The latter was your friend for a much longer period than the former was your enemy.  From the latter you have realized even benefits, while the frenzy of Hieronymus only brought ruin upon himself.”  At the hands of the Romans all things were obtainable and secure.  There was a greater disposition to war, and more danger to be apprehended among themselves; for the deserters, thinking that they were delivered up to the Romans, induced the mercenary auxiliaries to entertain the same apprehension; and hastily seizing their arms, they first put the praetors to death, and then ran through the city to massacre the Syracusans.  In their rage they slew all whom chance threw in their way, and plundered every thing which presented itself; and then, lest they should have no leaders, they elected six praetors, so that three might have the command in the Achradina, and three in the island.  At length, the tumult having subsided, and the mercenary troops having ascertained, by inquiry, what had been negotiated with the Romans, it began to appear, as was really the case, that their cause and that of the deserters were different.

30.  The ambassadors returned from Marcellus very opportunely.  They informed them that they had been influenced by groundless suspicions, and that the Romans saw no reason why they should inflict punishment upon them.  Of the three praefects of the Achradina one was a Spaniard, named Mericus.  To him one of the Spanish auxiliaries was designedly sent, among those who accompanied the ambassadors.  Having obtained an interview with Mericus in the absence of witnesses, he first explained to him the state in which he had left Spain, from which he had lately returned:  “That there every thing was in subjection to the Roman arms; that it was in his power, by doing the Romans a service, to become the first man among his countrymen, whether he might be inclined to serve with the Romans, or to return to his country.  On the other hand, if he persisted in preferring to hold out against the siege, what hope could he have, shut up as he was by sea and land?” Mericus was moved by these suggestions, and when it was resolved upon to send ambassadors to Marcellus, he sent his brother among them; who, being brought into the presence of Marcellus, apart from the rest, by means of the same Spaniard, after receiving an assurance of protection, arranged the method of carrying their object into effect, and then returned to the Achradina.  Mericus then, in order to prevent any one from conceiving a suspicion of treachery, declared, that he did not like that deputies should be passing to and fro; he thought that they should neither admit nor send any; and in order that the guards might be kept more strictly, that such parts as were most exposed should be distributed among the prefects, each being made responsible for the safety of his own quarter.  All approved of the distribution of the posts.  The district which fell to the lot of Mericus himself extended from the