Page:Key to Easy Latin Stories for beginners.djvu/17

PART I.] ANECDOTES.  32.The following miracle is said to have happened to one of the guards (while) cooking fish pickled in salt. The fish (while) lying on the fire, began to jump, as if (they had been) very lately caught. All men were astomshed: but Artayctes seeing the miracle, said to the man, ‘Athenian stranger, fear not this miracle, for it has not been exhibited for thee. This has reference to me. Protesilaus himself is in these fishes: he has also said to me, “I am able to punish thee, O Artayctes, on account of the wealth (that thou hast) taken away.” Now therefore I am willing to restore to him his wealth. I shall give a hundred talents in return for the money stolen from the temple of Protesilaus; for myself and my sons I shall pay two hundred talents to the Athenians.’

33.Not even in this way was he able to persuade Xanthippus, the general of the Athenians; for the men of Elaeus kept urging him, saying, ‘Thou must slay Artayctes’; and Xanthippus himself desired to kill him. And so (they) lashed (him) to a cross (and) lifted him up on high; and his son perished before his eyes, overwhelmed with stones. In such a manner as this the avenging curses of Protesilaus punished Artayctes.  

34.Spartan boys do not groan when torn with whips. At Sparta youths fight with their fists, feet, nails, even with their teeth, and prefer being killed to being conquered. A Spartan boy is even said to have hidden a fox in the bosom of his garment, and to have been killed by the teeth of the beast, without uttering (lit. neither to have uttered) a murmur: for to steal anything without being caught (lit secretly) was held to be glorious among the Spartans; but to be caught (was held) most disgraceful.