Page 316 After these things, Diocles a Man of great Authority amongst the People, prevail'd to have the Administration of the Government altered, by chusing the Magistrates by Lot, and ordered that there should be Law-makers appointed both to settle the Commonwealth, and to make new Laws for the future Government. The Syracusians therefore chose such from among the Citizens as they judg'd most prudent, of whom the chiefest was Diocles: He was a Man of such excellent Parts, and of so great Reputation, that the Laws (though made with the joint help of others) were call'd from him the Dioclean Laws. And he was not only admir'd by the Syracusians whilst he liv'd, but when he was dead, they honour'd him as an Hero, and built a Temple to his Memory, which Dionysius afterwards pull'd down when he built the new Wall. All the rest likewise of the Siculi highly valu'd this Man: And upon that account many of the Cities through Sicily used the same Laws that he had instituted, till such time as the Romans brought all Sicily under the power of Rome. And though in times long after Diocles, Cephalus in the time of the Government of Timoleon and Polydorus, when Hiero reign'd, instituted Laws for the Syracusians, yet neither of them were ever call'd Lawmakers, but Interpreters of the Law-maker; because the former Laws being written in old and obsolete Language, were scarce to be understood. And whereas there are many things in these Laws very remarkable, yet the great Hatred against Knavery and Dishonesty appears chiefly from this, That the bitterest and severest Punishments are levell'd against all those that violate Justice. His great dexterity in Civil Affairs is evident hence, That he appointed a certain Mulct or Fine almost for every Offence or Cause Private or Publick, proportionable to the nature of the thing. He's very concise in his Expressions, leaving much to the disquisition of the Learned Reader. The sad manner of his Death is a sufficient Testimony of the Virtuous Resolution of his Mind. I am the rather desirous to speak more than ordinary of these things, in regard most Authors heretofore mention very little concerning him.
But to return to the Athenians, when they heard of the ruin of their Army in Sicily, they took it most grievously, yet slackt nothing in their Contests with the Lacedemonians about the Sovereignty, but prepar'd a greater Fleet, and let their Money fly Abroad amongst all their Confederates that were resolved to stick by them to the utmost extremity, to gain and keep the Sovereign Power. And to that end they gave full Authority to Four Hundred Persons chosen out of the Citizens to rule and govern the Commonwealth: For in their present circumstances, they preferr'd an Oligarchy before their former Democracy. But the thing did not in the least answer their Expectations; for they were much more unsuccessful afterwards, for they sent forth Two Generals that were at Dissention between themselves, with a Fleet of Forty Sail against the Enemy. And although the present distressed Condition, and bad state of Affairs with the Athenians call'd aloud for Peace and Concord amongst themselves, yet the Generals did all they could to widen the breach, and cherish the Enmities and Animosities they bore one against another. At length sailing to Oropus, unawares and unprepared, they fought with the Peloponesians, where through their carelesness at the beginning, and their sloath and inadvertency in the heat of the Fight, they lost Two and Twenty Ships, and brought the rest with great difficulty into Eretria.
Upon this the Confederates of the Athenians (considering the Overthrow in Sicily, and the late ill Management of the Two Commanders) join'd with the Lacedemonians. Darius likewise the King of Persia, sought earnestly to enter into a League with the Lacedemonians: And to that end, Pharnabazus his Lieutenant upon the Sea-Coasts supply'd the Lacedemonians with Money, and sent for Three Hundred Ships from Phenicia, which he had before ordered to be sent to them to Beotia. And now when the Athenians were involv'd in so many Mischiefs at one time, all Men thought the War at an end. For none had the least hopes that the Athenians could make any further opposition, not for the least moment of time. But the thing had a far different issue from that which was commonly suppos'd; for such was the brave Spirit of the Athenians, that the event was quite contrary, which happened upon this occasion. Alcibiades being Banished from Athens, aided the Lacedemonians for some time in the War, and was very useful to them, being an eloquent Orator, daring and bold, of the most