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第9章

the seventh letter-第9章

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to me; and I thought it absurd to argue any longer with him;


however; I said that we must wait for Dion's letter; and then once


more write to tell him of this new proposal。 His next step was the


brilliant one of selling the whole of Dion's property; using his own


discretion with regard to the manner and terms of the sale and of


the purchasers。 He spoke not a word to me about the matter from


beginning to end; and I followed his example and never talked to him


again about Dion's affairs; for I did not think that I could do any


good by doing so。 This is the history so far of my efforts to come


to the rescue of philosophy and of my friends。


  After this Dionysios and I went on with our daily life; I with my


eyes turned abroad like a bird yearning to fly from its perch; and


he always devising some new way of scaring me back and of keeping a


tight hold on Dion's property。 However; we gave out to all Sicily that


we were friends。 Dionysios; now deserting the policy of his father;


attempted to lower the pay of the older members of his body guard。 The


soldiers were furious; and; assembling in great numbers; declared that


they would not submit。 He attempted to use force to them; shutting the


gates of the acropolis; but they charged straight for the walls;


yelling out an unintelligible and ferocious war cry。 Dionysios took


fright and conceded all their demands and more to the peltasts then


assembled。


  A rumour soon spread that Heracleides had been the cause of all


the trouble。 Hearing this; Heracleides kept out of the way。


Dionysios was trying to get hold of him; and being unable to do so;


sent for Theodotes to come to him in his garden。 It happened that I


was walking in the garden at the same time。 I neither know nor did I


hear the rest of what passed between them; but what Theodotes said


to Dionysios in my presence I know and remember。 〃Plato;〃 he said;


〃I am trying to convince our friend Dionysios that; if I am able to


bring Heracleides before us to defend himself on the charges which


have been made against him; and if he decides that Heracleides must no


longer live in Sicily; he should be allowed (this is my point) to take


his son and wife and sail to the Peloponnese and reside there;


taking no action there against Dionysios and enjoying the income of


his property。 I have already sent for him and will send for him again;


and if he comes in obedience either to my former message or to this


one…well and good。 But I beg and entreat Dionysios that; if anyone


finds Heracleides either in the country or here; no harm shall come to


him; but that he may retire from the country till Dionysios comes to


some other decision。 Do you agree to this?〃 he added; addressing


Dionysios。 〃I agree;〃 he replied; 〃that even if he is found at your


house; no harm shall be done to him beyond what has now been said。〃


  On the following day Eurybios and Theodotes came to me in the


evening; both greatly disturbed。 Theodotes said; 〃Plato; you were


present yesterday during the promises made by Dionysios to me and to


you about Heracleides?〃 〃Certainly;〃 I replied。 〃Well;〃 he


continued; 〃at this moment peltasts are scouring the country seeking


to arrest Heracleides; and he must be somewhere in this neighbourhood。


For Heaven's sake come with us to Dionysios。〃 So we went and stood


in the presence of Dionysios; and those two stood shedding silent


tears; while I said: 〃These men are afraid that you may take strong


measures with regard to Heracleides contrary to what was agreed


yesterday。 For it seems that he has returned and has been seen


somewhere about here。〃 On hearing this he blazed up and turned all


colours; as a man would in a rage。 Theodotes; falling before him in


tears; took his hand and entreated him to do nothing of the sort。


But I broke in and tried to encourage him; saying: 〃Be of good


cheer; Theodotes; Dionysios will not have the heart to take any


fresh step contrary to his promises of yesterday。〃 Fixing his eye on


me; and assuming his most autocratic air he said; 〃To you I promised


nothing small or great。〃 〃By the gods;〃 I said; 〃you did promise


that forbearance for which our friend here now appeals。〃 With these


words I turned away and went out。 After this he continued the hunt for


Heracleides; and Theodotes; sending messages; urged Heracleides to


take flight。 Dionysios sent out Teisias and some peltasts with


orders to pursue him。 But Heracleides; as it was said; was just in


time; by a small fraction of a day; in making his escape into


Carthaginian territory。


  After this Dionysios thought that his long cherished scheme not to


restore Dion's property would give him a plausible excuse for


hostility towards me; and first of all he sent me out of the


acropolis; finding a pretext that the women were obliged to hold a


sacrificial service for ten days in the garden in which I had my


lodging。 He therefore ordered me to stay outside in the house of


Archedemos during this period。 While I was there; Theodotes sent for


me and made a great outpouring of indignation at these occurrences;


throwing the blame on Dionysios。 Hearing that I had been to see


Theodotes he regarded this; as another excuse; sister to the


previous one; for quarrelling with me。 Sending a messenger he enquired


if I had really been conferring with Theodotes on his invitation


〃Certainly;〃 I replied; 〃Well;〃 continued the messenger; 〃he ordered


me to tell you that you are not acting at all well in preferring


always Dion and Dion's friends to him。〃 And he did not send for me


to return to his house; as though it were now clear that Theodotes and


Heracleides were my friends; and he my enemy。 He also thought that I


had no kind feelings towards him because the property of Dion was


now entirely done for。


  After this I resided outside the acropolis among the mercenaries。


Various people then came to me; among them those of the ships' crews


who came from Athens; my own fellow citizens; and reported that I


was evil spoken of among the peltasts; and that some of them were


threatening to make an end of me; if they could ket hold of me


Accordingly I devised the following plan for my safety。


  I sent to Archytes and my other friends in Taras; telling them the


plight I was in。 Finding some excuse for an embassy from their city;


they sent a thirty…oared galley with Lamiscos; one of themselves;


who came and entreated Dionysios about me; saying that I wanted to go;


and that he should on no account stand in my way。 He consented and


allowed me to go; giving me money for the journey。 But for Dion's


property I made no further request; nor was any of it restored。


  I made my way to the Peloponnese to Olympia; where I found Dion a


spectator at the Games; and told him what had occurred。 Calling Zeus


to be his witness; he at once urged me with my relatives and friends


to make preparations for taking vengeance on Dionysios…our ground


for action being the breach of faith to a guest…so he put it and


regarded it; while his own was his unjust expulsion and banishment。


Hearing this; I told him that he might call my friends to his aid;


if they wished to go; 〃But for myself;〃 I continued; 〃you and others


in a way forced me to be the sharer of Dionysios' table and hearth and


his associate in the acts of religion。 He probably believed the


current slanders; that I was plotting with you against him and his


despotic rule; yet feelings of scruple prevailed with him; and he


spared my life。 Again; I am hardly of the age for being comrade in


arms to anyone; also I stand as a neutral between you; if ever you


desire friendship and wish to benefit one another; so long as you


aim at injuring one another; call others to your aid。〃 This I said;


because I was disgusted with my misguided journeyings to Sicily and my


ill…fortune there。 But they disobeyed me and would not listen to my


attempts at reconciliation; and so brought on their own heads all


the evils which have since taken place。 For if Dionysios had


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