, an engine* at that time of late invention. At last, the city after having made a long and vigorous defence, was taken by ftorm, and all the inhabitants of it put to the fword, thofe excepted, who took fanctuary in the temples. The plunder of it was abandoned to the foldiers: and Dionyfius, leaving a strong garrifon and a trufty governor in it, returned to Syracufe. The following year Imilcon being appointed one of the Suffetes, returned to Sicily with a far greater 'army than before. He landed at Palermot, took feveral cities, and recovered Motya by force of arms. Animated by thefe fucceffes, he advanced towards Syracufe, with defign to besiege it; marching his infantry by land; whilft his fleet, under the command of Mago, failed along the coast. The arrival of Imilcon threw the Syracufans, into great confternation. Above two hundred fhips ladenwith the fpoils of the enemy, and advancing in good order, Diod. 1. xiv. p. 279-295. Juftin. 1. xix. c. 2, 3. * The curious reader will find a very particular account of it in the second part of the eighth volume of this work. + Panormus. entered entered in a kind of triumph the great harbour, being followed by five hundred barks. At the fame time the land-army, confifting, according to fome authors, of three hundred thoufand foot*, and three thoufand horfe, was feen marching forward on the other fide of the city. Imilcon pitched his tent in the very temple of Jupiter; and the rest of the army encamped at twelve furlongs, or about a mile and a half from the city. Marching up to it, Imilcon offered battle to the inhabitants, who did not care to accept the challenge. Imilcon, fatisfied at his having extorted, as it were, from the Syracufans, this 'confeffion of their own weakness and his fuperiority, returned to his camp; not doubting but he fhould foon be mafter of the city; confidering it already as a certain prey, which could not poffibly efcape him. For thirty days together, he laid waste the neighbourhood about Syracufe, and ruined the whole country. He poffeffed himself of the suburb of Acradina, and plundered the temples of Ceres and Proferpine. To fortify his camp, he beat down the tombs which stood round the city; and among others, that of Gelon and his wife, Dema rata, which was prodigiously magnificent, But thefe fucceffes were not lafting, all the fplendor of this anticipated triumph vanifhed in a moment, and -taught mankind, fays the hiftorian', that the proudest mortal, blafted fooner or later by a fuperior power, shall be forced to confefs his own weaknefs. Whilft Imilcon, now master of almost all the cities of Sicily, expected to finifh his conquefts, by the reduction of Syracufe, a contagious diftemper feized his army, and made dreadful havoc in it. It was now the midst of summer, and the heat that year was exceffive. The infection began among the Africans, multitudes of whom died, without any poffiblity of their being relieved. Care was taken at first to inter the dead; but the number increafing daily, and the infection spreading very fast, the dead lay unburied, 1 Diodorus. *Some authors fay but thirty thoufand foot, which is the more probable account, as the fleet which blocked up the town by fea was fo formidable. and and the fick could have no affistance. This plague had very uncommon fymptoms, fuch as violent dy fenteries, raging fevers, burning entrails, acute pains in every part of the body. The infected were even feized with madnefs and fury, fo that they would fall upon any perfons that came in their way, and tear them to pieces. Dionyfius did not lofe this favourable opportunity for attacking the enemy. Imilcon's army being more than half conquered by the plague, could make but a feeble refiftance. The Carthaginian fhips were almost all either taken or burnt. The inhabitants in general of Syracufe, their old men, women, and children, came pouring out of the city, to behold an event, which to them appeared miraculous. With hands lifted up to heaven, they thanked the tutelar gods of their city, for having revenged the fanctity of temples and tombs, which had been lo brutally violated by thefe Barbarians. Night coming on, both parties retired; when Imilcon, taking the opportunity of this fhort fufpenfion of hostilities, fent to Dionyfius, for leave to carry back with him the finail remains of his shattered army, with an offer of three hundred talents*, which was all the fpecie he had then left. Permillion could only be obtained for the Carthaginians, with whom Imilcon stole away in the night, and left the reft to the mercy of the conqueror. " In fuch unhappy circumftances did the Carthaginian general, who a few days before had been so proud and haughty, retire from Syracufe. Bitterly bewailing his own fate, but most of all that of his country, he, with the most infolent fury, accused the gods as the fole authors of his misfortunes. "The enemy," continued he, may indeed rejoice at our mifery, but have no reafon to glory in it. We return victorious over the Syracufans; and are only defeated by the plague. No part, added he, of the difafter touches me fo much as my furviving fo many gallant men, and my being referved, not for the comforts of life, but to be the sport of fo dire a calamity: however, fince I have brought * About 61,800l. English money. back |