§24.31.1enimvero conclamant, bonum ut animum haberent: omnem se cum illis fortunam subituros.
Indeed, they shouted out that they should keep good courage: that they would undergo every fortune with them.
§24.31.2inter hoc conloquium signa constiterant tenebaturque agmen necdum, quae morae causa foret, pervenerat ad duces.
During this conversation the standards had halted and the column was held back, nor had the news of what was the cause of the delay yet reached the leaders.
postquam Hippocraten atque Epicyden adesse ordines pervasit rumor, fremitusque toto agmine erat haud dubie adprobantium adventum eorum, extemplo praetores citatis equis ad prima signa perrexerunt.
After the rumor that Hippocrates and Epicydes were present spread through the ranks, and there was a murmur throughout the whole column of those who without doubt approved of their arrival, immediately the praetors, spurring their horses, hastened to the front standards.
§24.31.3qui mos ille, quae licentia Cretensium esset, rogitantes conloquia serendi eum hoste iniussuque praetorum miscendi eos agmini suo, conprehendi inicique catenas iusserunt Hippocrati.
Asking what custom that was, what lawlessness of the Cretans, to join in conversation with the enemy and to mix them into their own column without the order of the praetors, they ordered Hippocrates to be seized and chains to be thrown on him.
§24.31.4ad quam vocem tantus extemplo primum a Cretensibus clamor est ortus, deinde exceptus ab aliis, ut facile, si ultra tenderent, appareret eis timendum esse.
At this command, immediately so great a shout arose first from the Cretans, and then was taken up by the others, that it easily appeared that they had to fear for themselves if they should push further.
§24.31.5solliciti incertique rerum suarum Megara, unde profecti erant, referri signa iubent nuntiosque de statu praesenti Syracusas mittunt.
Anxious and uncertain of their situation, they ordered the standards to be carried back to Megara, whence they had set out, and sent messengers to Syracuse concerning the present state of affairs.
§24.31.6fraudem quoque Hippocrates addit inclinatis ad omnem suspicionem animis et Cretensium quibusdam ad itinera insidenda missis velut interceptas litteras, quas ipse composuerat, recitat: “praetores Syracusani consuli Marcello. ” §24.31.7secundum salutem, ut adsolet, scriptum erat recte eum atque ordine fecisse, quod in Leontinis nulli pepercisset.
Hippocrates also added a trick to minds already inclined to every suspicion, and having sent some of the Cretans to occupy the roads, he read aloud a letter, which he himself had composed, as if it had been intercepted: “The Syracusan praetors to the consul Marcellus.” After the greeting, as is customary, it was written that he had acted rightly and in order in that he had spared no one in Leontini.
§24.31.8sed omnium mercennariorum militum eandem esse causam, nec umquam Syracusas quieturas, donec quicquam externorum auxiliorum aut in urbe aut in exercitu suo esset itaque daret operam, §24.31.9ut eos, qui cum suis praetoribus castra ad Megara haberent, in suam potestatem redigeret ac supplicio eorum liberaret tandem Syracusas.
But that the cause of all the mercenary soldiers was the same, and that Syracuse would never be at peace as long as any of the foreign auxiliaries were either in the city or in their army, and therefore he should take care to bring under his power those who with their praetors had camp near Megara, and by their punishment finally free Syracuse.
§24.31.10haec cum recitata essent, cum tanto clamore ad arma discursum est, ut praetores inter tumultum pavidi abequitaverint Syracusas.
When these things had been read, there was a rush to arms with so great a shout that the praetors in the midst of the tumult fled on horseback in panic to Syracuse.
§24.31.11et ne fuga quidem eorum seditio conpressa est, impetusque in Syracusanos milites fiebant; nec ab ullo temperatum foret, ni Epicydes atque Hippocrates irae multitudinis obviam issent, non a misericordia aut humano consilio, sed ne spem reditus praeciderent sibi et, §24.31.12cum ipsos simul milites fidos haberent simul obsides, §24.31.13tum cognatos quoque eorum atque amicos tanto merito primum, dein pignore sibi conciliarent.
And not even by their flight was the sedition suppressed, and attacks were being made against the Syracusan soldiers; nor would there have been any restraint by anyone, if Epicydes and Hippocrates had not gone to meet the anger of the crowd, not out of pity or humane intention, but lest they should cut off for themselves the hope of return, and while they held at the same time the soldiers themselves as faithful allies and at the same time as hostages, they might then also win over their relatives and friends, first by so great a service, and then by a pledge.
§24.31.14expertique, quam vana aut levi aura mobile volgus esset, militem nancti ex eo numero, qui in Leontinis circumsessi erant, subornant, ut Syracusas perferret nuntium convenientem eis, quae ad Mylas falso nuntiata erant, §24.31.15auctoremque se exhibendo ac velut visa, quae dubia erant, narrando concitaret iras hominum.
And having experienced how fickle the crowd was, moved by an empty or light breeze, having found a soldier from that number who had been besieged in Leontini, they suborned him to carry a message to Syracuse consistent with those things which had been falsely reported at Mylas, and by presenting himself as an eyewitness and narrating as if seen what was doubtful, he might arouse the anger of the people.