, though they had stirred up war with him and expected
to be put to death for this reason, he brought to Syracuse and made them
citizens, but the common people of the Megarians, who had no share in
the guilt of this war and did not expect that they would suffer any
evil, these also he brought to Syracuse and sold them as slaves to be
carried away from Sicily: and the same thing he did moreover to the men
of Euboia in Sicily, making a distinction between them: and he dealt
thus with these two cities because he thought that a body of commons was
a most unpleasant element in the State.

157. In the manner then which has been described Gelon had become a
powerful despot; and at this time when the envoys of the Hellenes had
arrived at Syracuse, they came to speech with him and said as follows:
"The Lacedemonians and their allies sent us to get thee to be on our
side against the Barbarian; for we suppose that thou art certainly
informed of him who is about to invade Hellas, namely that a Persian
is designing to bridge over the Hellespont, and to make an expedition
against Hellas, leading against us out of Asia all the armies of the
East, under colour of marching upon Athens, but in fact meaning to bring
all Hellas to subjection under him. Do thou therefore, seeing that 147
thou hast attained to a great power and hast no small portion of Hellas
for thy share, being the ruler of Sicily, come to the assistance of
those who are endeavouring to free Hellas, and join in making her free;
for if all Hellas be gathered together in one, it forms a great body,
and we are made a match in fight for those who are coming against us;
but if some of us go over to the enemy and others are not willing to
help, and the sound portion of Hellas is consequently small, there is at
once in this a danger that all Hellas may fall to ruin. For do not thou
hope that if the Persian shall overcome us in battle he will not come
to thee, but guard thyself against this beforehand; for in coming to
our assistance thou art helping thyself; and the matter which is wisely
planned has for the most part a good issue afterwards."

158. The envoys spoke thus; and Gelon was very vehement with them,
speaking to them as follows: "Hellenes, a selfish speech is this, with
which ye have ventured to come and invite me to be your ally against the
Barbarian; whereas ye yourselves, when I in former time requested of you
to join with me in fighting against an army of Barbarians