68 HISTORY OF GREECE. Penetrated as he was with the Platonic idea that nothing could be done for the improvement and happiness of mankind, 1 until philosophy and ruling power came together in the same hands ; but everything, if the two did so come together he thought that he saw before him a chance of realizing the conjunction, in the case of the greatest among all Hellenic potentates. He already be- held in fancy his native country and fellow citizens liberated, mor- alized, ennobled, and conducted to happiness, without murder or per- secution, 2 simply by the well-meaning and instructed employment of power already organized. If accident had thrown the despot- ism into the hands of Dion himself, at this period of his life, the Grecian world would probably have seen an experiment tried, as memorable and generous as any event recorded in its history : what would have been its result, we cannot say. But it was enough to fire his inmost soul, to see himself separated from the experiment only by the necessity of persuading an impressible young man over whom he had much influence ; and for himself he was quite satisfied with the humbler position of nominal min- ister, but real originator and chief, in so noble an enterprise. 3 His persuasive powers, strengthened as they were by intense earnest- ness as well as by his imposing station and practical capacity, actually wrought a great effect upon Dionysius. The young man ap- peared animated with a strong desire of self-improvement, and of qualifying himself for such a use of the powers of government as Dion depicted. He gave proof of the sincerity of his feeling by expressing eagerness to see and converse with Plato, to whom he sent several personal messages, warmly requesting him to visit Syracuse. 4 Plato, Epist vii. p. 328 A. p. 335 E. ; Plato, Kepublic. vi. p. 499 C. D.
- Plato, Epist. vii. p. 327 E ..... "O (5^ Kal vvv el 6i.anpu^aiTo iv Aiovv-
aiy wf lirexelpTjae, [teyuhaf e/lrrtJaf d%tv, uvev afyayuv Kal fiavuTuv Kal rH>v vvv yeyovoTuv KCIKUV, /Slav av cvdaiuova Kal utydivov iv nday rfj x&ptp 3 Plato, Epistol. vii. p. 333 B. Tavrbv irpbc Aiuva Zvpanooioi rare lira&ov, oTTfp KOI Aiovvaiof, ore OVTOV iTre^eipet Traidevoac Kal tfpe^af fiaai- Aea TTJ up%Tj( U^LOV, OVTU KOIVUVEIV avrtj) TOV (3iov iravTOf. 4 Plato, Epist. vii. p. 327 E. : Plntarch, Dion, c. 11. la-^sv pa( rbv Aio~ vvaiov oftif Kal irepifiavijg run re T^oyuv Kal rr/s ffvvovaiaf TOV H^druvof. EiJt)f ovv 'Atf^vafs TroAAtl JJ.EV tyoira ypafipara napa TOV Aiovvaiov, TroAXal F IntOKtysic TOV Afwrof, AAat 6' if; 'IraMaf Traob TUV HvdayapiKuv, etc.
