The five days debate at Cicero's house in Tusculum between master and sophister.

SECT. XX. The ugliness of Usarpation in Dionysius the Elder; with his Fears.

EIGHT and thirty years was Dionysius Tyrant over the Syracusans, having usurp'd the Go∣vernment at five and twenty year old. He held in Servitude a City of incomparable Beauty, and a State of great Wealth and Alliances. Now we have receiv'd from good Authors concerning him, thus recorded, that he was of singular temperance in his Diet, exceeding Politick and Industrious in carrying on business; and yet for all that, of a Nature very malitious and unjust, whence he must needs seem to all that consider truth narrowly, most miserable; for what things he had eagerly coveted after, he did not then obtain, even when he thought himself Soveraign Lord of all. He having been born of creditable Parents, and such as were of good Quality, (though different Authors write differently as to that Point) and abounding in Companions of old acquaintance, and Relati∣ons near to him; also having some Youths joyn'd in Love to him, after the manner of Greece, trusted not any of them; but took for his Life-Guard those whom he had pick'd out from the Servants of wealthy Citizens, and had himself taken from them the name of Servitude; some Forreigners too, and Salvage Barbarians. So through an un∣just affectation of Dominion, he did in a manner Imprison himself. Nay farther, lest he should

entrust his Throat with the Barber, he made his own Daughters learn to Trim. Thus did the Royal Virgins, like Women-Shavers, of a sordid and servile Trade, Trim and Shave their Father, and yet when they came to be of Age, he took from their hands too the Razor, and brought up a Practice of their singeing his Beard and Locks with burning Wall-nut-shells. He also having two Wives (f) Aristomache his own Country-woman, (g) and Doris of Ocri, he so by night consorted with them, that he had all places spy'd and search'd before, and having contriv'd a broad. Trench round about the Bed in his Presence Chamber, and laid a wooden Bridge for a Passage over that Trench, which too he drew up when he had look'd his Chamber Doors. He also not daring to stand on the common Pulpits, was wont to Harangue the People from the top of a Tower. The same Person having a mind to play at Ball (for he delighted much in that sport) and strip'd of his Vest, is said to have deliver'd his Sword to a Page whom he lov'd. Hereupon when a certain intimate Friend of his had said in jest, Assuredly you trust your Life with him; and the Youth had smil'd at it, he com∣manded both to be slain, the one because he had shew'd the way of killing him, and the other be∣cause he had approved that notice with a smile; at which action he was so afflicted, that nothing in his Life ever more troubled him; for he had kill'd his beloved Boy.

(f) Aristomache his own Country-woman.] Daughter of Hipparinus, and Sister of Dion.

(g) And Doris the Locrian.] Mother of Dionysius the younger.