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Again, there is the case of DionysiusDionysius, the Elder, tyrant of Syracuse, 406-367 B.C.(for I desire you to be convinced by many instances that the course of action to which I am urging you is an easy one). He was a person of small account among the Syracusans in birth,See Dio. Sic. 13.96. in reputation, and in all other respects;Yet Isocrates once wrote to him a most respectful letter ( Isoc. Letter 1). yet, being inspired by a mad and unreasoning passion for monarchy, and having the hardihood to do anything which advanced him to this goal, he made himself master of Syracuse, conquered all the states in Sicily which were of Hellenic origin, and surrounded himself with a power on both land and seaA navy of three hundred and ten ships, Dio. Sic. 14.42, and an army of a hundred thousand men more or less, Dio. Sic. 2.5. greater than any man before his time had possessed.
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Then again, CyrusCyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Empire, Isoc. 9.37.(that we may take account of the barbarians also), not withstanding the fact that as a child he was exposed by his mother on the public highwaySee Isoc. 5.132 and Hdt. 1.108. and was picked up by a Persian woman,Hdt. 1.112 ff. so completely reversed his fortunes that he became master of all Asia.
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Now if Alcibiades in exile, and Conon after a disastrous defeat, and Dionysius, a man of no repute, and Cyrus, with his pitiable start in life, advanced so far and achieved such mighty deeds, how can we fail to expect that you, who are sprung from such ancestors, who are king of Macedonia and master of so many peoples, will effect with ease this union which we have discussed?
