on another, Counterfeits his Fathers Name and Hand to Certain Letters, wherein he Promiſes his Aſſiſtance to the Neighbour Princes againſt Labynetus. Theſe Letters Ennus carry's to the King, and Charges his Father with Treaſon,though in Appearance, with All the trouble and unwillingneſs that was poſſible, Only a Senſe of his Duty to his King and to his Country, ſwallow'd up All other Reſpects of Reverence and Modeſty that a Son ows to a Father. The King took All Theſe Calumnies for Inſtances of Ennus's Affections to him, without the Leaſt Suſpition of any Fraud in the Matter: So that without any further Enquiry, he ordered Æſop to be put to Death. The Perſons to whom the Care of his Execution was Committed, being well Aſſured of his Innocence, and of the Kings Ungovernable Paſſions, took him out of the way, and Gave it out that he was Dead. Some few Dayes after this, there came Letters to Labynetus from Amaſis the King of Ægypt, wherein Labynetus was Deſired by Amaſis to ſend him a certain Architect that could raiſe a Tower that ſhould Hang in the Aire, and likewiſe Reſolve All Queſtions. Labynetus was at a Great Loſs what anſwer to return, And the Fierceneſs of his Displeaſure againſt Æſop being by This time ſomewhat Abated, he began to Enquire after him with Great Paſſion, and would often Proſeſs, That if the Parting with One halfe of his Kingdom could bring him to Life again, he would Give it. Hermippus and Others that had kept him out of the Way, told the King upon the Hearing of This, That Æſop was yet Alive; ſo They were commanded to bring him forth; which they did, in All the Beaſtlyneſs he had Contracted in the Priſon. He did no ſooner Appear, but he made his Innocence ſo manifeſt, that Labynetus in Extreme Difpleaſure and Indignation, commanded the Falſe Accuſer to be put to Death with moſt Exquiſite Torments; But Æſop, after All this, Interceded for him, and Obtained his Pardon, upon a Charitable Preſumption, that the Sence of ſo Great a Goodneſs and Obligation would yet work upon him. Herodotus tells this Story of Cambyſes the Son of Cyrus, and Crœſus, and with what Joy Cambyſes received Crœſus again, after he was ſuppoſed to be put to death by his own Order; but Then it Varies in This, that he Cauſed Thoſe to be put to Death, that were to have ſeen the Execution done, for not Obſerving his Commands.
