Page:History of Greece Vol X.djvu/490

468 HISTORY OF GREECE. Though ths place was strong by situation, 1 yet these men, too fee- ble to resist, were obliged to evacuate it ; upon which he proceeded to attack Leontini. But on summoning the inhabitants to surren- der, he fouad his propositions rejected, and every preparation made for a strenuous defence ; so that he could do nothing more than plunder the territory around, and then advanced onward into the interior Sikel territory, towards Enna and Erbita. But his march in this direction was little more than a feint, for the purpose of masking his real views upon Naxus and Katana, with both which cities he had already opened intrigues. Arkesilaus, general of Katana, and Prokles, general of Naxus, were both carrying on corrupt negotiations for the purpose of selling to him the liberty of their native cities. Until the negotiations were completed, Dio- nysius wished to appear as if turning his arms elsewhere, and therefore marched against Enna. Here he entered into conspiracy with an Ennaean citizen named Aeimnestus, whom he instigated to seize the sceptre of his native town, by promises of assistance, on condition of being himself admitted afterwards. Aeimnestus made the attempt and succeeded, but did not fulfil his engagement to Dionysius ; who resented this proceeding so vehemently, that he assisted the Ennaeans in putting down Aeimnestus, delivered him as prisoner into their hands, and then retired, satisfied with such revenge, without farther meddling. He next marched against Erbita, before which he passed his time with little or no result, until the bribes promised at Naxus and Katana had taken effect. At length the terms were fully settled. Dionysius was admitted at night by Arkesilaus into Katana, seized the city, disarmed the inhabitants, and planted there a powerful garrison. Naxus was next put into his hands, by the like corruption on the part of Prokles ; who was rewarded with a large bribe, and with the privilege of preserving his kinsmen. Both cities were given up to be plun- dered by his soldiers ; after which the Avails as well as the houses were demolished, and the inhabitants sold as slaves. The disman- tled site of Katana was then assigned to a body of Campanian mercenaries in the service of Dionysius, who however retained in his possession hostages for their fidelity ; 2 the site of Naxus to the indigenous Sikels in the neighlxirhood. These captures struck so 1 Diodoi xiv, 56 2 Di&^or xiv, fil