Middletown transcript., 1870-08-06
DAMON AND PYTHIAS.

About one hundred years before Christ
lived Damon and Pythias, Pythagorean
Philosophers, who had gone from Athens
to Sicily on a pressing invitation of Dion
ysius, called the " "Tyrant of Syracuse" i"
in order to teach the rude inhabitants of
that fertile island the arts and sciences.
Falling under the displeasure of the ty-
rant, Damon was condemned to death and
the time for his execution appointed. An
xious to see his wife and children once
more before his execution, he asked the
King for permission to visit them. The
King answered: "What assurance do
you give me that you will return ?" 81
will give you my friend Pythias." said Da-
mon '' for security" The King asked
Pythias if he were willing to become the
bondsman of Damon, and to die in his
place, provided he did not return =? eyes,"
said Pythias, :" l will stand for him, and
if he is not here on the day appointed, l
will suffer death in his place p' "Well."
said the King, "this is strange; but Da-
mon you are at liberty to go and visit your
family, and if you do not return. as sup
pose you will not, justice will not lose her
victim"
Damon hurried home to embrace his
family and to communicate to them the
sad intelligence that, in few days, he
must return to Syracuse to suffer death.
When his wife learned the state of things
that he had violated no law; that he
was condemned by a mere whim of Dion
ysius, and that his friend, Pythias, had
become his bondsman, she insisted upon
his not returning. She reasoned with
him, and besought him by the affection he
bore to her and her children not to return.
But all her entreaties were in vain.
&" Would you have me to violate my sa-
cred pledge of honor to my friend Py-
thias 7" said he. No, no; would de-
spise myself in that caso-but shall re-
turn and relieve QUA friend and maintain
my honor, even at the expense of my o~n
life"
Damon remained at home, as we may
imagine, as long as he could. At length,
amid the sobs and tears of his wife and
children, he tore himself away from those
he loved. The execution was to take
place at noon, and as his progress was i'm
peded by bad roads and high waters, on
the day appointed he was still twenty
miles from Syracuse; but he rose early in
the morning, and as the sun was approach
ing the meridian, the spires of the city
were in view. fastening on, he found
large multitude gathered in front of the
prison. The tyrant was there, seated on
platform, tie witness the novelty of one
dying for another! The hour for execu-
tion had nearly expired. "Ah," says
the tyrant, "where is your friend Damon.
Did | not tell you that he would not re-
turn" But" says Pythias, " he will
return, if he is alive. know he will not
disappoint me. / know him and know he
would rather die than break his word"
The tyrant then looked at the sun-dial,
and it was just noon. Now, he said to
the executioner, proceed" Pythias
laid his head on the block, the axe was
raised, and its sharp edge cleaning in the
sunlight. When 10 there is a movement
in the crowd. Stop" says the tyrant,
till we see what this means" There
stood Damon, painting and covered with
dust He had come IN time. The tyrant
was so much struck with this proof of
friendship, that he pardoned them both,
and requested permission to join their fra
ternity. 1t is well known that popular
and widely extended society, the ''Knights
of Pytbias," is founded on this beautiful
incident -Ltttheran Observer.
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