Fables of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists/The Life of Æsop/Chapter XIII

by Roger L'Estrange

Cap. XIII.

Æsop finds hidden Treasure.

AS Xanthus was Walking once among certain Monuments, with Æsop at his Heels; and Plodding upon several Epitaphs, there was one Inscription in Greek Letters, that Xanthus with all the Skill he had, could not tell what to make of. Well, says Æsop, let me see a Little If I can Uncypher it. And so after laying Things and Things together a While, Master, says he, What will you give me, If I find you out a Pott of Hidden Treasure now? One Halfe of it, says Xanthus, and your Liberty. So Æsop fell to Digging, a Matter of four Yards from the Stone that had the Inscription; and there found a Pott of Gold which he took up and Delivered to his Master; and Claimed his Promise. Well, says Xanthus, I’le be a good as my Word; but you must first shew me how you came to know there was Treasure, by the Inscription: for I had rather be Master of That Secret, then of the very Gold it self. Æsop Innocently opened the whole Matter to him. Look you S^r, says he, Here are these Letters. α; β; δ; ο; ε; θ; χ; which are to be thus Interpreted, α stands for ἀποβάς; β for βήματα; δ for τέσσαρα; ο for ὀρύξας; ε for ἑυρήσεις; θ for θησαυρὸν; χ for χρυσίου; In English, dig Four Paces from this Place, and you shall find Gold. Now, says Xanthus, if you are so good at finding out Gold, you and I must not part yet. Come Sir, says Æsop, (perceiving that his Master play’d Fast and Loose with him) To deal freely with you, This Treasure belongs to King Dionysius. How do you know that? says Xanthus. Why by the very Inscription, says Æsop: for in That Sence, α stands for ἀπόδος; β for βασιλεῖ; δ for Διονυσίῳ; ο for ὃν; ε for εὗρες; θ for θησαυρὸν; χ for χρυσίου. In English, Give Dionysius the Gold you have found. Xanthus began to be afraid when he heard it was The Kings Mony, and Charged Æsop to make no Words on’t, and he should have the One Halfe. ’Tis well, says Æsop; but This is not so much your own Bounty yet, as The Intention of Him that Bury’d it; for the very same Letters direct the Dividing of it. As for Example once again Now. α stands for ἀνελόμενοι; β for βαδίσαντες; δ for διέλεσθε; ο for ὃν; ε for ἕυρετε; θ for θησαυρὸν; χ for χρυσίου; In English, Divide the Gold that you have found. Why then, says Xanthus, let us go home and share it. No sooner were they got Home, but Æsop was presently lay’d by the Heels, for fear of Blabbing, crying out as Loud as he could, This comes of trusting to the Faith of a Philosopher; The Reproch Nettled his Master: But however he caused his Shackles to be taken off upon’t, and Admonished Æsop to keep his Licentious Tongue in a Little better Order for the future, if ever he hoped to have his Liberty. For That, says Æsop, Prophetically, I shall not Need to Beg it of you as a favour, for in a very few dayes I shall have my Freedom, whether you will or no.