§8.1Haec ille intuens cum quem ad modum sedaret nesciret et quorsum evaderent timeret, Callicrates quidam, civis Atheniensis, qui simul cum eo ex Peloponneso in Siciliam venerat, homo et callidus et ad fraudem acutus, sine ulla religione ac fide, adiit ad Dionem et ait: §8.2eum magno in periculo esse propter offensionem populi et odium militum, quod nullo modo evitare posset, nisi alicui suorum negotium daret, qui se simularet illi inimicum.
Seeing these things, while he did not know how to calm them and feared what they would turn out to be, a certain Callicrates, an Athenian citizen, who had come with him from the Peloponnesus to Sicily, a man both crafty and sharp at deceit, without any religion or honor, went to Dion and said: that he was in great danger on account of the offense of the people and the hatred of the soldiers, which he could in no way avoid unless he gave the task to some one of his own people who should pretend to be an enemy to him.
quem si invenisset idoneum, facile omnium animos cogniturum adversariosque sublaturum, quod inimici eius dissidenti suos sensus aperturi forent.
If he found a suitable person for this, he would easily learn the minds of all and remove his adversaries, because his enemies would open their feelings to one who was in disagreement with him.
§8.3tali consilio probato excepit has partes ipse Callicrates et se armat imprudentia Dionis.
When this plan was approved, Callicrates himself undertook these parts and armed himself with the imprudence of Dion.
ad eum interficiundum socios conquirit, adversarios eius convenit, coniuratione confirmat.
He gathered associates to kill him, met with his adversaries, and confirmed them in a conspiracy.
§8.4res, multis consciis quae ageretur, elata defertur ad Aristomachen, sororem Dionis, uxoremque Areten.
The matter, which was being carried out with many privy to it, was betrayed and brought to Aristomache, the sister of Dion, and his wife Arete.
illae timore perterritae conveniunt, cuius de periculo timebant.
Terrified with fear, they went to him for whose danger they were afraid.
at ille negat a Callicrate fieri sibi insidias, sed illa, quae agerentur, fieri praecepto suo.
But he denied that a plot was being made against him by Callicrates, saying rather that those things which were being done were done by his own command.
§8.5mulieres nihilo setius Callicratem in aedem Proserpinae deducunt ac iurare cogunt, nihil ab illo periculi fore Dioni.
The women nevertheless led Callicrates into the temple of Proserpina and compelled him to swear that there would be no danger to Dion from him.
ille hac religione non modo non est deterritus, sed ad maturandum concitatus est, verens ne prius consilium aperiretur suum, quam cogitata perfecisset.
He, so far from being deterred by this religious obligation, was rather urged to make haste, fearing lest his design should be disclosed before he had accomplished his undertakings.