276 DION. at their first sally to retake the whole city, when be- yond their expectation they found themselves engaged with bold and practised fighters, they fell back towards the castle. As soon as they gave ground, the Greek sol- diers pressed the harder upon them, till they tm-ned and fled within the walls. There were lost in this action seventy-four of Dion's men, and a very great number of the enemy. This being a signal victory, and principally obtained by the valor of the foreign soldiers, the Syra- cusans rewarded them in honor of it with a hundred minoe, and the soldiers on their part presented Dion with a crown of gold. Soon after, there came heralds from Dionysius, bring- ing Dion letters from the women of his family, and one addressed outside, " To his father, from Hipparinus ; " this was the name of Dion's son, though Timseus says, he was, from his mother Arete's name, called Aretasus ; but I think credit is rather to be given to Timonides's report, who was his father's fellow-soldier and confidant. The rest of the letters were read publicly, containing many solicitations and humble requests of the women; that professing to be from his son, the heralds would not have them open publicly, but Dion, putting force upon them, broke the seal. It was from Dionysius, written in the terms of it to Dion, but in effect to the Syracusans, and so worded that, under a plausible justification of himself and entreaty to him, means were taken for rendering him suspected by the people. It reminded him of the good service he had formerly done the usurping govern- ment, it added threats to his dearest relations, his sister, son, and wife, if he did not comply with the contents, also passionate demands mingled with lamentations, and, most to the purpose of all, urgent recommendations to him not to destroy the government, and put the power into the hands of men who always hated him, and would
