Page 507 Men of Phocis, who had deck'd themselves with Necklaces of Gold robb'd from Delphos, met with the deserved Punishment of their Impiety. For one that wore the Chain of Helen turning Whore, stain'd all the Glory of her Beauty, by prostituting her self to every filthy Wretch. Another who adorn'd her self with the Ornaments of Eriphyles, in a Fury of Madness and Rage had her House set on fire by her eldest Son, and she and her Habitation consumed together. In this manner (as we said before) those that dared thus to despise and contemn the Deity, were overtaken by Divine Vengeance. On the contrary, Philip, who appeared in defence of the Oracle, ever prospering from that time, for his Piety, was at last declared Supream Governor of all Greece, and gained the largest Kingdom in Europe. And now having given an Account of the Sacred War so far forth as we judged necessary, we shall return to Things of another Nature.
In Sicily the Syracusians labouring under Intestine Seditions, and inslaved under the Tyranny of many that Lorded over them, sent Ambassadors to Corinth to desire a General to be dispatched to them, who might take Charge of the City, and give a Check to the Ambition of such as sought to Tyrannize. Upon which, it seemed very just and reasonable to the Corinthians to help those who were originally descended from them; and therefore they Decreed to send them Timoleon the Son of Timenetus, who was accounted the most valiant and expert Commander among them; in short, he was a Person every way Virtuous: But there was one Thing remarkable happen'd to him, which much forwarded his being chosen General.
Timophanes his Brother, the richest and most daring Man among the Corinthians, had some time before given evident Signs of his Ambition to aspire to the Sovereignty. For about that time having armed and got together a Company of lewd Fellows, and such as were in Debt, and Needy, went up and down the Market-place, seeming not to have the least Thoughts of the Principality, but in truth acting in the mean time as an absolute Tyrant. But Timoleon, who abhorr'd Monarchy, at the first advised his Brother to forbear, and lay aside such Projects and Designs: But he being not only regardless of what was said to him, but rather growing every day more Audacious and Peremptory; Timoleon, because he could not work upon him by Words, killed him in the Market-place. Upon which a great Tumult was raised, and the Citizens upon the Commission of so horrid a Fact running in and flocking together, the Matter came to a Faction and Sedition in the City. For some declared, That Timoleon, who had imbrewed his Hands in the Blood of a Citizen, should undergo the Punishment due for his Offence by the Law. But others were of a contrary Opinion, and that he deserved rather to be commended, as one that had dispatched a Tyrant out of the way.
A Senate therefore was called, and the Matter brought before the Court, where his Enemies most bitterly inveigh'd against him; but those who were more moderate and favourable, consulted together to preserve him. And while the Business remained in Debate, not yet decided, the Ambassadors from Syracuse arrived, and imparting their Embassy to the Court, they very seasonably desired a General to be sent them: Upon which, the Senate determined to send Timoleon, and that he might the better behave himself, a most strange Proposal was offered him, to chuse as he pleased: For they let him know, That if he carried himself well towards the Syracusians in his Command, then they would judge him to be one that had killed a Tyrant; but if he were Covetous and Oppressive, he should be condemned as a Murderer of his Brother.
Timoleon therefore, not so much out of Fear of what was threaten'd by the Senate, as excited by the Principles of his own innate Virtue, managed Affairs in Sicily with great Honour and Reputation to himself, and Advantage to the Sicilians. For he subdued the Carthaginians, rebuilt the Grecian Cities which were destroyed by the Barbarians, and restored all Sicily to its Liberty. Lastly, having gained Syracuse, and the Greek desolated Cities, he filled them all with Inhabitants, and made them very Populous. But we shall treat of these Matters in their proper Place, and come to that part which is coherent to the History.