Xenodokus to the mer Agathokles rity of the latter. left them unprotected against Agathokles. He was soon at the head of a powerful army-20,000 foot, and 1500 horse. Moreover a large proportion of his army were not citizen militia, but practised soldiers; for the most part exiles, driven from their homes by the distractions and violences of the Agathoklean æra'. For military purposes, both he and his soldiers were far more strenuous and effective than the Agrigentines under Xenodokus had been. He not only kept the field against Agathokles, but several times offered him battle, which the despot did not feel confidence enough to accept. Agathokles could do no more than maintain himself in Syracuse, while the Sicilian cities generally were put in security against his aggressions. Agrigentine Amidst this unprosperous course of affairs in army under Sicily, Agathokles received messengers from his -opposed son, reporting the defeats in Africa. Preparing cenaries of immediately to revisit that country, he was fortusuperio- nate enough to obtain a reinforcement of Tyrrhenian ships of war, which enabled him to overcome the Carthaginian blockading squadron at the mouth of the Syracusan harbour. A clear passage to Africa was thus secured for himself, together with ample supplies of imported provisions for the Syracusans. Though still unable to combat Deinokrates in the field, Agathokles was emboldened by his recent naval victory to send forth Leptines with a force to invade the Agrigentines-the jealous rivals, rather than the allies, of Deinokrates. The 1 Diodor. xx. 57. καὶ πάντων τούτων ἐν φυγαῖς καὶ μελέταις τοῦ πονεῖν συνεχῶς γεγονότων, &c. 2 Diodor. xx. 61, 62. CHAP. XCVII.] AGATHOKLES AGAIN IN AFRICA. 597 Agrigentine army-under the general Xenodokus, whom Leptines had before defeated-consisted of citizen militia mustered on the occasion; while the Agathoklean mercenaries, conducted by Leptines, had made arms a profession, and were used to fighting as well as to hardships'. Here as elsewhere in Greece, we find the civic and patriotic energy trampled down by professional soldiership, and reduced to operate only as an obsequious instrument for administrative details. Xenodokus kles passes Africa his army is defeated Xenodokus, conscious of the inferiority of his Defeat of Agrigentine force, was reluctant to hazard a battle. by Leptines Driven to this imprudence by the taunts of his sol-Agatho diers, he was defeated a second time by Leptines, over into and became so apprehensive of the wrath of the bad state of Agrigentines, that he thought it expedient to retire there-he to Gela. After a period of rejoicing, for his recent by the Carvictories by land as well as by sea, Agathokles thaginians. passed over to Africa, where he found his son, with the army at Tunês in great despondency and privation, and almost mutiny for want of pay. They still amounted to 6000 Grecian mercenaries, 6000 Gauls, Samnites, and Tyrrhenians-1500 cavalry -and no less than 6000 (if the number be correct) Libyan war-chariots. There were also a numerous body of Libyan allies; faithless time-servers, watching for the turn of fortune. The Carthaginians, occupying strong camps in the vicinity of Tunês, and abundantly supplied, awaited patiently the destroying effects of privation and suffering on their enemies. So desperate was the position of Agathokles, that he was compelled to go forth and 1 Diodor. xx. 62. Nocturnal panic and disorder in fight. Having tried in vain to draw the Carthaginians down into the plain, he at length attacked them in the full strength of their entrenchments. But in spite of the most strenuous efforts, his troops were repulsed with great slaughter, and driven back to their camp'. The night succeeding this battle was a scene of disorder and panic in both camps; even in that of both camps. the victorious Carthaginians. The latter, according to the ordinances of their religion, eager to return their heartfelt thanks to the Gods for this great victory, sacrificed to them as a choice offering the handsomest prisoners captured. During this process, the tent or tabernacle consecrated to the Gods, close to the altar as well as to the general's tent, accidentally took fire. The tents being formed by mere wooden posts, connected by a thatch of hay or straw both on roof and sides, the fire spread rapidly, and the entire camp was burnt, together with many soldiers who tried to arrest the conflagration. So distracting was the terror occasioned by this catastrophe, that the whole Carthaginian army for the time dispersed; and Agathokles, had he been prepared, might have destroyed them. But it happened that at the same hour, his own camp was thrown into utter confusion by a different accident, rendering his soldiers incapable of being brought into action3. 1 Diodor. xx. 64; Justin, xxii. 8. 2 Diodor. xx. 65. See an incident somewhat similar (Herod. vii. 180) -the Persians, in the invasion of Greece by Xerxes, sacrificed the handsomest Grecian prisoner whom they captured on board the first prize-ship that fell into their hands. 3 Diodor. xx. 66, 67. CHAP. XCVII.] AGATHOKLES DESERTS HIS ARMY. 599 condition of -he deserts and escapes His position at Tunês had now become desperate. B.c. 305. His Libyan allies had all declared against him, after Desperate the recent defeat. He could neither continue to Agathokles hold Tunês, nor carry away his troops to Sicily; his army for he had but few vessels, and the Carthaginians to Sicily." were masters at sea. Seeing no resource, he resolved to embark secretly with his younger son Herakleides; abandoning Archagathus and the army to their fate. But Archagathus and the other officers, suspecting his purpose, were thoroughly resolved that the man who had brought them into destruction should not thus slip away and betray them. As Agathokles was on the point of going aboard at night, he found himself watched, arrested, and held prisoner, by the indignant soldiery. The whole town now became a scene of disorder and tumult, aggravated by the rumour that the enemy were marching up to attack them. Amidst the general alarm, the guards who had been set over Agathokles, thinking his services indispensable for defence, brought him out with his fetters still on. When the soldiers saw him in this condition, their sentiment towards him again reverted to pity and admiration, notwithstanding his projected desertion; moreover they hoped for his guidance to resist the impending attack. With one voice they called upon the guards to strike off his chains and set him free. Agathokles was again at liberty. But insensible to everything except his own personal safety, he presently stole away, leaped unperceived into a skiff, with a few attendants, but without either of his sons,-and was lucky enough to The de serted army kill the two capitulate with the Carthaginians. arrive, in spite of stormy November weather, on the coast of Sicily'. So terrible was the fury of the soldiers, on discovering that Agathokles bad accomplished his desons of Aga sertion, that they slew both his sons, Archagathus and Herakleides. No resource was left but to elect new generals, and make the best terms they could with Carthage. They were still a formidable body, retaining in their hands various other towns besides Tunês; so that the Carthaginians, relieved from all fear of Agathokles, thought it prudent to grant an easy capitulation. It was agreed that all the towns should be restored to the Carthaginians, on payment of 300 talents; that such soldiers as chose to enter into the African service of Carthage, should be received on full pay; but that such as preferred returning to Sicily should be transported thither, with permission to reside in the Carthaginian town of Solus (or Soluntum). On these terms the convention was concluded, and the army finally broken up. Some indeed among the Grecian garrisons, quartered in the outlying posts, being rash enough to dissent and hold out, were besieged and taken by the Carthaginian force. Their commanders were crucified, and the soldiers condemned to rural work as fettered slaves2. Thus miserably terminated the expedition of Agathokles to Africa, after an interval of four years 1 Diodor. xx. 69; Justin, xxii. 8. ......τὸ δὲ πλῆθος, ὡς εἶδεν, εἰς ἔλεον ἐτράπη, καὶ πάντες ἐπεβόων ἀφεῖναι· ὁ δὲ λυθεὶς καὶ μετ ̓ ὀλίγων ἐμβὰς εἰς τὸ πορθμεῖον, ἔλαθεν ἐκπλεύσας κατὰ τὴν δύσιν τῆς Πληΐαδος, χειμῶνος ὄντος. * Diodor. xx. 69. |