Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/306

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298 DION. he might discover who were his secret and factious mahgners. By this means, Callippus in a short time got together a cabal of all the seditious raalecontents in the city ; and if any one who would not be drawn in advised Dion that he was tampered with, he was not troubled or concerned at it, believing Callippus did it in compliance with his directions. While this conspiracy was afoot, a strange and dread- ful apparition was seen by Dion. As he sat one evening in a gallery in his house alone and thoughtfLd, hearing a sudden noise he turned about, and saw at the end of the colonnade, by clear daylight, a tall woman, in her counte- nance and garb like one of the tragical Furies, with a broom in her hand, sweeping the floor. Being amazed and extremely affrighted, he sent for some of his friends, and told them what he had seen, entreating them to stay with him and keep him company all night; for he was excessively discomposed and alarmed, fearing that if he were left alone the spectre would again appear to him. He saw it no more. But a few days after, his only son, being almost grown up to man's estate, upon some displeasure and pet he had taken upon a childish and frivolous occa- sion, threw himself headlong from the top of the house and broke his neck. While Dion was under this affliction, Callippus drove on his conspiracy, and spread a rumor among the Syra- cusans, that Dion, being now childless, was resolved to send for Dionysius's son, Apollocrates, who was his wife's nephew and sister's grandson, and make him his heir and successor.* By this time, Dion and his wife and sister

  • He was the son of Sophrosyne, the two daughters of the elder

who was sister to Ai-ete, Dion's Dionysius by Aristomache, Dion's wife ; Sophrosyne (Temperance) sister. and Arete (perhaps Virtue) being Doris of Locri = Dionysius I. = Aristomache, Dion's sister. J_ I Dionysius II. = Sophrosyne Arete = Dion.