§11.87.1παρὰ γὰρ Ἀθηναίοις ἕκαστον τῶν πολιτῶν ἔδει γράφειν εἰς ὄστρακον τοὔνομα τοῦ δοκοῦντος μάλιστα δύνασθαι τυραννεῖν τῶν πολιτῶν, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς Συρακοσίοις εἰς πέταλον ἐλαίας γράφεσθαι τὸν δυνατώτατον τῶν πολιτῶν, διαριθμηθέντων δὲ τῶν πετάλων τὸν πλεῖστα πέταλα λαβόντα φεύγειν πενταετῆ χρόνον.
For among the Athenians each citizen was required to write on a potsherd the name of the citizen who seemed most able to establish a tyranny, whereas among the Syracusans the name of the most influential citizen was to be written on an olive leaf, and, when the leaves had been counted, the one who received the most leaves was to go into exile for a period of five years.
§11.87.2τούτῳ γὰρ τῷ τρόπῳ διελάμβανον ταπεινώσειν τὰ φρονήματα τῶν πλεῖστον ἰσχυόντων ἐν ταῖς πατρίσι· καθόλου γὰρ οὐ πονηρίας κολάσεις ἐλάμβανον παρὰ τῶν παρανομούντων, ἀλλὰ δυνάμεως καὶ αὐξήσεως τῶν ἀνδρῶν ἐποίουν ταπείνωσιν.
For by this means they thought they would humble the pride of those who were most powerful in their native cities; for, in general, they were not inflicting punishments for wrongdoing upon those who violated the law, but were bringing about a humbling of the power and growth of these men.
οἱ μὲν οὖν Ἀθηναῖοι τοῦτο τὸ γένος τῆς νομοθεσίας ὠνόμασαν ἀπὸ τοῦ συμβεβηκότος ὀστρακισμόν, οἱ δὲ Συρακόσιοι πεταλισμόν. §11.87.3οὗτος δὲ ὁ νόμος διέμεινε παρὰ μὲν τοῖς Ἀθηναίοις ἐπὶ πολὺν χρόνον, παρὰ δὲ τοῖς Συρακοσίοις κατελύθη ταχὺ διὰ τοιαύτας τινὰς αἰτίας.
Thus, the Athenians named this kind of legislation, from the circumstance, "ostracism," while the Syracusans called it "petalism." This law remained in force among the Athenians for a long time, but among the Syracusans it was soon abolished for reasons such as the following.
§11.87.4τῶν μεγίστων ἀνδρῶν φυγαδευομένων οἱ χαριέστατοι τῶν πολιτῶν καὶ δυνάμενοι διὰ τῆς ἰδίας ἀρετῆς πολλὰ τῶν κοινῶν ἐπανορθοῦν ἀφίσταντο τῶν δημοσίων πράξεων, καὶ διὰ τὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου φόβον ἰδιωτεύοντες διετέλουν, ἐπιμελόμενοι δὲ τῆς ἰδίας οὐσίας εἰς τρυφὴν ἀπέκλινον, οἱ δὲ πονηρότατοι τῶν πολιτῶν καὶ τόλμῃ διαφέροντες ἐφρόντιζον τῶν δημοσίων καὶ τὰ πλήθη πρὸς ταραχὴν καὶ νεωτερισμὸν προετρέποντο.
When the greatest men were being exiled, the most respectable citizens and those who were able by their own virtue to correct many of the public affairs withdrew from public business, and because of their fear of the law continued to live as private citizens, and attending to their private property turned to luxury; on the other hand, the most wicked of the citizens and those who excelled in boldness took charge of public affairs and incited the multitudes to confusion and revolution.
§11.87.5διόπερ στάσεων γινομένων πάλιν, καὶ τῶν πολλῶν εἰς διαφορὰς ἐκτρεπομένων, πάλιν ἡ πόλις εἰς συνεχεῖς καὶ μεγάλας ἐνέπιπτε ταραχάς·
Consequently, since civil strifes arose again and the majority turned to discord, the city fell again into continuous and great disorders.
ἐπεπόλαζε γὰρ δημαγωγῶν πλῆθος καὶ συκοφαντῶν, καὶ λόγου δεινότης ὑπὸ τῶν νεωτέρων ἠσκεῖτο, καὶ καθόλου πολλοὶ τὰ φαῦλα τῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ἀντὶ τῆς παλαιᾶς καὶ σπουδαίας ἀγωγῆς ἠλλάττοντο, καὶ ταῖς μὲν οὐσίαις διὰ τὴν εἰρήνην προέκοπτον, τῆς δʼ ὁμονοίας καὶ τοῦ δικαιοπραγεῖν ὀλίγη τις ἐγίνετο φροντίς.
For a multitude of demagogues and sycophants prevailed, and skill in speech was cultivated by the younger men, and in general many exchanged their ancient and sober training for low pursuits, and though they advanced in wealth because of the peace, they paid little heed to concord and just dealing.
§11.87.6διόπερ οἱ Συρακόσιοι μεταγνόντες τὸν περὶ τοῦ πεταλισμοῦ νόμον κατέλυσαν, ὀλίγον χρόνον αὐτῷ χρησάμενοι.
Therefore, the Syracusans changed their minds and abolished the law concerning petalism, having used it for only a short time.
καὶ τὰ μὲν κατὰ τὴν Σικελίαν ἐν τούτοις ἦν.
And the affairs of Sicily were in this state.