Episode 13

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 Iwas walking in the garden at the same time. I neither know nor did Ihear the rest of what passed between them, but what Theodotes saidto Dionysios in my presence I know and remember. "Plato," he said,"I am trying to convince our friend Dionysios that, if I am able tobring Heracleides before us to defend himself on the charges whichhave been made against him, and if he decides that Heracleides must nolonger live in Sicily, he should be allowed (this is my point) to takehis son and wife and sail to the Peloponnese and reside there,taking no action there against Dionysios and enjoying the income ofhis 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 thisone-well and good. But I beg and entreat Dionysios that, if anyonefinds Heracleides either in the country or here, no harm shall come tohim, but that he may retire from the country till Dionysios comes tosome other decision. Do you agree to this?" he added, addressingDionysios. "I agree," he replied, "that even if he is found at yourhouse, no harm shall be done to him beyond what has now been said."On the following day Eurybios and Theodotes came to me in theevening, both greatly disturbed. Theodotes said, "Plato, you werepresent yesterday during the promises made by Dionysios to me and toyou about Heracleides?" "Certainly," I replied. "Well," hecontinued, "at this moment peltasts are scouring the country seekingto arrest Heracleides; and he must be somewhere in this neighbourhood.

For Heaven's sake come with us to Dionysios." So we went and stoodin the presence of Dionysios; and those two stood shedding silenttears, while I said: "These men are afraid that you may take strongmeasures with regard to Heracleides contrary to what was agreedyesterday. For it seems that he has returned and has been seensomewhere about here." On hearing this he blazed up and turned allcolours, as a man would in a rage. Theodotes, falling before him intears, took his hand and entreated him to do nothing of the sort.

But I broke in and tried to encourage him, saying: "Be of goodcheer, Theodotes; Dionysios will not have the heart to take anyfresh step contrary to his promises of yesterday." Fixing his eye onme, and assuming his most autocratic air he said, "To you I promisednothing small or great." "By the gods," I said, "you did promisethat forbearance for which our friend here now appeals." With thesewords I turned away and went out. After this he continued the hunt forHeracleides, and Theodotes, sending messages, urged Heracleides totake flight. Dionysios sent out Teisias and some peltasts withorders to pursue him. But Heracleides, as it was said, was just intime, by a small fraction of a day, in making his escape intoCarthaginian territory.

After this Dionysios thought that his long cherished scheme not torestore Dion's property would give him a plausible excuse forhostility towards me; and first of all he sent me out of theacropolis, finding a pretext that the women were obliged to hold asacrificial service for ten days in the garden in which I had mylodging. He therefore ordered me to stay outside in the house ofArchedemos during this period. While I was there, Theodotes sent forme and made a great outpouring of indignation at these occurrences,throwing the blame on Dionysios. Hearing that I had been to seeTheodotes he regarded this, as another excuse, sister to theprevious one, for quarrelling with me. Sending a messenger he enquiredif I had really been conferring with Theodotes on his invitation"Certainly," I replied, "Well," continued the messenger, "he orderedme to tell you that you are not acting at all well in preferringalways Dion and Dion's friends to him." And he did not send for meto return to his house, as though it were now clear that Theodotes andHeracleides were my friends, and he my enemy. He also thought that Ihad no kind feelings towards him because the property of Dion wasnow 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' crewswho came from Athens, my own fellow citizens, and reported that Iwas evil spoken of among the peltasts, and that some of them werethreatening to make an end of me, if they could ket hold of meAccordingly I devised the following plan for my safety.

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