After
this Dionysius called a meeting of his friends and took counsel regarding the war. When they
all said that his position was unfavourable for a decisive battle with the enemy, he dispatched
a herald toward evening to arrange for the taking up of the dead on the next day, and about the
first watch of the night he sent out of the city the mass of the people, while he himself set
out about the middle of the night, leaving behind some two thousand of his light-armed troops.
[
2]
These had been given orders to keep fires burning through the
entire night and to make an uproar in order to cause the Carthaginians to believe that he was
still in the city. Now these troops, as the day was beginning to break, set out to join
Dionysius, and the Carthaginians, on learning what had taken place, moved their quarters into
the city and plundered what had been left of the contents of the dwellings.
[
3]
When Dionysius arrived at Camarina, he
compelled the residents of that city also to depart with their children and wives to Syracuse.
And since their fear admitted of no delay, some gathered together silver and gold and whatever
could be easily carried, while others fled with only their parents and infant children, paying
no attention to valuables; and some, who were aged or suffering from illness, were left behind
because they had no relatives or friends, since the Carthaginians were expected to arrive
almost immediately.
[
4]
For the fate that had befallen Selinus and
Himera and Acragas
1 as well terrified the populace, all of whom felt as if they had actually
been eyewitnesses of the savagery of the Carthaginians. For among them there was no sparing
their captives, but they were without compassion for the victims of Fortune of whom they would
crucify some and upon others inflict unbearable outrages.
[
5]
Nevertheless, now that two cities had been driven into exile, the countryside teemed with
women and children and the rabble in general. And when the soldiers witnessed these conditions,
they were not only enraged against Dionysius but also filled with pity at the lot of the
unfortunate victims;
[
6]
for they saw free-born boys and maidens
of marriageable years rushing pell-mell along the road in a manner improper for their age,
since the stress of the moment had done away with the dignity and respect which are shown
before strangers. Similarly they sympathized also with the elderly, as they watched them being
forced to push onward beyond their strength while trying to keep up with those in the prime of
life.