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Cornelius Nepos · Dion §3.1-3.3

Plato's Return and the Opposition of Philistus

Passage 3 of 10 · Latin

Summary

The beginning of the enmity between Dion and Dionysius, Plato's influence on reforming the tyranny, and its frustration by Philistus.

§3.1Tale initium fuit Dionis et Dionysii simultatis, eaque multis rebus aucta est.
Such was the beginning of the enmity between Dion and Dionysius, and it was increased by many circumstances.
sed tamen primis temporibus aliquamdiu simulata inter eos amicitia mansit.
Nevertheless, in the beginning, a feigned friendship remained between them for some time.
sicut, cum Dion non desisteret obsecrare Dionysium, ut Platonem Athenis arcesseret et eius consiliis uteretur, ille, qui in aliqua re vellet patrem imitari, morem ei gessit.
For instance, when Dion did not cease to entreat Dionysius to summon Plato from Athens and employ his counsels, the latter, who wished to imitate his father in some respect, complied with his wish.
§3.2eodemque tempore Philistum historicum Syracusas reduxit, hominem amicum non magis tyranno quam tyrannidi.
At the same time, he recalled Philistus the historian to Syracuse, a man who was a friend no more to the tyrant than to the tyranny itself.
sed de hoc in eo libro plura sunt exposita, qui de historicis Graecis conscriptus est.
But about him, more things have been set forth in that book which was written about the Greek historians.
§3.3Plato autem tantum apud Dionysium auctoritate potuit valuitque eloquentia, ut ei persuaserit tyrannidis facere finem libertatemque reddere Syracusanis.
Now Plato had such great authority and influence of eloquence with Dionysius, that he persuaded him to make an end of the tyranny and restore liberty to the Syracusans.
a qua voluntate Philisti consilio deterritus aliquanto crudelior esse coepit.
Deterred from this purpose by the advice of Philistus, he began to be somewhat more cruel.

Notes

  1. §3.1morem ei gessit — The phrase morem gerere (with the dative) means 'to comply with someone's wish' or 'to humor someone.' The dative pronoun ei refers to Dion, whose request Dionysius (ille) complied with.
  2. §3.3ut ei persuaserit — A subjunctive perfect in a clause of result (ut-clause). Since the main verbs (potuit, valuit) are in the past tense, one might expect the imperfect subjunctive (persuaderet) according to the rule of sequence of tenses. However, the perfect is used here to emphasize the result as an actual historical fact, a usage common in Nepos and later writers.
  3. §3.3a qua voluntate — An instance of the relative connection (relative pronoun used as a demonstrative to connect sentences). It refers to the intention of Dionysius to end the tyranny mentioned in the preceding clause, logically equivalent to et ab ea voluntate ('and from this intention').

Cite this passage

Cornelius Nepos, Dion §3.1-3.3. Humanitext Reader, https://reader.humanitext.ai/en/text/urn:cts:latinLit:phi0588.abo010.humanitext-lat2:3.1-3.3

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