misinterpreting and distorting some reports, while fabricating and elaborating others from the very 228 beginning. And he did these things, wishing to provoke the crowds against Tlepolemus; but the opposite occurred. For the masses, having long placed their hopes on the aforementioned man, watched with great pleasure as the quarrel was inflamed. And the beginning of the disturbance among the crowds came about for reasons such as these. Nikon, a relative of Agathocles' party, had been appointed commander of the navy while the king was still living, but then of the ***.
παρεκδεχόμενος καὶ διαστρέφων, τὰς δὲ ἐκ καταβο 228 λῆς πλάττων καὶ διασκευάζων. ταῦτα δ' ἐποίει βουλόμενος τὰ πλήθη παροξύνειν κατὰ τοῦ Τληπολέμου· συνέβαινε δὲ τοὐναντίον. πάλαι γὰρ ἐπὶ τῷ προειρημένῳ τὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχοντες οἱ πολλοὶ καὶ λίαν ἡδέως ἑώρων ἐκκαιομένην τὴν διαφοράν. ἐγένετο δ' ἡ καταρχὴ τοῦ περὶ τὰ πλήθη κινήματος διά τινας τοιαύτας αἰτίας. Νίκων ὁ συγγενὴς τῶν περὶ τὸν Ἀγαθοκλέα, ζῶντος ἔτι τοῦ βασιλέως καθεσταμένος ἦν ἐπὶ τοῦ ναυτικοῦ, τότε δὲ τῶν ***.