Timoleon's Expedition into Sicily. The Carthaginians Army in Sicily. Dionysius returns into Syracuse, is beaten by Hicetas; Hicetas gains Syracuse. Timoleon's Escape from Rhegium. Timoleon routs Hicetas, and gains Syracuse. Philip invades the Illyrians. Dionysius expell'd. Timoleon makes good Laws. Philip invades Thrace.
NOW Eubulus was chief Magistrate at Athens, and Marcus Fabius and Serulius Sulpitius were Consuls at Rome; at this time Timoleon the Corinthian, advanced by the Syracusians to the Sovereign Command of all their Forces, prepared for his Voyage into Sicily, and loosed from Corinth with Four Gallies, mann'd with Seven hundred Mercenaries, and attended with Three Skiffs. In his Passage he was joined by Three Vessels more from the Leucadians and Corcyrians, and so with Ten Sail passed over the Ionian Sea. In this Voyage an unusual and remarkable Thing happened to Timoleon, the Providence of the Gods seeming to favour his Undertaking, and thereby to point out the future Fame and Glory of his Actions. For all the Night, a Light like a burning Torch in the Heavens went before him, till the Fleet came to the Coasts of Italy. For he was before told at Corinth by the Priests of Ceres and Proserpina, that in the Night the Goddesses appeared to them, and told them, that they would sail along with Timoleon to the Island that was peculiarly Consecrated to them. Timoleon therefore, and all those with him, were very chearful, upon the Apprehension that the Gods favoured their Enterprize; and thereupon Timoleon dedicated one of the best of his Ships to the Goddesses, and ordered that it should be call'd the Sacred Ship of Ceres and Proserpina. And now when the Fleet came safe as far as Metapontum in Italy, there arrived a Galley which had the Carthaginian Ambassadors on board; who upon a Conference with Timoleon, charged him upon his Peril not to begin any War, or so much as set his Foot upon Sicily. But he being incouraged by them of Rhegium, who promised to join with him, loosed with all hast from Metapontum, designing by his speed to prevent the Report of his Coming. For he was in a great Fear, left the Carthaginians, who were much stronger at Sea, should block up his Passage into Sicily. Therefore he made away with all speed to Rhegium.
The Carthaginians having a little before received Intelligence, that a great War was likely to break out through all Sicily, carried themselves with all Civility towards the Confederate Cities; and putting an end to all Quarrels, entred into Leagues of Amity and Friendship with the Princes of the Island, especially with Hicetas General of the Syracusians, who was the most Potent. At length the Carthaginians having raised great number of Forces both by Sea and Land, transported them into Sicily under the Command of Hanno their General. They had with them a Hundred and fifty Sail of Long Ships, a Land Army of Fifty thousand Men, Three hundred Chariots, and Two thousand Carts or Carriages drawn by two Horses apiece; and besides these, a great number of Arms of all sorts, and Engines of Battery, and an infinite Store of Corn, Provision, and all other Things necessary for War. The first City they set upon, was Entella; and having wasted and spoiled the Lands round about, they shut up the Inhabitants by a close Siege. The Campanians possessed the City at that time, and being terrified with the Multitude of their Enemies, sent for Aid to the other Cities, who hated the Carthaginians; but none of them came in to them, except them of Galeria, who sent them a Thousand Armed Men; who were intercepted by the Carthaginians, and cut off every Man. The Campanians, who inhabited Aetna, at first prepared to help them of Entella, upon the account of their Consanguinity; but hearing of the Slaughter of the Galerians, they judged it more Adviseable to sit still. Dionysius at that time had regained his former Sovereignty over the Syracusians. Hicetas therefore led a great Army thither, and encamped at Olympus, fortifying himself with a Breast-work and a Trench, and drew up against Dionysius, then playing the Tyrant in the City. But he protracted the Siege for some time through want of Provision, and marched away to Leontum, from whence he first moved. But Dionysius pursued him, and fell upon his Rear, which occasioned the whole Army to ingage. For Hircetas wheeled about, fought and routed him, killing Three thousand of his Mercenaries upon the Spot, and put the rest to Flight; and pursuing them so hotly, that he fell pell-mell with him into the City, and so possessed himself of the whole City of Syracuse, except the Island. And thus went Matters between Hicetas and Dionysius at that time.