The
insult was tamely endured, and shortly afterwards the ever-active
Hermocrates had an opportunity of thwarting the Athenian intrigues
among the Greek cities of Sicily. The scene of this diplomatic
encounter was Camarina, a Dorian city which had hitherto wavered
between its hatred of Syracuse and its fear of Athens. Early in the
winter Athenian envoys appeared at Camarina with overtures of
alliance, and Hermocrates was sent to represent the interests of
Syracuse. Speaking first in the debate, Hermocrates set himself to
unmask the designs of the Athenians, who, under the thin pretence of
helping the Ionic cities of Sicily, had come (he said) to make a
conquest of the whole island. The Ionians of Greece had long groaned
under their yoke, and the same fate was in store for the Ionians of
Sicily, if they allowed themselves to be beguiled by specious lies.
The plea of friendship and goodwill might pass with the degenerate
Greeks of Asia and the Aegaean, born to be cajoled and enslaved; but
the Camariaeans were of the stout Dorian race, the hereditary foes of
tyranny, too wise and too brave to lend themselves as tools to a bare-
faced scheme of aggression. If not, let them beware: Syracuse was
fighting in a righteous cause, and must prevail in the end; help was
coming from Peloponnesus, and if the Camariaeans stood aloof, the day
would come when they would regret their disloyalty.
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