To proceed - when Dion had twice over delivered the city and restored it to
the citizens, the Syracusans went through the same changes of feeling towards
him as Dionysios had gone through, when Dion attempted first to educate him
and train him to be a sovereign worthy of supreme power and, when that was
done, to be his coadjutor in all the details of his career. Dionysios listened
to those who circulated slanders to the effect that Dion was aiming at the
tyranny in all the steps which he took at that time his intention being that
Dionysios, when his mind had fallen under the spell of culture, should neglect
the government and leave it in his hands, and that he should then appropriate
it for himself and treacherously depose Dionysios. These slanders were
victorious on that occasion; they were so once more when circulated among the
Syracusans, winning a victory which took an extraordinary course and proved
disgraceful to its authors. The story of what then took place is one which
deserves careful attention on the part of those who are inviting me to deal
with the present situation.