Cornelii Nepotis Vitae (Hamilton)/Dion

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 IX. Conon XI. Iphicrates 

I[recensere]

Dion, filius Hipparini, Syracusanus, natus
Dion, the son of Hipparinus, the Syracusan, born
nobili genere, implicatus utraque tyrannide
from noble race, implicated in either tyranny
Dionysiorum. Namque ille superior habuit
of the Dionysii. For that former had
Aristomachen, sororem Dionis, in matrimonio, ex
Aristomache, the sister of Dion, in marriage, of
qua procreavit duos filios, Hipparinum et
whom he begat two sons, Hipparinus and
Nysaeum, que totidem filias, nomine
Nysaeus, and as many daughters, by name
Sophrosynen et Areten, priorem quarum
Sophrosyne and Arete, the former of whom
dedit nuptum filio Dionysio, eidem, cui
he gave to marry to son Dionysius, to the same, to whom
reliquit regnum, alteram, Areten, Dioni.
he left the kingdom, the other, Arete, to Dion.
Autem Dion, praeter nobilem propinquitatem, que
But Dion, beside noble kindred, and
generosam famam maiorum, habuit multa alia
honourable fame of ancestors, had many other
bona ab natura. In his docile
good (things) from nature. In (among) these a teachable
ingenium, come, aptum ad optimas artes; magnam
disposition, polite, fit to the best arts; great
dignitatem corporis, quae commendatur non
dignity of body, which is recommended not
minimum; praeterea, magnas divitias relicta a
the least; besides, great riches left by
patre, quas ipse auxerat muneribus
father, which himself had increased by the gifts
tyranni. Erat intimus priori Dionysio,
of the tyrant. He was intimate to the former Dionysius,
neque minus propter mores, quam affinitatem.
nor less on account of manners, than affinity.
Namque etsi crudelitas Dionysii displicebat
For though the cruelty of Dionysius did displease
ei, tamen studebat esse salvum
to him, yet he did study (wished him) to be safe
propter necessitudinem, magis etiam caussa
on account of relationship, more even for the sake
suorum. Aderat in magnis rebus; que
of his own. He was present in great things; and
tyrannus movebatur multum consilio eius,
the tyrant was moved much by the counsel of him,
nisi in qua re maior cupiditas ipsius
unless in what thing a greater desire of himself
intercesserat. Vero omnes legationes, quae essent
had intervened. But all embassies, which might be
illustriores, administrabantur per Dionem, quas
more distinguished, were managed by Dion, which
quidem obeundo diligenter, administrando
indeed by going about diligently, by managing
fideliter, ille tegebat crudelissimum nomen
faithfully, he did cover the most cruel name
tyranni sua humanitate. Carthaginienses
of the tyrant by his humanity. The Carthaginians
suspexerunt hunc, missum a Dionysio, ut
looked up to him, sent from Dionysius, that
admirati-sint (sub.) magis neminem umquam loquentem
they have admired more nobody ever speaking
Graeca lingua.
in the Greek language.


II[recensere]

Neque vero haec fugiebant Dionysium.
Nor indeed these (things) did escape Dionysius.
Nam sentiebat quanto ornamento esset (sub.)
For he did perceive to how great ornament he was
sibi. Quo fiebat, ut indulgeret (sub.)
to himself. By which it did happen, that he did indulge
huic uni maxime, neque diligeret (sub.) eum
to him alone very much, nor did he love him
secus-ac filium. Qui quidem, quum fama
otherwise than a son. Who indeed, when a report
perlata-esset (sub.) in Siciliam, Platonem venisse
had been brought into Sicily, Plato to have come
Tarentum, potuit non negare adolescenti,
(to) Tarentum, he was able not to deny to the young man,
quin arcesseret eum, quum Dion
but that he would send for him, since Dion
flagraret (sub.) cupiditate eius audiendi. Ergo
did burn with desire of him to be heard. Therefore
dedit veniam huic, que perduxit eum
he gave leave to him, and brought him
Syracusas magna ambitione. Quem Dion adeo
(to) Syracuse with great show. Whom Dion so
admiratus-est atque adamavit, ut traderet (sub.)
admired and greatly loved, that he did give up
se totum ei. Neque vero Plato delectatus-est
himself whole to him. Nor indeed Plato was delighted
minus Dione. Itaque quum violatus-esset (sub.)
less with Dion. Therefore when he had been wronged
crudeliter a Dionysio [tyranno], quippe quem
cruelly by Dionysius [the tyrant], inasmuch as whom
iussisset (sub.) venumdari; tamen rediit
he had ordered to be sold; however he returned
eadem, adductus precibus eiusdem
to the same place, induced by the prayers of the same
Dionis. Interim Dionysius incidit in morbum.
Dion. Meanwhile Dionysius fell into disease.
Quo gravi quum conflictaretur (sub.),
With which heavy (disease) when he was afflicted,
Dion quaesivit a medicis, quemadmodum
Dion inquired from the physicians, how
haberet (sub.) se? que simul petiit
he had himself? and at the same time asked
ab his, si forte esset maiori
from them, if by chance he might be in greater
periculo, ut faterentur sibi: nam
danger, that they should confess to himself: for
se velle colloqui cum eo de regno
himself to will to converse with him of the kingdom
partiendo; quod putabat filios suae
to be divided; because he did think the sons of his
sororis natos ex illo debere habere partem
sister born of him to owe (ought) to have part
regni. Medici tacuerunt id non,
of the kingdom. The physicians were silent of that not,
et retulerunt sermonem ad Dionysium filium.
and reported the speech to Dionysius the son.
Quo ille commotus, ne esset Dioni
By which he alarmed, lest there should be to Dion
potestas agendi, coegit medicos dare
power of acting, compelled the physicians to give
soporem patri. Ergo hoc sumpto, ut
a sleep-potion to father. Therefore this being taken, as
sopitus somno, obiit supremum diem.
lulled in sleep, he met last day.


III[recensere]

Tale fuit initium simultatis Dionis et
Such was the beginning of the quarrel of Dion and
Dionysii, que ea aucta-est multis rebus, sed
of Dionysius, and it was increased by many things, but
tamen aliquamdiu simulata amicitia mansit
yet for some time pretended friendship remained
inter eos primis temporibus. Que quum
between them in the first times. And when
Dion desisteret (sub.) non obsecrare Dionysium, ut
Dion did cease not to beseech Dionysius, that
arcesseret Platonem Athenis, et uteretur
he would send for Plato from Athens, and would use
consiliis eius, ille, qui vellet(sub.) in aliqua
the counsels of him, he, who did wish in some
re imitari patrem, gessit morem ei.
thing to imitate father, bore manner (complied) to him.
Que eodem tempore reduxit Syracusas
And in the same time he brought back (to) Syracuse
Philistum historicum, hominem amicum non magis
Philistus the historian, a man friendly not more
tyranno quam tyrannidi. Sed plura
to the tyrant than to tyranny. But more (things)
exposita-sunt de hoc in eo meo libro,
have been set forth of this (man) in that my book,
qui conscriptus-est de [Graecis] historicis.
which was composed of [the Greek] historians.
Autem Plato potuit tantum apud Dionysium
But Plato was able so much at (with) Dionysius
auctoritate que valuit eloquentia, ut
by authority and prevailed by eloquence, that
persuaserit (sub.) ei facere finem tyrannidis,
he persuaded to him to make an end of tyranny,
que reddere libertatem Syracusanis: deterritus
and to restore liberty to Syracusans: deterred
a qua voluntate consilio Philisti,
from which will by the counsel of Philistus,
coepit esse aliquanto crudelior.
he began to be somewhat more cruel.


IV[recensere]

Qui quidem, quum videret (sub.) se
Who indeed, when he did see himself
superari a Dione ingenio, auctoritate,
to be surpassed by Dion in genius, in authority,
amore populi, verens, ne, si haberet
in love of the people, fearing, lest, if he should have
eum cum se, daret aliquam occasionem
him with himself, he might give some opportunity
sui opprimendi, dedit ei triremem
of himself to be overwhelmed, gave to him a trireme
navem, qua deveheretur Corinthum;
ship, in which he might be carried (to) Corinth;
ostendens se facere id caussa utriusque,
shewing himself to do that for sake of each,
ne, quum timerent (sub.) inter se,
lest, when they did fear between themselves,
alteruter praeoccuparet alterum. Quum
one of the two should pre-occupy the other. When
multi indignarentur (sub.) id factum, que esset (sub.)
many were indignant at that deed, and it was
magnae invidiae tyranno, Dionysius imposuit
to great invidiousness to the tyrant, Dionysius put
in naves omnia Dionis que poterant
into ships all (things) of Dion which were able
moveri, que misit ad eum. Enim volebat
to be moved, and sent (them) to him. For he did wish
existimari sic, se fecisse id non
to be thought so, himself to have done that not
odio hominis, sed caussa suae
in hatred of the man, but for the sake of his own
salutis. Vero postea-quam audivit eum comparare
safety. But after-that he heard him to prepare
manum in Peloponneso, que conari facere
a band in the Peloponnesus, and to attempt to make
bellum sibi, dedit Areten, uxorem Dionis,
war to himself, he gave Arete, the wife of Dion,
alii nuptum, que iussit filium eius
to another to marry, and commanded the son of him
educari sic, ut indulgendo imbueretur
to be educated so, that by indulging he might be stained
turpissimis cupiditatibus. Nam scorta
with most shameful desires. For harlots
adducebantur puero, priusquam esset (sub.)
were brought to the boy, before that he was
pubes; obruebatur vino que
an adult; he was overwhelmed with wine and
epulis, neque relinquebatur ullum tempus
with banquets, nor was there left any time
sobrio. Postquam pater rediit in
to (him) sober. After that the father returned into
patriam, is potuit non ferre statum vitae
native country, he was able not to bear the state of life
usque-eo commutatum, (namque custodes erant appositi,
so far changed, (for guards were placed,
qui deducerent eum a pristino victu,)
who should lead off him from former manner of life,)
ut deiecerit (sub.) sese de superiore
that he cast down himself from the higher
parte aedium, atque ita interierit (sub.).
part of the buildings, and so perished.
Sed revertor illuc.
But I return thither.


V[recensere]

Postquam Dion pervenit Corinthum, et Heraclides,
After that Dion arrived at Corinth, and Heraclides,
qui fuerat praefectus equitum, perfugit
who had been commander of horsemen, fled
eodem, expulsus ab eodem Dionysio:
to the same place, expelled by the same Dionysius:
coeperunt comparare bellum omni ratione. Sed
they began to prepare war by every method. But
proficiebant non multum, quod tyrannis multorum
they did profit not much, because a tyranny of many
annorum putabatur magnarum opum. Ob
years was thought of great resources. For
quam caussam pauci perducebantur ad societatem
which cause few were brought to a share
periculi. Sed Dion, fretus non tam suis
of the danger. But Dion, relying not so much on his own
copiis, quam odio tyranni, maximo
forces, as on the hatred of the tyrant, with greatest
animo, duabus onerariis navibus, profectus
courage, with two transport ships, having set out
oppugnatum imperium quinquaginta annorum, munitum
to attack a power of fifty years, fortified
quingentis longis navibus, decem millibus
by five hundred long ships, by ten thousands
equitum, centum (millibus) peditum, (quod
of horsemen, hundred (thousands) of footmen, (what
visum-est admirabile omnibus gentibus,) perculit
seemed wonderful to all nations,) he beat down
adeo facile, ut introierit (sub.) Syracusas post
so easily, that he entered Syracuse after
tertium diem, quam attigerat Siciliam. Ex
the third day, that he had reached Sicily. Out of
quo potest intelligi, nullum imperium
which it is able to be understood, no power
esse tutum, nisi munitum benevolentia. Dionysius
to be safe, unless fortified by good will. Dionysius
aberat eo tempore, et opperiebatur classem
was absent in that time, and did wait for the fleet
in Italia; ratus neminem adversariorum
in Italy; having thought no one of enemies
venturum ad se sine magnis copiis.
about to come to himself without great forces.
Quae res fefellit eum. Nam Dion repressit
Which thing deceived him. For Dion repressed
regios spiritus iis ipsis, qui fuerant
the royal spirits with those themselves, who had been
sub potestate adversarii, et potitus-est eius
under the power of enemy, and possessed of that
totius partis Siciliae quae fuerat sub potestate
whole part of Sicily which had been under the power
Dionysii; que pari modo, urbis Syracusarum,
of Dionysius; and in like manner, of the city Syracuse,
praeter arcem et insulam adiunctam oppido;
except the citadel and island joined to the town;
que perduxit rem eo ut tyrannus
and he brought the thing thither that the tyrant
vellet (sub.) facere pacem talibus pactionibus: Dion
was willing to make peace on such conditions: Dion
obtineret Siciliam, Dionysius Italiam, Apollocrates
should hold Sicily, Dionysius Italy, Apollocrates
Syracusas, cui uni habebat maximam fidem.
Syracuse, to whom alone he had the greatest faith.


VI[recensere]

Subita commutatio consecuta-est has tam
A sudden change succeeded these so
prosperas que tam inopinatas res, quod fortuna,
prosperous and so unexpected things, because fortune,
sua mobilitate, adorta-est demergere, quem
by her changeableness, attempted to sink, whom
extulerat paullo ante. Exercuit suam
she had raised a little before. She exercised her
vim primum in filio, de quo commemoravi
violence first in the son, of whom I have mentioned
supra. Nam quum reduxisset (sub.) uxorem, quae
above. For when he had brought-back wife, who
tradita-fuerat alii, que vellet (sub.) revocare
had been delivered to another, and did wish to recall
filium ad virtutem a perdita luxuria, parens
son to virtue from abandoned luxury, the parent
accepit gravissimum vulnus morte filii.
received the most heavy wound by the death of son.
Deinde dissensio orta-est inter eum et
Afterwards a dissension arose between him and
Heraclidem, qui, quod concedebat non
Heraclides, who, because he did yield not
principatum Dioni, comparavit factionem. Neque
the chief-power to Dion, prepared a faction. Nor
is valebat minus apud optimates, consensu
he did prevail less at (among) the nobles, by the consent
quorum praeerat classi, quum Dion
of whom he did command to fleet, when Dion
teneret (sub.) pedestrem exercitum. Dion
did hold the pedestrian (land) army. Dion
tulit non hoc aequo animo, et retulit illum
bore not this with equal mind, and repeated that
versum Homeri ex secunda Rhapsodia, in
verse of Homer out of the second Rhapsody, in
quo est haec sententia: Rempublicam non
which is this sentiment: A republic not
posse geri bene imperiis
to be able to be carried on well by the commands
multorum. Magna invidia consecuta-est quod
of many. Great envy (unpopularity) succeeded which
dictum. Namque videbatur aperuisse se
saying. For he did seem to have discovered himself
velle omnia esse in sua potestate. Ille studuit
to wish all (things) to be in his power. He studied
non lenire hanc obsequio, sed opprimere
not to soothe this by compliance, but to overwhelm
acerbitate, que curavit Heraclidem interficiendum,
by severity, and took care Heraclides to be killed,
quum venisset (sub.) Syracusas.
when he had come (to) Syracuse.


VII[recensere]

Quod factum iniecit maximum timorem omnibus.
Which deed threw the greatest fear to all.
Enim nemo putabat se tutum, illo interfecto.
For nobody did think himself safe, he being slain.
Autem ille, adversario remoto, dispertivit
But he, enemy being removed, distributed
licentius militibus bona eorum, quos
more licentiously to the soldiers the goods of those, whom
sciebat sensisse adversus se. Quibus
he did know to have felt against himself. Which
divisis, quum maximi quotidiani sumtus
being divided, when very great daily expenses
fierent (sub.), pecunia celeriter coepit deesse;
were made, money quickly began to be wanting;
neque suppetebat, quo porrigeret
nor did there remain, whither he might stretch
manus, nisi in possessiones amicorum. Id
hands, unless unto the possessions of friends. That
erat huiusmodi ut quum reconciliasset (sub.)
was of-this-kind, that when he had gained
milites, amitteret (sub.) optimates. Frangebatur
the soldiers, he did lose the nobles. He was broken
cura quarum rerum, et, insuetus audiendi
by care of which things, and, unused of hearing
male, ferebat non aequo
badly (of being ill-spoken of), he did bear not with equal
animo existimari male de se ab iis,
mind to be thought badly of himself by those,
laudibus quorum elatus-fuerat in coelum
by praises of whom he had been extolled unto heaven
paullo ante. Autem vulgus, voluntate
a little before. But the common people, the will
militum offensa in eum, loquebatur
of the soldiers being offended against him, did speak
liberius, et dictitabat, tyrannum non ferendum.
more freely, and did often say, a tyrant not to be borne.


VIII[recensere]

Ille intuens haec, quum nesciret (sub.),
He regarding these (things), when he did not know,
quemadmodum sedaret, et timeret (sub.) quorsum
how he might quell, and did fear how-far
evaderent, quidam Callicrates, Atheniensis civis,
they might go, a certain Callicrates, an Athenian citizen,
qui venerat simul cum eo ex
who had come at-the-same-time with him out of
Peloponneso in Siciliam, homo et calidus et
Peloponnesus into Sicily, a man both shrewd and
acutus ad fraudem, sine ulla religione ac fide,
acute to fraud, without any religion and faith,
adit ad Dionem, et ait: eum esse [in] magno
goes to Dion, and says: him to be [in] great
periculo propter offensionem populi et
danger on-account of the offence of the people and
odium militum, quod posset evitare nullo
hatred of the soldiers, which he could to avoid in no
modo, nisi daret negotium alicui
manner, unless he would give the business to some one
suorum, qui simularet se
of his own (friends), who should pretend himself
inimicum illi. Quem si invenisset
an enemy to him. Whom if he should have found
idoneum, facile cogniturum animos omnium, que
suitable, easily about to know the minds of all, and
sublaturum adversarios, quod inimici eius
about to remove adversaries, because the enemies of him
forent aperturi suos sensus
would be about to open their sentiments
dissidenti. Tali consilio probato,
to (one) dissenting. Such counsel being approved of,
Callicrates ipse excepit has partes, et armat
Callicrates himself took these parts, and arms
se imprudentia Dionis. Conquirit
himself with the imprudence of Dion. He collects
socios ad interficiendum eum, convenit adversarios
associates to slaying him, he meets the enemies
eius, confirmat coniurationem. Res quae
of him, he confirms the conspiracy. The thing which
gereretur (sub.) multis consciis, elata
was carried on, many being conscious, being reported
defertur ad Aristomachen, sororem Dionis, que
is carried to Aristomache, the sister of Dion, and
uxorem Areten. Illae perterritae timore
the wife Arete. They being terrified with fear
conveniunt, de periculo cuius
meet (him), concerning the danger of whom
timebant. At ille negat, insidias fieri
they did fear. But he denies, snares to be made
sibi a Callicrate, sed illa, quae
to himself by Callicrates, but those (things), which
agerentur (sub.), fieri suo praecepto. Mulieres
were done, to be done by his command. The women
nihilo-secius deducunt Callicratem in aedem
nevertheless convey Callicrates into the temple
Proserpinae, ac cogunt iurare nihil
of Proserpine, and compel (him) to swear nothing
periculi fore Dioni ab illo. Ille
of danger to be about to be to Dion from him. He
non modo non deterritus hac religione ab
not only not deterred by this religion from
incepto, sed concitatus-est ad maturandum,
the undertaking, but was excited to hastening (it),
verens, ne suum consilium aperiretur,
fearing, lest his design should be discovered,
priusquam perfecisset (sub.) conata.
before that he had accomplished the attempts.


IX[recensere]

Hac mente proximo festo die, quum
With this mind on the next festive day, when
Dion teneret (sub.) se domi remotum a
Dion did hold himself at home removed from
conventu, atque recubuisset (sub.) in edito
the assembly, and had lain down in a high
conclavi, tradit munitiora loca oppidi
chamber, he delivers the more fortified places of the town
consciis, sepit domum
to (those) privy (to the conspiracy), he surrounds the house
custodiis, praeficit certos, qui discedant
with guards, he appoints certain (men), who may depart
non a foribus; ornat triremem navem
not from the doors; he equips a trireme ship
armatis, que tradit suo fratri
with armed men, and delivers (it) to his brother
Philostrato, que iubet eam agitari
Philostratus, and commands it to be-driven about
in portu, ut si vellet (sub.) exercere
in the harbour, as if he did wish to exercise
remiges; cogitans, si forte fortuna
the rowers; thinking, if by chance fortune
obstitisset consiliis, ut haberet
should have opposed to (his) designs, that he might have
quo fugeret ad salutem. Autem eligit
whither he might flee to safety. But he chooses
e numero suorum quosdam
out of the number of his (partisans) certain
Zacynthios adolescentes, cum audacissimos, tum
Zacynthian young men, as well most daring, as
maximis viribus, que dat negotium his,
with greatest strengths, and gives business to these,
[ut] eant inermes ad Dionem, sic ut
[that] they may go unarmed to Dion, so that
viderentur venire gratia eius
they might seem to come for the sake of him
conveniendi. Hi intromissi-sunt propter
to be met. These were let in on account of
notitiam. At illi, ut intrarunt
acquaintance. But they, when they entered
limen eius, foribus obseratis, invadunt
the threshold of him, the doors being bolted, attack (him)
cubantem in lecto, colligant; strepitus fit,
lying in bed, they bind; a noise is made,
adeo ut posset (sub.) exaudiri foris. Hic,
so that it could to be heard without. Here,
sicut dictum-est saepe ante, fuit facile
as has been said often before, it was easy
intellectu cuivis, quam invisa sit (sub.)
to be understood to any (one), how hated is
singularis potentia, et vita eorum
single power, and life of those
miseranda, qui malunt se metui
to be pitied, who rather wish themselves to be feared
quam amari. Namque illi custodes
than to be loved. For those guards
ipsi, si fuissent (sub.) propitia voluntate,
themselves, if they had been in favorable will,
potuissent servare eum, foribus
might have been able to save him, the doors
effractis, quod illi inermes tenebant
being broken, because those unarmed did hold (him)
vivum flagitantes telum foris. Cui
alive requesting a weapon without. To whom
quum nemo succurreret (sub.), quidam Lyco
when nobody did succour, a certain Lyco
Syracusanus dedit gladium per fenestras,
a Syracusan gave a sword through the windows,
quo Dion interfectus-est.
with which Dion was slain.


X[recensere]

Caede confecta, quum multitudo
The slaughter being completed, when the multitude
introisset (sub.) gratia visendi, nonnulli
had entered for the sake of seeing, some
conciduntur ab insciis pro noxiis.
are slain by (those) ignorant for the guilty.
Nam celeri rumore dilato, vim allatam
For quick rumour being spread, violence offered
Dioni, multi concurrerant, quibus tale
to Dion, many had run together, to whom such
facinus displicebat. Hi ducti falsa suspicione
crime did displease. These led by false suspicion
occidunt immerentes ut sceleratos. Ut
kill the undeserving as wicked. When
factum-est palam de morte huius, voluntas
it was made open of the death of him, the will
vulgi mutata-est mirabiliter. Nam
of the common-people was changed wonderfully. For
iidem qui vocitarant (sub.) eum tyrannum
the same who had often called him tyrant
vivum, praedicabant liberatorem patriae, que
alive, did declare (him) deliverer of country, and
expulsorem tyranni. Misericordia successerat
expeller of a tyrant. Compassion had succeeded
odio sic subito, ut, si possent (sub.),
to hatred so suddenly, that, if they could,
cuperent redimere eum suo
they would desire to redeem him by their own
sanguine ab Acheronte. Itaque elatus
blood from Acheron.[1] Therefore being buried
publice celeberrimo loco in urbe
publicly in a most frequented place in the city
donatus-est monumento sepulcri. Obiit
he was presented with a monument of sepulchre. He met
diem,[2] natus circiter quinquaginta quinque annos,
day, being born about fifty five years,
post quartum annum quam redierat ex
after the fourth year that he had returned out of
Peloponneso in Siciliam.
Peloponnesus into Sicily.
  1. Acheron, one of the rivers of the heathen hell; taken here, and by the poets, for the regions of the dead.
  2. Obire diem, or diem supremum, to die; many other compounds of eo have this signification, as pereo, intereo, &c.