Mnesippos Then let Zeus, the God of Friendship, witness that all I shall tell you I speak
either of my own knowledge or having learned
from others, with all the exactitude in my power,
and adding nothing of my own to the story. 
[His first story celebrates the friendship of
Agathokles of Samos for Deinias of Ephesos.
Deinias was a very rich young man, who was
surrounded by evil companions, and soon wasted
his whole substance in riotous living. Thereupon Agathokles, a man of moderate means and
his friend from childhood, whose good advice
had made him insupportable in the heyday of
Deinias's prosperity, sold the house of his fathers
and handed over the proceeds to his friend. Deinias finally killed two persons in a disgraceful


 


embroglio, and was sentenced to transportation
for life to one of the Cyclades. Agathokles accompanied him into exile, tended him through a
long illness, and after his death continued to
live in the island to be near the grave of his
friend.]