Not that he was originally of a tyrannical disposition, but his character, which at first was open, trustful, and sociable, gradually altered for the worse, as he became less dependent upon public opinion and more firmly fixed upon his throne, until at length he gained the reputation of an ungrateful and suspicious despot.  The Greek cities, though with much murmuring, submitted to this arbitrary impressment, having no other alternative; but Pyrrhus soon proceeded to even harsher measures.  Thoinon and Sosistratus were the leading men in Syracuse.  It was they who had first invited him into Sicily, and who, when he arrived there, had placed their own city in his hands and induced most of the other Greek communities to join him.  Pyrrhus now regarded these men with suspicion, and knew not whether to take them with him or leave them behind.  Sosistratus, terrified at the king’s evident ill-will, made his escape, upon which Pyrrhus charged Thoinon with plotting against him with the other, and put him to death.  This caused a sudden revulsion of feeling from him.  The Greek cities began to regard him with mortal hatred, and some of them joined the Carthaginians, whilst others invited the Mamertines to assist them.  And while Pyrrhus saw nothing in Sicily but disaffection and insurrection against his power, he received despatches from the Tarentines and Samnites, informing him that they were confined to the walls of their cities, and even so could barely defend themselves against the Romans, while their lands were all being laid waste, and they urgently needed help.  This intelligence prevented his withdrawal from Sicily being regarded as a flight, but in reality he had failed in his attempt to conquer that island, and was as eager to return to Italy as a shipwrecked sailor is to reach the shore.  It is said that as he was sailing away he looked back at Sicily and said to his friends, “What a fair field we are leaving for the Romans and Carthaginians to fight in.”  This prophecy, as he expected, was soon afterwards fulfilled.

XXIV.  The barbarians[46] combined to attack him as he retreated.  He fought a battle at sea with the Carthaginian fleet during his passage to Italy, in which he lost many ships, while the Mamertines, ten thousand strong, had crossed into Italy before he could reach it, and although they did not dare to fight a pitched battle, yet harassed him by attacking him when entangled in some rough ground, and threw his entire army into confusion.  Two elephants and many of his rear-guard perished.  Pyrrhus himself was at the head of the column of march, but at once rode to the rear and restored the fight, but was in great danger from the brave and warlike Mamertines.  He received a blow upon his head from a sword, which forced him to retire a little way from the battle, and greatly elated the enemy.  One of them, a powerful man, splendidly armed, ran forward far beyond the rest, and boastfully challenged him to come forward and fight, if he were alive.  At this Pyrrhus