Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners/Part II/I
I.THE STORY OF POLYCRATES.
His riches.
91.Polycrates, who having made a conspiracy, seized Samos, at first managed the state together with his brothers after dividing it into three parts. Afterwards, having slain one, and having expelled the younger from the island, he kept the whole of Samos under his rule. And in this rule he formed a friendship with Amasis, king of Egypt, by sending gifts for him, and receiving (others) from him in turn. In a short time the wealth of Amasis was greatly increased, and was greatly celebrated through the whole of Ionia and the rest of Greece. For whithersoever he used to set out with his army, all things turned out prosperously for him. Moreover, he had a hundred men-of-war of fifty oars, and a thousand archers; and invading all peoples without making any difierence, he used to harry and carry off everything. For he used to say, ‘I shall gratify a friend more by restoring what I have taken away (from him) than by taking nothing from him in the first instance!’ So he had taken many islands, also many towns on the mainland. Among these he took the Lesbians (who had been) defeated in a naval engagement, and they (lit. who) then in chains (lit bound) dug a moat, surrounding the wall of Samos.
The advice of Amasis.
92.The prosperity of Folycrates was pleasing to Amasis: but that (very) circiunstance was a cause of anxiety to him. Having therefore sent a letter, he wrote to him as follows; ‘Amasis sends greeting to Polycrates. Thy prosperity is very pleasing to me. Yet excessive good fortune does not please me. The divinity of the gods who rude the world is an envious one. So all men, who have been too fortunate (have used too prosperous circumstances), have at last had a very evil end. Do thou therefore, against that excessive prosperity of thine, following my advice, do as follows. Throw away that thing which is of the greatest value to you.’ Having read this through, Polycrates oheyed the advice of his friend. He had a ring, which he used to wear, set in gold, made of emerald, the work of Theodorus, a celehrated artisan. He embarked on board a vessel, and having drawn the ring from his hand, threw it overboard into the sea, in the sight of all who were in the ship. After doing this, he sailed home. But on the fifth or sixth day after an event of the following kind happened. A certain fisherman gave to the king a great fish which he had caught. Now the servants, who were cooking the fish, find in its belly the ring of Polycrates.
The fate of Polycrates.
93.Then the king sent a letter about the occurrence to Amasis, in Egypt. But Amasis, having read the letter, was greatly disturbed. Therefore, having sent a herald to Samos, he renounced the friendship which he had with Polycrates, fearing the anger of the gods. But Polycrates, a short while after, is slain by Oroetes, satrap of Lydia, and his body is hung on a gallows. Thus he atoned for his excessive prosperity by death.