retans and then by the rest, that
it was quite evident if they proceeded farther that they would have
cause to fear. In this state of anxiety and perplexity, they gave
orders to march back to Megara, whence they had set out, and sent
messengers to Syracuse, to give information of their present
condition. Hippocrates added a deception, seeing that the minds of the
troops were disposed to entertain every suspicion. Having sent some
Cretans to lie in wait in the roads, he read a letter he pretended had
been intercepted, but which he had written himself. The address was:
"The praetors of Syracuse to the consul Marcellus." After the
customary wishing of health, it stated "that he had acted duly and
properly in sparing none of the Leontines, but that the cause of all
the mercenary troops was the same, and that Syracuse would never be
tranquil while there were any foreign auxiliaries in the city or in
the army. That it was therefore necessary that he should endeavour to
get into his power those who were encamped at Megara, with their
praetors, and by punishing them, at length restore Syracuse to
liberty." After this letter had been read, they ran to seize their
arms in every direction, with so great a clamour, that the praetors,
in the utmost consternation, rode away to Syracuse during the
confusion. The mutiny, however, was not quelled even by their flight,
but an attack was made upon the Syracusan soldiers; nor would any one
have escaped their violence, had not Hippocrates and Epicydes opposed
the resentment of the multitude, not from pity or any humane motive,
but lest they should cut off all hope of effecting their return; and
that they might have the soldiers, both as faithful supporters of
their cause, and as hostages, and conciliate to themselves their
relatives and friends, in the first place by so great an obligation,
and in the next by reason of the pledge. Having also experienced that
the populace could be excited by any cause, however groundless or
trifling, they procured a soldier of the number of those who were
besieged at Leontini, whom they suborned to carry a report to
Syracuse, corresponding with that which had been falsely told at the
Myla; and by vouching for what he stated, and relating as matters
which he had seen, those things of which doubts were entertained, to
kindle the resentment of the people.

32. This man not only obtained credit with the commons, but being
introduced into the senate-house, prod