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Must Read. A Tale Of True Friendship. by boss096(m): 4:21pm On Aug 04, 2015 |
The words friendship and
friends are thrown around
rather loosely nowadays. Social
networks, like FaceBook, would
have us believe that an
acquaintance or a contact equals
a friendship. Consequently, new
generations are growing up with
this terminology and to them the
meaning of the word
“friendship” may be truly lost.
Friendship and love – these
words are sacred.
My son was watching an episode
from his Greek Mythology
cartoon DVD and it happened to
be the story of Damon and
Pythias. Sitting at my desk I could
hear it, and it brought a tear to
my eye.
This story, told by Aristoxenus,
Cicero and others, has been a
symbol for trust and loyalty in
true friendship. Read it and see
just how much we have
downsized and degraded the
meaning of that term…
Damon and Pythias had been
the best of friends since
childhood. Each trusted the other
like a brother, and each knew in
his heart there was nothing he
would not do for his friend.
Eventually the time came for
them to prove the depth of their
devotion. It happened this way.
Dionysius, the ruler of Syracuse,
grew annoyed when he heard
about the kind of speeches
Pythias was giving. The young
scholar was telling that no man
should have unlimited power
over another, and that absolute
tyrants were unjust kings. In a fit
of rage, Dionysius summoned
Pythias and his friend. ” Who do
you think you are, spreading
unrest among the people? ” he
demanded. ” I spread only the
truth, ” Pythias answered.. ”
There can be nothing wrong
with that.” “And does your truth
hold that kings have too much
power and that their laws are
not good for their subjects? ” ” If
the king has seized power
without permission of the
people, then that is what I say.”
” This kind of talk is treason, ”
Dionysius shouted. ” You are
conspiring to overthrow me.
Retract what you’ve said or face
the consequences.” ” I will
retract nothing, ” Pythias
answered. ” Then you will die. Do
you have any last requests? ” Yes,
Let me go home long enough to
say goodbye to my wife and
children and to put household in
order.” ” I see you not only think
I am unjust, you think I’m stupid
as well, ” Dionysius laughed
scornfully. ” If I let you leave
Syracuse, I have no doubt I will
never see you again.” ” I will give
you a pledge,” Pythias said ”
What kind of pledge could you
possibly give to make me think
you will ever return? ” Dionysius
demanded. At that instant
Damon, who had stood quietly
besides his friend, stepped
forward.. ” I will be his pledge, ”
he said. ” Keep me here in
Syracuse, as your prisoner, until
Pythias returns. Our friendship is
well known to you.You can be
sure Pythias will return so long
as you hold me.”
Dionysius studied the two
friends silently, ” Very well, ” he
said at last. ” ” But if you are
willing to take the place of your
friend, you must be willing to
accept his sentence if he breaks
his promise. If Pythias does not
return to Syracuse, you will have
to die in his place. ” He will keep
his word, ” Damon replied. ” I
have no doubt of that.” Pythias
was allowed to go free for a
time, and Damon was thrown
into prison. After several days,
when Pythias failed to reappear,
Dionysius’s curiosity got the
better of him, and he went to the
prison to see if Damon was yet
sorry he had made such a
bargain. ” Your time is almost up,
” the ruler of Syracuse sneered. ”
It will be useless to beg for
mercy. You are a fool to rely on
your friend’s promise. Did you
really think he would sacrifice his
life for you or anyone else? ” ” He
has merely been delayed, ”
Damon answered steadily. ” The
winds have kept him from
sailing, or perhaps he has met
with some accident on the road.
But if it is humanly possible, he
will be here on time. I am
confident of his virtue as I am of
my own existence. “
Dionysius was startled at the
prisoner’s confidence. ” We shall
soon see,” he said, and left
Damon in his cell. The fatal day
arrived. Damon was brought
from prison and led before the
executioner. Dionysius greeted
him with a smug smile. ” It
seems you friend has not turned
up, ” he laughed. ” What do you
think of him now? ” ” He is my
friend,” Damon answered. ” I
trust him. ” Even as he spoke, the
doors flew open, and Pythias
staggered into the room. He was
pale and bruised and half
speechless from exhaustion. He
rushed to the arms of his friend.
” You are safe, praise the gods,”
he gasped. ” It seemed as
though the fate was conspiring
against us. My ship was wrecked
in a storm, and then bandits
attacked me on the road. But I
refused to give up hope, and at
last I’ve made it back on time. I
am ready to receive my sentence
of death.”
Dionysius heard his word with
astonishment. His eyes and his
heart were opened. It was
impossible for his to resist the
power of such constancy. ” The
sentence is revoked,” he
declared. ” I’ve never believed
that such faith and loyalty could
exist in friendship. You have
shown me how wrong I was,
and it is only right that you be
rewarded with your freedom.
But I ask that in return you do
me one great service.” ” What
service do you mean? ” the
friends asked. ” Teach me how to
be part of so worthy a
friendship. “
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Re: Must Read. A Tale Of True Friendship. by Pierocash(m): 4:24pm On Aug 04, 2015 |
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