Page 659 that were not willing to suffer what might be their Fortune and Lot, to provide for the safety of themselves and their Estates. Upon which, the most wealthy Citizens (who bore a most implacable hatred against him) forthwith left the City: But he presently sent out some of his Mercenaries after them, and cut all their Throats, and consiscated their Estates. And thus, when by one and the same Act he had both enrich'd himself, and likewise purg'd the City of those that were his Enemies, he manumitted all the Slaves and Servants that were fit to bear Arms: And now having all things in readiness, and furnish'd with a Fleet of Sixty Sail, he only waited for a fair Wind. His Design being not commonly known, some reported that he intended an Expedition into Italy; others that he purposed to waste and destroy that part of Sicily that belong'd to the Carthaginians; to conclude, every body gave them (who were ready to Sail) all up for lost Men, and condemn'd the folly and madness of the Prince. The Enemy at that time had a Fleet far exceeding him in number in the Harbour, therefore he was forc'd for some days at the first, to lye still with his Men on Board, because he had not an opportunity to set Sail. Afterwards some Transport Ships loaden with Corn, making with full Sail toward the City, the Carthaginians pursu'd them with their whole Fleet: Whereupon Agathocles (almost before in despair to accomplish his Design,) as soon as he saw the Mouth of the Harbor open, causing the Rowers to ply their Oars with all the quickness imaginable, he broke out of the Harbour.
The Carthaginians being now come up near to the Transport Ships, and seeing a Fleet of their Enemies Ships sailing out of the Harbor, thought at first that they came to secure and defend the Corn Ships; Whereupon they tack'd about, and prepar'd to Fight: But when they saw that they made their Course straight forward, and were far before them, they pursu'd them with all the Sail they could; and while these were striving to Out-sail each other, the Transport Ships unexpectedly escap'd the danger, and plentifully supply'd the City that was before in great streights for want of Corn and Provision. Agathocles also, tho' closely pursu'd by the Enemy, by the advantage of the Night coming on (beyond all hope) got safe off from them. The next day there was such an Eclipse of the Sun, that the Stars appear'd every where in the Firmament, and the Day was turn'd into Night: Upon which Agathocles his Soldiers (conceiving that God thereby did foretel their Destruction,) fell into great Perplexities and Discontents concerning what was like to befal them. Having therefore sail'd Six Days and Six Nights, early in the Morning they suddenly spy'd the Carthaginian Fleet making up close upon them: Upon which, all set themselves to it with might and main to ply their Oars: The Carthaginians concluding, that together with the Ships they should not only take all the Syracusians prisoners, but should deliver their Country from present imminent danger: The Grecians on the other hand saw apparent destruction to themselves before their Eyes, and intolerable Bondage and Slavery to all their Kindred and Relations they had left at home, if they did not recover the Shore before the Enemy. And now Africa was in view when all the Sailers and Rowers call'd out earnestly one to another to bestir themselves, so that the strife and pains to get to Land was incredible. The Barbarians indeed were more swift Sailors, because they were more accustom'd to the Sea than the others; but the Grecian Ships kept still a considerable distance before them: Making therefore away with all the Expedition imaginable, when they came near the Shoar, they leap'd out of their Ships in throngs upon the Strand, as if they had been contending for the Mastery at the Gymnastick Games: For the first Squadron of the Carthaginians Ships were come up within a Darts cast of those in the Rear of the Grecian Fleet. After therefore some Contest for a while with their Bows and Slings (a few of the Barbarians Ships only being come up) Agathocles (overpow'ring the other by number) gain'd the advantage; whereupon the Carthaginians tackt about and stood off a little above the Cast of a Dart. Hereupon Agathocles presently landed his Men at a place call'd the Quarries, and drew a Breast work for the security of his Shipping all along from Sea to Sea: And after he had effected this bold and daring attempt, he set upon another far more dangerous: For taking to him such of his Captains and Commanders as were wholly at his Devotion, he first Sacrificed to Ceres and Proserpina, and then call'd a Council of War; where coming into the Assembly to make his Harangue, splendidly clothed in Royal Robes, and with his Crown upon his Head (after a few things premis'd, to make an introduction to what he had further to say) he told them, That at the time they were pursu'd by the Carthaginians he had made a Vow to the Goddesses Ceres and Proserpina, the Protectoresses of Sicily, that he would Consecrate all the Ships in the Fleet to them, by burning them all into so many burning Lamps; and therefore, since they were now safe and were deliver'd, it was just and fit that they should pay their Vows; and he promis'd