Page:The battle of the books - Guthkelch - 1908.djvu/321

Rh that translated them. "The letters," he says, "do not imply that there was any extraordinary dearness between Stesichorus and Phalaris; there's no proof from them, that Stesichorus loved him; his friendship was desired, and he only out of prudence did not stand off." This is spoken with a good measure of assurance; let us see with what measure of truth. The tyrant declares, that though he gave Stesichorus twelve years of life, yet still he was in debt to him; for he alone of all mortals gave him courage, and taught him to despise death; and that for the sake of Stesichorus, he's ready to encounter certain destruction. And the fame of Phalaris's kindness to him was so great, that the Tauromenites applied to Stesichorus to intercede with the tyrant, that he would remit the price of their captives. Stesichorus dies before he could do it for them; but he leaves it in command to his daughters to ask that favour in his name. The tyrant upon the first notice of the request immediately returns the money, with this protestation, that he would not only do that for his sake,, but any thing else, though 'twere more than impossible. And yet it appears, from another letter, that