The histories of Herodotus;

157-160] GELON AND THE AMBASSADORS 417
taining its liberty. For if all Greece is assembled, a large
force is collected, and we become able to resist the invaders.
But if some of us should betray the common cause, and others
refuse to assist, so that the sound part of Greece should be
small, then there is great danger that the whole of Greece
will fall. For you must not expect that if the Persian should
subdue us, having conquered in battle, he will not proceed
also against you, but take precautions beforehand; for by
I assisting us, you protect yourself. "A favourable result is generally
wont to attend a well-devised plan." Thus they spoke.
Gelon was very vehement, speaking as follows : " Men of
Greece, holding arrogant language, you have dared to invite
me to come to your assistance against the barbarians. And
yet you yourselves, when I formerly besought you to assist
me in attacking a barbarian army when a quarrel was on foot
between me and the Carthaginians, and when I exhorted you
to avenge the death of Dorieus, son of Anaxandrides, upon
the vEgestaeans, and promised that I would join in freeing
the ports, from whence great advantages and profits accrued
to you ; neither for my sake did you come to assist me, nor
to avenge the death of Dorieus. So that as far as you are
concerned, all this country is subject to barbarians. However,
matters turned out well with me, and prospered ; and
now, when the war has come round and reached you, at length
you remember Gelon. But though I met with disgraceful
treatment from you, I shall not imitate your example, but am
ready to assist you, furnishing two hundred triremes, twenty
thousand heavy armed troops, two thousand horse, two thousand
bowmen, two thousand slingers, and two thousand lighthorse;
I likewise undertake to supply corn for the whole
Grecian army until we have finished the war. But I promise
these things on this condition, that I shall be general and
leader of the Greeks against the barbarians : on no other condition
will I come myself, or send others." Syagrus, when he
heard this, could not contain himself, but spoke as follows:
" Agamemnon, the descendant of Pelops, would indeed groan
aloud if he heard that the Spartans had been deprived of the
supreme command by a Gelon and by Syracusans. Never
mention this proposition again, that we should give up the
command to you; but if you are willing to succour Greece,
know that you must be commanded by Lacedaemonians, or,
if you will not deign to be commanded, you need not assist
us." Upon this Gelon, when he observed the indignant language
of Syagrus, made this last proposal : " Spartan stranger,
reproaches uttered against a man are wont to rouse his indig-
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