Death of Dion

Reading the tricky letter aloud, Dion did not suspect its effect. The people, who hated tyrants, grew angry. Heraclides urged them to banish Dion and make him leader instead. They did—and Dionysius escaped while his general Nypsius retook most of the city. Frightened, Heraclides begged Dion to return. Dion generously forgave and drove Nypsius back. The people begged his pardon, ashamed. But plotting continued until Dion's friends killed Heraclides. Dion reproved them—and predicted he would be blamed. He was right: Heraclides' friends murdered him. Dionysius returned crueler than ever, until Corinthians helped Syracuse expel him. He ended his days as a cross schoolteacher in Corinth, hooted by children.