Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners/Part II/V
V.A WEALTHY SUBJECT.
His offers to the King.
103.Formerly a certain Pythius received Xerxes while travelling through Asia with a magnificent feast, and promised him money. And when he offered the money Xerxes asked his attendants: ‘Pray who (of men) is Pythius, and how great riches has he?’ To whom the former replied, ‘This is the same man, King, who gave thy father Darius a golden plane tree and a golden vine for a present; and he is the most wealthy of all men whom we know, after thee.’ The king wondering, then said himself to Pythius: ‘How great wealth hast thou?’ Then said Pythius, ‘I have two thousand talents of a silver, and also a very great quantity of gold. I give thee this money: for I have sufficient means of livelihood from my slaves and lands.’
A kingly recompense.
104.When these things had been said by him, Xerxes being delighted replied: ‘Pythius, I have found no man but thee offering such things. Thou indeed hast received me splendidly, and art offering me much money. Therefore, I in turn give thee these gifts: I place thee among the number of my friends, and also give thee a great weight of gold. But continue to hold what thou hast acquired, and always show thyself (to be) such a man (as thou art now). If thou doest this, neither now, nor in the future, wilt thou be ashamed (of it).