part of the senate, for since it would be unjust that his colleague
should have the power of selecting his province without drawing lots,
how much greater injustice would it be, nay, rather indignity, for his
lot to be transferred to him." Accordingly the senate, having rather
shown than decreed what they wished, adjourned. An exchange of
provinces was made by the consuls of themselves, fate hurrying on
Marcellus to encounter Hannibal, that he might be the last of the
Roman generals, who, by his fall, when the affairs of the war were
most prosperous, might add to the glory of that man, from whom he
derived the reputation of having been the first Roman general who
defeated him.

30. After the provinces had been exchanged, the Sicilians, on being
introduced into the senate, discoursed largely on the constant
fidelity of king Hiero to the Roman people, converting it into a
public merit. They said, "that the tyrants, Hieronymus, and, after
him, Hippocrates and Epicydes, had been objects of detestation to
them, both on other accounts and especially on account of then
deserting the Romans to take part with Hannibal. For this cause
Hieronymus was put to death by the principal young men among them,
almost with the public concurrence, and a conspiracy was formed to
murder Epicydes and Hippocrates, by seventy of the most distinguished
of their youth; but being left without support in consequence of the
delay of Marcellus, who neglected to bring up his troops to Syracuse
at the time agreed upon, they were all, on an indictment that was
made, put to death by the tyrants. That Marcellus, by the cruelty
exercised in the sacking of Leontini, had given occasion to the
tyranny of Hippocrates and Epicydes. From that time the leading men
among the Syracusans never ceased going over to Marcellus, and
promising him that they would deliver the city to him whenever he
pleased; but that he, in the first instance, was disposed rather to
take it by force, and afterwards, finding it impossible to effect his
object by sea or land, after trying every means, he preferred having
Syracuse delivered to him by Sosis, a brazier, and Mericus, a
Spaniard, to receiving it from the principal men of Syracuse, who had
so often offered it to him voluntarily to no purpose; doubtless in
order that he might with a fairer pretext butcher and plunder the most
ancient allies of the Roman people. If it had not been Hieronymus who
revolted to Hannibal, but the people