the history-第143章
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ossession of the town； for the people surrendered themselves； and gave up their city on his approach。 Being now master of Syracuse； Gelo cared less to govern Gela； which he therefore entrusted to his brother Hiero； while he strengthened the defences of his new city； which indeed was now all in all to him。 And Syracuse sprang up rapidly to power and became a flourishing place。 For Gelo razed Camarina to the ground； and brought all the inhabitants to Syracuse； and made them citizens； he also brought thither more than half the citizens of Gela； and gave them the same rights as the Camarinaeans。 So likewise with the Megarians of Sicily… after besieging their town and forcing them to surrender； he took the rich men； who； having made the war； looked now for nothing less than death at his hands； and carrying them to Syracuse； established them there as citizens； while the common people； who； as they had not taken any share in the struggle； felt secure that no harm would be done to them； he carried likewise to Syracuse； where he sold them all as slaves to be conveyed abroad。 He did the like also by the Euboeans of Sicily； making the same difference。 His conduct towards both nations arose from his belief that a 〃people〃 was a most unpleasant companion。 In this way Gelo became a great king。 When the Greek envoys reached Syracuse； and were admitted to an audience； they spoke as follows… 〃We have been sent hither by the Lacedaemonians and Athenians； with their respective allies； to ask thee to join us against the barbarian。 Doubtless thou hast heard of his invasion； and art aware that a Persian is about to throw a bridge over the Hellespont； and； bringing with him out of Asia all the forces of the East； to carry war into Greece… professing indeed that he only seeks to attack Athens； but really bent on bringing all the Greeks into subjection。 Do thou therefore； we beseech thee； aid those who would maintain the freedom of Greece； and thyself assist to free her； since the power which thou wieldest is great； and thy portion in Greece； as lord of Sicily； is no small one。 For if all Greece join together in one； there will be a mighty host collected； and we shall be a match for our assailants； but if some turn traitors； and others refuse their aid； and only a small part of the whole body remains sound； then there is reason to fear that all Greece may perish。 For do not thou cherish a hope that the Persian； when he has conquered our country； will be content and not advance against thee。 Rather take thy measures beforehand； and consider that thou defendest thyself when thou givest aid to us。 Wise counsels； be sure； for the most part have prosperous issues。〃 Thus spake the envoys； and Gelo replied with vehemence：… 〃Greeks； ye have had the face to come here with selfish words； and exhort me to join in league with you against the barbarian。 Yet when I erewhile asked you to join with me in fighting barbarians； what time the quarrel broke out between me and Carthage； and when I earnestly besought you to revenge on the men of Egesta their murder of Dorieus； the son of Anaxandridas； promising to assist you in setting free the trading places from which you receive great profits and advantages； you neither came hither to give me succour； nor yet to revenge Dorieus； but； for any efforts on your part to hinder it； these countries might at this time have been entirely under the barbarians。 Now； however； that matters have prospered and gone well with me； while the danger has shifted its ground and at present threatens yourselves； lo！ you call Gelo to mind。 But though ye slighted me then； I will not imitate you now： I am ready to give you aid； and to furnish as my contribution two hundred triremes； twenty thousand men…at…arms； two thousand cavalry； and an equal number of archers； slingers； and light horsemen； together with corn for the whole Grecian army so long as the war shall last。 These services； however； I promise on one condition… that ye appoint me chief captain and commander of the Grecian forces during the war with the barbarian。 Unless ye agree to this； I will neither send succours； nor come myself。〃 Syagrus； when he heard these words； was unable to contain himself； and exclaimed：… 〃Surely a groan would burst from Pelops' son； Agamemnon； did he hear that her leadership was snatched from Sparta by Gelo and the men of Syracuse。 Speak then no more of any such condition； as that we should yield thee the chief command； but if thou art minded to come to the aid of Greece； prepare to serve under Lacedaemonian generals。 Wilt thou not serve under a leader？… then； prithee； withhold thy succours。〃 Hereupon Gelo； seeing the indignation which showed itself in the wolds of Syagrus； delivered to the envoys his final offer：… 〃Spartan stranger；〃 he said； 〃reproaches cast forth against a man are wont to provoke him to anger； but the insults which thou hast uttered in thy speech shall not persuade me to outstep good breeding in my answer。 Surely if you maintain so stoutly your right to the command； it is reasonable that I should be still more stiff in maintaining mine； forasmuch as I am at the head of a far larger fleet and army。 Since； however； the claim which I have put forward is so displeasing to you； I will yield； and be content with less。 Take； if it please you； the command of the land…force； and I will be admiral of the fleet； or assume； if you prefer it； the command by sea； and I will be leader upon the land。 Unless you are satisfied with these terms； you must return home by yourselves； and lose this great alliance。〃 Such was the offer which Gelo made。 Hereat broke in the Athenian envoy； before the Spartan could answer； and thus addressed Gelo… 〃King of the Syracusans！ Greece sent us here to thee to ask for an army； and not to ask for a general。 Thou； however； dost not promise to send us any army at all； if thou art not made leader of the Greeks； and this command is what alone thou sticklest for。 Now when thy request was to have the whole command； we were content to keep silence； for well we knew that we might trust the Spartan envoy to make answer for us both。 But since； after failing in thy claim to lead the whole armament； thou hast now put forward a request to have the command of the fleet； know that； even should the Spartan envoy consent to this； we will not consent。 The command by sea； if the Lacedaemonians do not wish for it； belongs to us。 While they like to keep this command； we shall raise no dispute； but we will not yield our right to it in favour of any one else。 Where would be the advantage of our having raised up a naval force greater than that of any other Greek people； if nevertheless we should suffer Syracusans to take the command away from us？… from us； I say； who are Athenians； the most ancient nation in Greece； the only Greeks who have never changed their abode… the people who are said by the poet Homer to have sent to Troy the man best able of all the Greeks to array and marshal an army… so that we may be allowed to boast somewhat。〃 Gelo replied… 〃Athenian stranger； ye have； it seems； no lack of commanders； but ye are likely to lack men to receive their orders。 As ye are resolved to yield nothing and claim everything； ye had best make haste back to Greece； and say that the spring of her year is lost to her。〃 The meaning of this expression was the following： as the spring is manifestly the finest season of the year； so （he meant to say） were his troops the finest of the Greek army… Greece； therefore； deprived of his alliance； would be like a year with the spring taken from it。 Then the Greek envoys； without having any further dealings with Gelo； sailed away home。 And Gelo； who feared that the Greeks would be too weak to withstand the barbarians； and yet could not any how bring himself to go to the Peloponnese； and there； though king of Sicily； serve under the Lacedaemonians； left off altogether to contemplate that course of action； and betook himself to quite a different plan。 As soon as ever tidings reached him of the passage of the Hellespont by the Persians； he sent off three penteconters； under the command of Cadmus； the son of Scythas； a native of Cos； who was to go to Delphi； taking with him a larg
