Titus Livius (Livy), The History of Rome, Book 24
Frank Gardener Moore, Professor Emeritus in Columbia University, Ed.

4. In Sicily everything had been changed for the Romans by the death of Hiero¹ and the transfer of the kingdom to his grandson Hieronymus, a boy hardly able to keep his independence under control, much less absolute power. [2] Such was the age, such [p. 187]the disposition which guardians and friends took in² hand, to throw him into all the vices. Hiero, seeing that this would happen, is said in his extreme old age to have wished to leave Syracuse free, that kingly power gained and confirmed by good qualities might not come to an end in disgrace under the tyranny of a boy. [3] This his plan was opposed might and main by his daughters, who thought the boy would have the kingly title, but that complete control would be in their hands and those of their husbands, Adranodorus and Zoippus, who were being left as the principal guardians. [4] It was not easy for a man now in his ninetieth year,³ surrounded day and night by the blandishments of women, to be independent and turn his attention from the personal to the public interest. [5] Accordingly he merely left fifteen guardians for the boy, and dying entreated them to keep inviolate that loyalty to the Roman people which he had maintained for fifty years⁴ and to choose above all to have the young man tread in his footsteps and continue the training in which he had been brought up. Such were his instructions. [6] After he had breathed his last the guardians produced the will and brought the boy, at that time about fifteen years old, before an assembly of the people. [7] While a few men, who had been posted in all parts of the assembly to start applause, showed approval of the will, while the rest, as if deprived of a father and in an orphaned city, had only fears, the guardians <took charge>. [8] Then came the king's funeral, honoured rather by the love and regard of the citizens than by the grief of his [p. 189]family. [9] Soon afterwards Adranodorus removed the⁵ rest of the guardians, saying that Hieronymus was now a young man and capable of ruling. And laying down his own guardianship, which was shared with a number of others, he took to himself alone the powers of them all.