Timoleon   

of Corinth, two of Corcyra, and a tenth which was furnished by the
Leucadians; and when he was now entered into the deep by night, and
carried with a prosperous gale, the heaven seemed all on a sudden
to break open, and a bright spreading flame to issue forth from it,
and hover over the ship he was in; and, having formed itself into
a torch, not unlike those that are used in the mysteries, it began
to steer the same course, and run along in their company, guiding
them by its light to that quarter of Italy where they designed to
go ashore. The soothsayers affirmed that this apparition agreed with
the dream of the holy woman, since the goddesses were now visibly
joining in the expedition, and sending this light from heaven before
them: Sicily being thought sacred to Proserpina, as poets feign that
the rape was committed there, and that the island was given her in
dowry when she married Pluto.
These early demonstrations of divine favour greatly encouraged his
whole army; so that making all the speed they were able, by a voyage
across the open sea, they were soon passing along the coast of Italy.
But the tidings that came from Sicily much perplexed Timoleon, and
disheartened his soldiers. For Hicetes, having already beaten Dionysius
out of the field, and reduced most of the quarters of Syracuse itself,
now hemmed him in and besieged him in the citadel and what is called
the Island, whither he was fled for his last refuge; while the Carthaginians,
by agreement, were to make it their business to hinder Timoleon from
landing in any port of Sicily; so that he and his party being driven
back, they might with ease and at their own leisure divide the island
among themselves. In pursuance of which design the Carthaginians sent
away twenty of their galleys to Rhegium, having aboard them certain
ambassadors from Hicetes to Timoleon, who carried instructions suitable
to these proceedings, specious amusements, and plausible stories,
to colour and conceal dishonest purposes. They had order to propose
and demand that Timoleon himself, if he liked the offer, should come
and advise with Hicetes and partake of all his conquests, but that
he might send back his ships and forces to Corinth, since the war
was in a manner finished, and the Carthaginians had blocked up the
passage, determined to oppose them if they should try to force their
way towards the shore. When, therefore, the Corinthians met with these
envoys at Rhegium, and received their message, and saw the Phoenician
vessels riding at anchor in the bay, they became keenly sensible of
the abuse that was put upon them, and felt a general indignation against
Hicetes, and great apprehensions for the Siceliots, whom they now
plainly perceived to be as it were a prize and recompense to Hicetes
on one side for his perfidy, and to the Carthaginians on the other
for the sovereign power they secured to him. For it seemed utterly
impossible to force and overbear the Carthaginian ships that lay before
them and were double their number, as also to vanquish the victorious
troops which Hicetes had with him in Syracuse, to take the lead of
which very troops they had undertaken their voyage.
The case being thus, Timoleon, after some conference with the envoys
of Hicetes and the Carthaginian captains, told them he should readily
submit to their proposals (to what purpose would it be to refuse compliance?):
he was desirous only, before his return to Corinth, that what had
passed between them in private might be solemnly declared before the
people of Rhegium, a Greek city, and a common friend to the parties;
this, he said, would very much conduce to his own security and discharge;
and they likewise would more strictly observe articles of agreement,
on behalf of the Syracusans, which they had obliged themselves to
in the presence of so many witnesses. The design of all which was
only to divert their attention, while he got an opportunity of slipping
away from their fleet; a contrivance that all the principal Rhegians
were privy and assisting to, who had a great desire that the affairs
of Sicily should fall into Corinthian hands, and dreaded the consequences
of having barbarian neighbours. An assembly was therefore called,
and the gates shut, that the citizens might have no liberty to turn
to other business; and a succession of speakers came forward, addressing