he arrived at the post of Prætor of Syracusé. Once raised to this rank, he resolved to keep it; to make himself sovereign, and retain by violence, and without depending on any person whatever, what had willingly been granted to him by the publie voice. Having well weighed his purpose, he held a communication with Hamilcar, who commanded the Carthaginian army in Sicily.
Agathocles one morning assembled the people and the senate of Syracuse, under the pretext of deliberating on public affairs. At a given signal, he caused all the senators and the richest of the inhabitants to be massacred by the soldiery: these being dead, he assumed the sovereignty, and enjoyed it without any opposition on the part of the people. Twice defeated by the Carthaginians, and at length besieged by them in Syracuse, he not only defended himself in the city, but leaving a part of his troops to sustain the siege, he with the remainder passed over into Africa, where he pressed the Carthaginians so closely that they soon raised the seige, and, reduced to extremities, were compelled to content themselves .with Africa, and abandon Sicily to him.
If we examine the conduct of Agathocles, we shall find scarcely any thing that can be attributed to fortune. It was not by favour, but by advancing step by step through all the ranks of military
service, that amidst a thousand obstacles
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