infection spreading very fast, the dead lay
unburied, and the sick could have no assistance. This plague was attended
with very uncommon symptoms, such as violent dysenteries, raging fevers,
burning entrails, acute pains in every part of the body. The infected were
even seized with madness and fury, so that they would fall upon any
persons that came in their way, and tear them to pieces.

Dionysius did not suffer to escape so favourable an opportunity for
attacking the enemy. Being more than half conquered by the plague, they
made but a feeble resistance. The Carthaginian ships were almost all
either taken or burnt. The inhabitants in general of Syracuse, old men,
women, and children, came pouring out of the city to behold an event which
to them appeared miraculous. With hands lifted up to heaven, they thanked
the tutelar gods of their city, for having avenged the sanctity of the
temples and tombs, which had been so brutally violated by these
barbarians. Night coming on, both parties retired; when Imilcon, taking
the opportunity of this short suspension of hostilities, sent to
Dionysius, requesting leave to carry back with him the small remains of
his shattered army, with an offer of three hundred talents,(627) which was
all the specie he had then left. But this permission could only be
obtained for the Carthaginians, with whom Imilcon stole away in the night,
and left the rest to the mercy of the conqueror.

Such was the condition in which this Carthaginian general, who a few days
before had been so proud and haughty, retired from Syracuse. Bitterly
bewailing his own fate, and still more that of his country, he, with the
most insolent fury, accused the gods as the sole authors of his
misfortunes. "The enemy," continued he, "may indeed rejoice at our misery,
but have no reason to glory in it. We return victorious over the
Syracusans, and are defeated by the plague alone." His greatest subject of
grief, and that which most keenly distressed him, was his having survived
so many gallant soldiers, who had died in arms. "But," added he, "the
sequel shall make it appear, whether it is through fear of death, or from
the desire of leading back to their native country the miserable remains
of my fellow-citizens, that I have survived the loss of so many brave
comrades." And in fact, on his arrival at Carthage, which he found
overwhelmed with grief and despair, he entered his house, shut his doors
against the citizens, and even hi