Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners/Part IV/VI
VI.OROETES AND POLYCRATES.
The cause of Oroetes’ jealotisy of Polycrates.
154.Oroetes the Persian, being appointed by Cyrus governor of Sardis, planned in his mind a wicked deed; for he desired to seize and kill Polycrates the Samian, by whom he had been injured neither in any deed nor word, and whom he had never seen before; and this, as most relate, for some such cause as this. When this Oroetes was sitting at the king’s gate, and (with him) another Persian, whose name was Mitrobates, they both are said to have commenced (lit. fallen into) a dispute in words. Now they say that Mitrobates, when they were disputing about their courage, said this to Oroetes: ‘Art thou the man who hast not reduced the island of Samos, (though) so close to thy government, under the power of the Great Bang, though it is so easy to be subdued that some one of the inhabitants, revolting with fifteen armed men, has got possession of it, and even now rules in it?’ They say, therefore, that Oroetes, on hearing this, (while) taking the rebuke ill, did not so much desire to take vengeance on the man who had said this to him, as to destroy utterly Polycrates, on whose account he had been upbraided badly.
Another account.
155.There are some, (but) not so many, who tell us that Oroetes sent a herald to Samos, to ask for something or other (for neither is this handed down to recollection); but that Polycrates then happened to have laid down in the hall, and that Anacreon of Ters was with him: and when the herald of Oroetes, approaching him, had spoken, that Polycrates then happened to have turned to the wall, and for a time neither looked at the man, nor gave him an answer. So the reason of the death of Polycrates is told in two ways.
The machinations of Oroetes.
156.But Oroetes, who used to live at Magnesia, sent a certain Lydian, bearing a message by which he might ascertain the intention of Polycrates. Now Polycrates had great hopes that he would gain the sovereignty of Ionia and the islands. Oroetes, understanding that he was considering this in his mind, having sent a messenger, said as follows: ‘Oroetes sends greeting to Polycrates. I have understood that thou art planning great things, but that thou hast little money. Now, if thou doest (lit. shalt have done) these things, thou wilt both increase thy own property and wilt also save me. Cambyses is planning my death. Do thou therefore both lead me forth from this land and carry away my money. Of this, indeed, do thou take part and allow me to keep part ; by help of this thou wilt obtain the sovereignty of Greece. But if thou dost not believe me, send the most faithful slave thou hast, and I shall show him the money.’
He deceives the messenger of Polycrates.
157.Having heard this, Polycrates was delighted and accepted the conditions. So he first sent Maeandrius, who was a secretary of his, for the sake of spying. Oroetes, when he knew that a spy was expected, did this. He filled eight chests with stones, excepting a little space round the edge, and put gold over the stones; then he sealed up the chests and kept them in readiness. And Maeandrius, when he came and saw them, brought the news back to Polycrates. Thus they say that Polycrates was entirely deceived.
The dreams of Polycrates^ daughter.
158.Then he, although the seers tried to dissuade him, determined to go thither in person. Besides this, his daughter while sleeping had seen some such vision as this. Her father seemed to her to be uplifted in the air, and to be washed by Jupiter, and to be anointed by the son. When this vision had been vouchsafed to her she strove eagerly that her fathet should not set out to Oroetes, and even followed him with words of ill omen while he was embarking on board a swift vessel. Then he threatened ‘that when he had retained in safety she should wait many years without a husband.’ And she prayed ‘that these things might be so, for she preferred to be without a husband than to be deprived of her father.’
The murder of Polycrates.
159.So Polycrates, despising all advice, sailed to Oroetes, taking with him both many other companions, and also Democedes, a celebrated physician. But when Polycrates had reached Magnesia he perished miserably by a punishment worthy neither of his royal power nor of his talent; for, excepting the tyrants of the Syracusans, not even one of other Grecian tyrants is worthy of being compared in splendour with Polycrate&
The fulfilment of fate.
160.After slaying him in a disgraceful way, and one not fit to be told, Oroetes fastened him to a cross; but as many of his companions were Samians, these he dismissed, bidding them to be grateful to him that they kept their freedom; but as many as were foreigners or servants, he kept them as slaves. Thus Polycrates, hung from the cross, fulfilled the whole of his daughter’s dream, for he was washed by Jove when it rained, and waa anointed by the sun, emitting moisture ftom his body himself. So the extreme good fortune of Polycrates had this end, just as Amasis, king of Egypt, had predicted to him. But Oroetes was condemned to death not long after by Darius, king of the Persians. In such a way, then, did the avenging curses of Polycrates the Samian pursue Oroetes.