Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/257

DION. 249 words, and much displeased to see the rest of the auditors full of admiration for the sjDeaker and captivated with his doctrine, at last, exceedingly exasperated, he asked the philosopher in a rage, what business he had in Sicily. To which Plato answered, "I came to seek a virtuous man." " It seems then," replied Dionysivis, " you have lost your labor." Dion, supposing that this was all, and that nothing further could come of his anger, at Plato's request, conveyed him aboard a galley, which was con- veying PolUs, the Spartan, into Greece. But Dionysius privately dealt with Pollis, by all means to kill Plato in the voyage ; if not, to be sure to sell him for a slave : he would, of course, take no harm of it, being the same just man as before ; he would enjoy that happiness, though he lost his liberty. Pollis, therefore, it is stated, carried Plato to ^gina, and there sold him ; the -^ginetans, then at war with Athens, having made a decree that whatever Athenian was taken on their coasts should forthwith be exposed to sale. Notwithstanding, Dion was not in less favor and credit with Dionysius than formerly, but was intrusted with the most considerable employments, and sent on important embassies to Carthage, in the man- agement of which he gained very great reputation. Besides, the usurper bore with the liberty he took to speak his mind freely, he being the only man who upon any occasion durst boldly say what he thought, as, for example, in the rebuke he gave him about Gelon. Dionysius was ridicuHng Gelon's government, and, allud- ing to his name, said, he had been the laughing-stock of Sicily.* While others seemed to admbe and applaud the quibble, Dion very warmly replied, " Nevertheless, it is certain that you are sole governor here, because you • Gelona, he said, had been the equivalent to Gelon, and gelota gelota of Sicily ; Gelona being meaning laughter, or ridicule.