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Thus spake the envoys; and Gelo replied with vehemence: "Greeks,
ye have had the face to come here with selfish words, and exhort me to
join in league with you against the barbarian. Yet when I erewhile
asked you to join with me in fighting barbarians, what time the quarrel
broke out between me and Carthage; and when I earnestly besought you
to revenge on the men of Egesta their murder of Dorieus, the son of
Anaxandridas, promising to assist you in setting free the trading
places from which you receive great profits and advantages, you neither
came hither to give me succour, nor yet to revenge Dorieus; but, for
any efforts on your part to hinder it, these countries might at this
time have been entirely under the barbarians. Now, however, that
matters have prospered and gone well with me, while the danger has
shifted its ground and at present threatens yourselves, lo! you call
Gelo to mind. But though ye slighted me then, I will not imitate
you now: I am ready to give you aid, and to furnish as my
contribution two hundred triremes, twenty thousand men-at-arms, two
thousand cavalry, and an equal number of archers, slingers, and light
horsemen, together with corn for the whole Grecian army so long as the
war shall last. These services, however, I promise on one condition
- that ye appoint me chief captain and commander of the Grecian forces
during the war with the barbarian. Unless ye agree to this, I will
neither send succours, nor come myself."
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