Toxaris; Or, Friendship (23)

But the heirs to whom these things were bequeathed came as soon as they heard of it, and carried out the provisions of the will. Now, Charixenes died only five days. later, and Aretaios showed himself the best of heirs by assuming both his own share and the other's. He still supports Eudamidas's mother, and the daughter he gave in marriage not long

ago. Of his estate of five thousand dollars he gave two thousand with his own daughter and two thousand with the daughter of his friend, and deemed it right to celebrate both marriages on the same day. What do you think of Aretaios, Toxaris? Does he seem to you to furnish a bad example of friendship, inheriting such a legacy and not betraying his friend's bequest? Or shall our mature decision be to place him as one among the five?

Toxaris He, too, is a noble man. But I admire far more the confidence which Eudamidas placed in his friends. He showed that he, too, would have done likewise for them, even if the duty had not been left him by will, and would have been the first to come as the unappointed heir of such a legacy.