When Euthydikos, who happened to have his clothes off
in bed, heard it, he threw himself into the sea,
got hold of Damon, who had already given upall this could be seen from a distance in the
bright moonlight—and swam along with him,
helping to keep him above water. Those on the
ship were eager to help them and full of pity for
their fate, but they could no nothing, running before such a gale. One thing only was possible,
and that they did; they threw overboard for
them a great number of corks and some puntingpoles, so that they might swim on one of these if
they chanced on it; and finally they threw over
the companion - ladder bodily, which was a large
one.
Consider, now, in Heaven's name, what stronger proof of affection a man could give to his
friend who had fallen by night into such a wild


 


sea than to share his death! Pray, call before
your eyes the towering waves, the noise of the
broken water, the boiling foam, the night, the
despair; then that drowning man, hardly keeping his head above water, stretching out his hands
to his comrade, and the comrade leaping to him
instantly and swimming with him, fearful lest Damon should perish before him.
This is the way
to see that in Euthydikos, too, I have described
for you no unworthy friend.