After this he kept him company, caring for
him and serving him in every way. He hired
himself to the merchants at the docks from daybreak till noon, and earned a good wage as a
stevedore. Then, leaving his work, he handed
over part of his earnings to the jailer, whom
he thus rendered gentle and peaceable, and the
rest sufficed him for his friend's maintenance.
Through the day he used to stay with Antiphilos,



 



cheering him up; but when night fell he would
rest close by the door on a little bed he had
made, with leaves thrown on it.
Some time, then, they passed in this way, Demetrios being free of entry and Antiphilos finding his misfortunes easier to bear. But after a
certain robber died in the prison, apparently of
poison, a strict guard was instituted, and no permissions whatever were granted to those who
asked to visit the prison. In these circumstances
Demetrios was in despair and grief, and, having
no other means of being near his friend, he went
to the governor and denounced himself as having a share in the undertaking against Anoubis.
At this statement he was forthwith taken off to
prison and brought to Antiphilos, for by many
prayers to the jailer he contrived by his authority to be fastened next to his friend in the same
stocks. It was then he showed most plainly the
tenderness he had for him by disregarding his
own sufferings. And yet he fell ill himself, but
he suffered the less because his mind was bent
on securing rest for his friend. So they bore
their troubles lightly, being together. 
After a while an event happened, as follows,
which put an end to their misfortunes. One of
the prisoners provided himself with a file from
some source or other, and, with many of the captives for accomplices, sawed off the chain to which


 


they were fastened in a row, their wooden collars
being hung on it, and set them all free. They
had no difficulty in killing the guards, who were
few in number, and then scattered in all directions as each best could, most of them being taken
again afterwards. But Demetrios and Antiphilos
stayed on the spot, and even held Syros, who was
in the act of running off. When day broke and
the governor of Egypt heard what had happened,
he despatched men to pursue the runaways; but
sending for Demetrios and his friend he freed
them from their fetters, and praised them for having been the only ones who did not make off.
However, they were not the men to be satisfied
with this dismissal. On the contrary, Demetrios
cried aloud with indignation that it would be a
great injustice if they were to appear to be criminals who had been liberated out of pity or by
way of commendation for not having run away,
and finally he compelled the magistrate to make
a careful examination of the matter. When he
had informed himself of their innocence he dismissed them with eulogies, expressing great admiration for Demetrios in particular, and condoling with them on the punishment which they
had unjustly borne. He made them each a present out of his own pocket, two thousand dollars
to Antiphilos and twice as much to Demetrios. 
Antiphilos is still living in Egypt, but Demetrios


 



left his four thousand dollars also with him and
went off into Egypt among the Bramins, saying
only this to Antiphilos, that his conduct in leaving him so soon would surely be excusable; he
had no need of the money as long as he kept his
present character of being able to do with little,
and Antiphilos had no need of a friend now that
his affairs were going smoothly. Such are Grecian friends, Toxaris, and if you had not already
slandered us by saying that we pride ourselves
on our phrases, I should have related to you the
many noble arguments that Demetrios used in
court, not defending himself at all, but Antiphilos,
actually with tears and supplications, until Syros
was flogged into acquitting them both. 
My story, then, is told of this handful of good
and true friends out of the many that memory first
supplied me with, so I will now descend from
the post of orator and leave the floor to you.
But
you had better be careful to make your Scythians out no worse than these, but a good deal better, unless you want to lose your right hand. You
must speak up like a man, for it would be an
absurd experience for you if, after having praised
Orestes and Pylades like a professional orator,
you should prove an indifferent speaker in behalf
of the Scythians. Toxaris It is all very well that you spur me
on to speak! Don't you care whether you lose


 

your tongue by defeat in the contest? But I will
begin directly without any of your phrase-making; that is not our way in Scythia, particularly
when the deeds speak louder than the words
that tell of them. You need not expect me to
follow you in elaborating the praises of a hero
who married a plain wife without a dowry, or another who gave two thousand dollars as a wedding-present to a friend's daughter, or even one
who offered himself for imprisonment with the
certainty of a speedy release. For all these are
trifles, and not one of them calls for exertion or
courage.