Character of Hiero II
For, in the first place, Hiero gained the sovereignty of
note
Syracuse and her allies by his own unaided
abilities without inheriting wealth, or reputation,
or any other advantage of fortune. And, in
the second place, was established king of Syracuse without putting to death, banishing, or
harassing any one of the citizens,—which is the most astonishing circumstance of all. And what is quite as surprising as
the innocence of his acquisition of power is the fact that it did
not change his character. For during a reign of fifty-four
years he preserved peace for the country, maintained his own
power free from all hostile plots, and entirely escaped the envy
which generally follows greatness; for though he tried on
several occasions to lay down his power, he was prevented by
the common remonstrances of the citizens. And having
shown himself most beneficent to the Greeks, and most
anxious to earn their good opinion, he left behind him not
merely a great personal reputation but also a universal feeling of
goodwill towards the Syracusans. Again, though he passed his
life in the midst of the greatest wealth, luxury, and abundance,
he survived for more than ninety years, in full possession of
his senses and with all parts of his body unimpaired; which,
to my mind, is a decisive proof of a well-spent life. . . .
Gelo, his son, in a life of more than fifty years note
regarded it as the most honourable object
of ambition to obey his father, and to
regard neither wealth, nor sovereign power,
nor anything else as of higher value than love
and loyalty to his parents. . . .
-- 515 -- 