288 DION. slacked his pace, yet did not remit his advance. And in the coui'se of the night, the faction that was against him set a guard upon the gates of the city to hinder him from coming in. But Nypsius made another sally out of the castle with a far greater number of men, and those far more bold and eager than before, who quite ruined what of the rampart was left standing, and fell in, pell- mell, to sack and ravage the city. The slaughter was now very great, not only of the men, but of the women also and children ; for they regarded not so much the plunder, as to destroy and kill all they met. For Dio- nysius, despairmg to regain the kingdom, and mortally hating the Syracusans, resolved to bury his lost sove- reignty in the ruin and desolation of Syracuse. The soldiers, therefore, to anticipate Dion's succors, resolved upon the most complete and ready way of destruction, to lay the city in ashes, firing all at hand with torches and lamps, and at distance with flaming arrows, shot from their bows. The citizens fled every way before them ; they who, to avoid the fire, forsook their houses were taken in the streets and put to the sword; they who betook themselves for refuge into the houses were forced out again by the flames, many buildings being now in a blaze, and many falling in ruins upon them as they fled past. This fresh misfortune by general consent opened the gates for Dion. He had given up his rapid advance, when he received advice that the enemies were retreated into the castle ; but, in the morning, some horse brought him the news of another assault, and, soon after, some of those who before opposed his coming fled now to him, to entreat him he would hasten his relief The pressure increasing, Heraclides sent his brothei', and after him hia uncle, Theodotes, to beg him to help them: for that now they were not able to resist any longer ; he himself
