Sending a delegation to Marcellus
General assent greeted this speech. However, it was thought necessary to create praetors before appointing the deputies, who were chosen from among these magistrates. The deputation having arrived near Marcellus, the leader spoke thus:
"It is not to the Syracusans that we must impute the defection of Syracuse, but to Hieronymus, less impious towards you than towards ourselves. Since, when the murder of the tyrant restored peace between the two peoples, it was not troubled by a Syracusan, but by satellites of tyranny, Hippocrates and Epicydes, who oppressed us with terror and treachery. Never were we free, but at the same time at peace with Today that the death of our oppressors leaves us masters of our will, we come without delay to give you our arms, deliver to you our people, our cities, our ramparts, finally submit ourselves to all the conditions you please. to impose on us.
The glory of having taken the most illustrious and beautiful of Greek cities, the gods have reserved for you, Marcellus; everything memorable we have ever done on land and sea will enhance the luster of your triumph. Would you rather that we know only by fame what was the size of this city become your conquest than to leave the spectacle of it to our descendants, than to allow the foreigner, from some part of the universe that come there, behold the trophies of our victories over the Athenians and the Carthaginians, and yours over ourselves? Allow the Syracusans to become clients of your family, and live under the protection of the Marcellus name. May the memory of Hieronymus not be more powerful in your eyes than that of Hiero. This was your friend longer than that was your enemy; you have received benefits from one; the delirium of the other only served to ruin him."
All these requests were to be very favorably listened to by the Romans. It was among themselves that the Syracusans ran the greatest chances and dangers. Indeed, the defectors, persuaded that they were to be handed over to the Romans, inspired the same fear in the mercenary soldiers; they run to arms, first cut the throats of the praetors, then spread through the city to massacre the inhabitants. Furious, they immolate those whom chance presents to them and plunder all that falls under their hands. Then, so as not to be left without leaders, they appoint six commanders, three for Achradine and three for the island. The tumult is finally appeased, and the mercenaries, by inquiring about what had been done with the Romans, then recognize that their cause is quite different from that of the defectors.