DION. 2G5 borne him company, and shared his fortunes ? I knew nothing of it ; since othenvise it had been my better lot to be called the wife of the exile Polyxeuus, than the sister of the tyrant Dionysius." It is said, he admired her free and ready answer, as did the Syracusans, also, her courage and virtue, insomuch that she retained her dignity and princely retinue after the dissolution of the tyranny, and, when she died, the citizens, by public decree, attended the solemnity of her funeral. And the story, though a digresj^ion from the 2)resent purpose, was well worth the telling. From this time, Dion set his mind upon warlike meas- ures ; with which Plato, out of respect for past hospitah- ties, and because of his age,* would have nothing to do. But Speusippus and the rest of his friends assisted and encouraged him, bidding him deliver Sicily, which with lift-up hands implored his help, and with open arais was ready to receive him. For when Plato was staying at Syracuse, Speusippus, being oftener than he in company with the citizens, had more thoroughly made out how they were inclined ; and though at first they had been on their guard, suspecting his bold language, as though he had been set on by the tyrant to trepan them, yet at length they trusted him. There was but one mind and one wish or prayer among them all, that Dion would undertake the design, and come, though without either navy, .men, horse, or arms ; that he would simply put himself aboard any ship, and lend the Sicilians his person and name against Dionvsius. This Lntbrmation from Speusippus encouraged Dion, who, concealing his real purpose, employed his friends privately to raise what men they could ; and many statesmen and philosophers were assisting to him, as, for instance, Eudemus the • He was now seventy years old.
