I Won’t Bury My Treasure

Epistles of Phalaris, 12:

To Aglaos

I have stored up as much wealth as god has provided for the reversals of fortune not in the bosom of the earth, as you have suggested, but with those of my friends who wished to accept it as a gift. But you have not graced me by offering yourself enthusiastically to this plan to have some measure of hope in you who are my friends if I should ever lose my power. But indeed, though you have not done it now, take it and make the deed a kind of storing up which will guard our friendship. For I will not regard any part of the earth as trustworthy as I pass it if you, the greatest of my friends, are less sure and abiding than a handful of dust. But if you are doing well, even if I find myself wrapped up by a different fortune, I will in my vanquished state appear to be no less fortunate.

᾿Αγλάῳ.

     Τεθησαυρίκαμεν τοῦ πλούτου ὅσον παρέσχεν ὁ θεὸς εἰς μεταβολὰς τῆς τύχης οὐκ ἐν τοῖς κόλποις τῆς γῆς, ὡς παρῄνεις, ἀλλ’ εἰς τοὺς βουληθέντας τῶν φίλων τὰς δωρεὰς λαμβάνειν. σὺ δ’ οὐδ’ εἰς τοῦτο πρόθυμον ἡμῖν σεαυτὸν ἐχαρίσω, τὸ κατά γε ὑμᾶς τοὺς φίλους,κἂν ἀποσφαλῶμεν τῆς ἀρχῆς, ἔχεσθαι τῶν ἐλπίδων. οὐ μὴν ἀλλ’ εἰ καὶ μὴ πρότερον, νῦν γε λαβὼν ὡς παρακαταθήκην ἐμοὶ φυλαχθησομένην φίλου τι ποίησον ἔργον· πιστὸν γὰρ οὐδὲν ἡγησόμεθα γῆς μέρος παρελθόντες ὡς κόνεως ἀπιστοτέρους τοὺς ἐξ ὑμῶν τῶν ἑταίρων κρατίστους. ὧν εὐτυχούντων, κἂν αὐτὸς ἑτέρῳ συμπλακῶ δαίμονι, ἡσθεὶς οὐδὲν ἧττον εὐτυχεῖν δόξω.

Horses from the Tyrant’s Stable

Epistles of Phalaris, 11:

To Megacles

I have sent you some horses all outfitted for the competition, and I have ordered Teucrus to give you the money. If you need anything else, don’t hesitate to write. There can be no request so great that I will not be entirely delighted by if you only ask.

The significance of the horse in ancient Greece | It's All Greek

Μεγακλεῖ.

     Καὶ τοὺς ἵππους ἐκπέπομφά σοι κεκοσμημένους ἐπὶ τὸν ἀγῶνα καὶ τὰ χρήματα δοῦναι Τεύκρῳ προστέταχα. κἂν ἄλλου του δέῃ, μὴ κατόκνει γράφειν· οὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτως ἔσται μέγα τῶν αἰτημάτων, ὃ μὴ πάντως αἰτησαμένῳ χαριούμεθα.

A Lesson in Tyrannical Civility

Epistles of Phalaris, No. 11 – To Megacles:

“I have sent you some horses outfitted for the race, and I have ordered Teukros to give you money. If you should need anything else, don’t hesitate to write. There is no request so great that I would not gladly grant it to you.”

Image result for ancient greek race horse

Μεγακλεῖ.
Καὶ τοὺς ἵππους ἐκπέπομφά σοι κεκοσμημένους ἐπὶ τὸν ἀγῶνα καὶ τὰ χρήματα δοῦναι Τεύκρῳ προστέταχα. κἂν ἄλλου του δέῃ, μὴ κατόκνει γράφειν· οὐδὲν γὰρ οὕτως ἔσται μέγα τῶν αἰτημάτων, ὃ μὴ πάντως αἰτησαμένῳ χαριούμεθα.