I. Phalaris to Alcibes .

POlycletes of Messina , whom thou hast falsly accused of Treason to thy fellow Citizens , hath delivered mee from a dis●ase , thought incurable . I know this newes will cause in thee a most extreame griefe ; from whence I conclude , that neither Aesculapius , the Prince of Physitians , nor all the other gods , can ever cure thee : for although , Art may finde a remedy unto the infirmity of the body ; Yet the malice of the minde is not to bee cured , but by death ; which shall be grievous and cruell unto thee , for those great wickednesses , which thou hast committed most wilfully , and not by constraint , as I doe mine .

II . To the Megarians .

I Doe not complaine , that like ungratefull persons ; In the difference which was betweene me and my neighbours about bounds , you testified falsly : But I accuse my ignorance ; that having received many injuries from you , I was so foolish , as alwayes to shew you good will and liberality , though I found you still forgetfull of good turnes .

III . To Thirsenes .

IF it bee most assured , that those , who constrained by necessitie , commit wicked Acts against reason and their duty , must expect grievous punishment ; as thou didst maintaine before the counsell of Egestines when thou didst ascribe my acts unto the divine providence ; What oughtst thou to hope for , who voluntarily and out of precogitated malice , givest thy selfe to all iniquities ?

IV . To Licinius .

IF I had beene present , to have answered thee , when in the assembly of the Leontines , thou demandedst , what I was , from whence I came , and who were my Parents ? Thou wouldst not have committed so much folly as thou didst : For as I am knowne to be Phalaris , the sonne of Laodamantus , borne in Astipalesus , banished from my Country , a Tyrant in Agrigentum , expert in many things , and unto this instant of an unvincible courage : So cleane contrary , I know Licinius to be lascivious with children , a buggerer with young men , an adulterer with women , rash in judgement , incontinent in his pleasures : a sluggard in Peace , and a cowardly runne-away in warre . To conclude , thou art he , who for thy foolish prating of me , and for the wickednesses and basenesse whereof I doe reprehend thee , shalt bee punished by mee , if not suddainely , yet at the length , when the Leontines wearied with the warre , which I shall make upon them , deliver thee a prisoner into my hands .

V. To the Leontines .

IF you desire the warre , which I make upon you , should bee forborne , and that you should have no more feare , give me Licinius , that powring upon him all my wrath , I may lay by the displeasure which I have conceaved against your Citie , and bee you assured , I will inflict no greater punishment , than I know all of you desire should light upon him .

VI . To Zeusibus .

ALthough thou and thy Son have committed faults which deserve no pardon , yet I pardon thee for thy Age , and him for his youth ; But if hereafter , you correct not your rash arrogance , nor thou for thy Age , nor hee for his Youth shall bee spared ; but for the same cause that now I thinke you worthy of pardon , shall you then bee grievously punished .

VII . To Eveno .

AT the first I concluded to put thy sonne ( whom I have prisoner ) to death , and thereby to punish the injuries which hee did unto the Captaines of my army ; but sithence I am minded to let him live , for I had rather the wickednesse of his life should bee a continuall hell unto thee , than that his death should bring thee to thy grave .

VIII . To Sameas .

BEcause I know the goodnesse of thy manners , the sweetnesse of thy nature , and thy great humanity towards all men , and how compassionately and courteously , thou doest esteeme thy neighbours felicity to be thy owne proper misfortune , and griefe ; I doe briefly send thee word , that I have obtained the victory both by Sea , and Land , and finally vanquished the horse . And I doe it , that by this newes thou mayst have perpetuall griefe . For it is very fitting , that a man of thy benigne and loving nature , shold be tormented with paines agreeable to thy malicious disposition .

IX . To Cleostratus .

IT seemes unto mee ridiculous , that any man should become better by thy remonstrances : for he that would chastise another , should be free from all vice himself ; yet although thou ●… rt tainted with the same wickednesse , which thou reprehendest in another , and with many more , yet blamest them no other wayes , then as if thou wert without fault .

X. To Lacrites .

ALthough thou doest apprehend the death of thy Son with great sorrow , and inelancholy , yet art thou to bee excused ; for in good faith , I have so great a feeling of it , that if I were of thy family , I could not bee more truely grieved ; although I am naturally firme against such accidents , well knowing that beyond measure to bee troubled with griefe , bringeth many inconveniences and los●es . Let it therefore bee a comfort unto thee in thy adversity , that hee died in battayle , fighting valiantly for his Country ; and that together with victory , his destiny gave him an honourable end : so that having lived without blemish , his death served for a marke of his vertue . Neither is it certaine , that hee , which is now an honest man , may not be altered with time ; wee often seeing , that fortune is victorious , over the counsells and resolutions of men . From whence I conclude , that hee who departeth this world without blame , ought to bee placed amongst those of highest praise . Perswade thy selfe then , that hee hath repaied thee with gratefulnesse , for thy begetting and nourishing him : and that thou shalt much more augment it , if with temperance and a firme resolution thou doest patiently beare the sorrow , which thou conceavest by his losse .

XI . To Megacles .

I have sent thee horses fit for the Warre , with commandement to Teucreus , that hee should furnish thee with mony . Feare not to let me know what it is thou hast neede of : For thou canst not aske mee the thing ( how great soever ) which I will not most willingly send thee .

XII . To Aglas .

THe treasures which GOD hath given mee , against all changes of fortune , I have not laid them in the bowels of the earth , ( as thou didst advise me ) but in the bosome of my friends , who have not disdained my presents , as thou hast done ; who hitherto hast shewed thy selfe so un-courteous unto me , that if I were put from my principallity , I could not expect helpe from thy friendship ; I therefore pray thee , henceforth , refuse them no more , but accept the present , which I send thee ; If not as thy owne , yet as deposited , and to keepe it for me : herein thou shalt doe the part of a friend ; otherwayes it is not possible for mee to be assured in any part of the world , leaving behinde mee , more unstable then the dust , the best of my friends ; who if they prosper , though I bee otherwayes afflicted , yet would I account my selfe no lesse happy .

XIII . To Emuellus .

SEeing it is not unjust , for a man to revenge himselfe of one who hath injured him , thou who hast first injured mee , expect the like from me .

XIIII . To Erodicus .

HEE that is injured doth seldome threaten revenge , because the offendor may not be in Iealousy , and consequently upon his guard . But I thinke it not the part of a valiant man to assayle another unawares : for which cause , I give thee warning , that having injured mee , thou takest heed of my revenge , which will fall upon thee ; and I doe it the rather , that thou mayest have double punishment ; first the feare of the punishment , then the torment it selfe .

XV . To Ariphetus .

THy actions are commendable , and worthy of recompence which I have sent thee , and will send thee greater . But I pray thee forbeare inquiring of my affaires ; for it is best for me , to have them kept secret .

XVI . To Amphionomus .

WHen I send presents unto honest men , I doe not thinke that I doe them a favour ; but rather , that they doe mee a pleasure in receaving them . Wherefore , in that thou hast vouchsafed to accept of what I sent thee , I doe not think I have bin gracious to thee , but that thou hast done me a singular pleasure .

XVII . To Erithea his Wife .

I know well ( my Love ) that I am obliged unto thee , both for my selfe and our Sonne , whom I have left with thee ; for my selfe , in that I being banished from my Country , thou hadst rather continue a widdow than marry againe , although thou wert sued unto by many . For my Sonne , in that thou art his Father his Mother and his Nurse ; Neither hast thou taken any other Husband than Phalaris , nor willing to have any other Sonne but Paurolas , contenting thy selfe with thy first husband in stead of a second , and instead of another Son , hast rather taken care to bring up him , which was begotten by me : Persevere then , and perfect that loving worke , which thou hast freely begun , both for the father and the Son , untill hee may neither neede father nor mother . I speake this out of great affection ; not that I distrust the mother , or that I doe not know her most singularly care full of him , but as a father who having but one Son , is in great care for him , as in truth I am ; If then by this my affection , thou doest consider the Fathers heart unto his Son , thou wilt excuse mee for writing unto thee of him with so much tender passion . Farewell .

XVIII . To Paurolas the Sonne .

SOnne , thou oughtest truly to love thy Father and thy Mother , and beare great reverence unto them ; for it is both honest and just , that the child should remember those who have begotten and borne him , and who have done him so many favours . Yet if thou wert constrained to quite thy filiall duty unto one of the twaine , it were fitter thou shouldest forsake thy Father than thy Mother ; for in bringing forth , and breeding children , the fathers paine , and trouble is not comparable unto the Mothers , who , in conceaving , bringing forth , and nourishing them unto a competent age , doe undergoe infinite sicknesses , travels and labours . And when the child is brought up , the Father , who hath taken little or no care for him , hopes to receave no lesse fruit thereof than the mother . Now in thy case , in regard of my banishment , thy mother hath suffered more for thee then most women have done for their children : For shee alone hath undergone all the care which wee both ought to have done . Render then unto her alone all those duties wherein thou art obliged to us both , since she alone hath hath had all the vexation . And by shewing dutifull love unto her , thou shalt discharge whatsoever thou owest to me : neither will I , in respect of my selfe , require any more from thee , but rather freely confesse , that I have receaved many pious offices from thee , for it is reasonable , if thou doest acknowledge so many benefits from thy mother , that thou shouldest have great thankes of thy father .

XIX . To the same .

ALL that a Father can reasonably doe for his Son , I have done for thee Paurolas ; If thou , in like manner , dost not render unto thy father the duty wherein thou art bounde , thou committest a great fault . I write this , because thou makest little account of good learning , for which I have often reprehended thee . If now thou any more despisest it , I will never hereafter request any thing at thy hands ; for most assuredly know , that if thou doest mee this pleasure , the great profit which will arise thereby , will not accrew to him , who makes the request , but to him who shall yeeld unto it .

XX . To Erithea .

IF thou darest not send Paurolas to Agrigent , because I live there tyranically ; I pardon thee as a woman , and a Mother , who feareth that her onely Son should be in any danger . But if thou thinkest that thou alone oughtest to injoy him , as if thou alone hadst begotten him without mee , thou doest not truly judge of the generative cause ; for it is already decided by strict reason , that the Son doth belong rather to the father than to the mother . Yet by a more benevolent respect , he is equally from them both . But if thou thinkest , that in suffering the Sonne to remaine a little while with the father ; the interest , which thou hast in him may be diminished . Iudge with thy selfe , what he may thinke , who hath not at all participated in the pleasure of having him . Make us equall partakers in him by sending him to me , hee shall in short time returne unto thee with all things fitting for Phalaris and Eritheas Sonne ; to the end that if not with me , yet without me , you may live together in plenty and aboundance . For what man will desire to inrich himselfe for his friends , without any care of his Wife , or Son . Truly as it becommeth a carefull and loving father , I am determined to lay out for you , a great part of the riches , and wealth which I possesse , having nothing in so deare esteeme as you two . And this I will doe , within short time , for many reasons , but chiefely in respect of my Age and of my late sicknesse , which maketh me say ; that I am a man to be every houre reduced to the last point of his life . Send mee then our Paurolas without delay ; the Love of his Father being able to bring him from Candy to Agrigentum , with more surety , and so againe to returne him to thee , then all the feares and doubts which his mother makes , can doe .

XXI . To Paurolas .

I Have receaved the Crowne which thou hast sent mee , weighing six hundred crownes of gold , and I have willingly accepted it , as well in respect of thy good fortune , as to doe honour unto his liberality , from whom I received it ; I onely wore it upon that day we sacrificed unto the gods of our country , for our victory obtained against the Leontines , afterwards I sent it to thy mother , not knowing any person more worthy of so precious a gift . But this would bee a Crowne more beautifull and more honourable unto us to see thee exercise thy selfe in things worthy the desire of thy Parents .

XXII . To Him .

WHen I was in Hymera , about some necessary occasions , Stesicorus his daughters sung some poesies unto me ; some of them made by their Father , the rest by the little maides . It is true , that their verses ought to give place to their fathers : But if theirs had bin compared with any of the other Poets , they would have appeared much more elegant . For this cause I think him happy , having taught them so well , and them more happy , considering their tender youth , to have attained unto so great learning beyond the course of nature ; And thou Paurolas exercisest thy body in armes , in hunting , and in other labours , leaving thy mind , ( which principally thou oughtest to exercise ) untilled and unseeded with Greeke , or other good learning . It is true that care must bee had of the body , both for health , and to fortify the members , although it bee not exercised in combating in the publike and sacred agonall sports : But he which studieth to live in cheefe dignity of a Common-wealth , must diligently indeavour to furnish his minde with good manners . It may be thou desirest to make thy selfe a Tyrant , as justly due unto thee ; and for this cause thou nourishest the strength of thy body , beleeving , that the forces of the body are necessary to maintaine a principality . If this bee thy opinion ; I desire rather thou wouldest bee wise , and take advice , from him who repenteth that ever he was a Tyrant , and continueth this life by constraint and not willingly . For he who hath tryed what it is to bee a Tyrant , had rather bee a Tyrants subject , then one himselfe , being so freed from all inconveniency but the feare of the Tyrant , whereas a Tyrant is not alone in feare of those who being a farre of , lay wait for him , but his greatest misery is , that he is in continuall feare of those who have the guard of his body . For this cause I pray thee , taking my counsell , shew thy selfe just and courteous to all , and leave the desire of a kingdome ( full of continuall feares and dangers unto thy enemies and their children . Yet , if out of thy small experience , and out of thy youth , thou perswadest thy selfe , that a Tyranny is a pleasant and glorious thing and not a wretched fortune , thou doest abuse thy selfe out of ignorance . Pray therefore the gods , that thou never prove this estate .

XXIII . To the Camarians .

I Have sent unto the Gellians , and unto the Leontines , and doe thinke good to write unto you , that you would assemble not armes , horses nor men , whereof you say your Citie is unfurnished , but good store of money . So soone as the Leontines had receaved my message they sent mee five Talents , and the Gellians have promised mee tenne . And I may in reason thinke , that you will not bee slower than the Leontines , nor lesse liberall than the Gellians .

XXIV . To the Leontines .

LEonidas whom you sent as a spy , hath beene by me apprehended , and being in my power to put him to death ; I have delivered him , and sent him unto you , that you may be no longer in trouble to know , what preparations . I have towards the Warre , which I intend to make upon you ; For he in like manner did freely and without constraint declare your whole enterprise : telling mee that you were poore in all things , but of feare and famine ; In which two , he hath by oath assured me , you abound .

XXV . To Ierosme .

THou demandest , how I can hope to vanquish the Leontines , who have committed many unsufferable insolencies in the land , which they have taken from mee . I will not tell thee , that I have a Iuster cause than they , and that I am not the beginner of the Warre , but a defender of my selfe : for these are not reasons which doe at any time prevaile with thee : But I will boldly say ( although you Leontines make little account thereof ; ) I am assured to vanquish you , by force of armes , by strength and valiant men , with money , Shippes , and Horses : whereof you are in want ; yet fight against an enemy who in all these things , as also in good fortune is , most rich .

XXVI . To Nicophemes .

THou sayedst in the counsell of the Leontines , those whom I put to death suffered miserable torment ; and that I punished them onely because they were on the contrary side . But thou doest not observe , that the example of their miserable death maketh the Leontines more slow to undertake the Warre , which thou by all meanes doest labour to have them make ; telling them , that to offer an injury against such an effeminat enemy as I am , is alone sufficient to obtaine the victory . Surely it cannot bee , that hee should be hated for his cruelty , who is taxed for his over much delicacy ; yet if thy talkativenesse bringeth thy desire to effect , know that I doe not envy thee ; neither will I disswade thee from making the greatest resistance thou canst .

XXVII . To Tymonatus .

I Have conquered the Leontines in Warre : But that thou mayest bee able to support the griefe , and not kill thy selfe at an instant by hearing a relation at once of the whole successe , I was not willing to advertise thee of all that happened , nor how in the end I vanquished the Tauromenitans , and the Tancleans , who were their confederates : neither was I willing to let thee know that I delivered all the prisoners , having receaved for them a hundred talents . Fearing least , if I should advertise thee of all my happy successes , thou shouldest dye out of griefe , and I thereby , accounted causelesly the Author of thy death .

XXVII . To Pythagoras .

IT seemes that Phalaris his tyranny , is utterly opposite unto Pythagoras his philosophy : yet if experience were had ; nothing could keepe us from proving our selves : for continuall frequenting together may bring into the same state things , which doe much differ . That which I have heard of thy acts , makes mee beleeve thou art a good man ; neither would I have thee passe thy sentence against me without tryall . And the false opinion which men have conceaved against mee , doth so much wound me ; that I cannot with suerty goe to thee , being accused of tyranny : For if I goe disarmed and without my guard , I may easily bee taken ; and if with great multitude , suspition will bee had of me . But thou being free from all danger , maist come without feare and prove me ; then if thou doest consider me as a Tyrant , thou shalt finde me rather a private man , and if thou doest behold me as a private man , thou wilt know that I hold something of a Tyrant , although by constrainte ; for it is impossible to preserve such an estate without cruelty . Now if goodnesse can bee in surety with Tyranny , I desire for many reasons to bee with thee ; for being under thy guiding ( if truth , together with Pythagoras his opinion , to whom I will give faith , doe promise me safety ) I will indeavour to walke in a more delightfull way then I have done .

XXIX . To Torax .

I Doe not know , whether I should accuse my selfe , for writing obscurely unto thee , or thee , who out of malice wilt not understand me : yet know thus much that by our account thou art indebted unto mee twenty thousand frankes . If thou art willing to have it told more cleerely ; Stay but a while , and I will shew it unto thee : in another manner then willingly thou wouldst know .

XXX . To Ariphades .

THe ignorance , and rashnesse of youth , hath ruined an infinite number of men ; now I defire thou shouldest know , that thy Son is violently possest with these two evills . And although through them he hath done mee many and great injuries ; yet I have with-held my revenge , not out of any love to him , but to doe thee a pleasure ; many having assured me of thy incredible goodnesse ; wherefore I could never consent , that the Sonnes malice should bring sorrow and heavy trouble to the innocent age of the Father . It being to be presumed , that thou having but one Sonne , how wicked so ever hee bee , canst not forbeare to love him ; I also consider , that his death , will determine thy succession , and that the love unto a father ought to surmounte the sonnes malice . Yet if hereafter hee doe not forbeare his rash insolences , obeying thy commands and my remonstrances ; let him be assured to receave punishment for his rebellion against us both ; and because he shall not pretend ignorance herein , when he shall bee taken in fault , heaping offence upon offence , I doe let thee know , that what I write unto thee , I have sent unto him .

XXXI . To Nicenetes .

IT may bee thou perswadest thy selfe , that what I have written to thy father , to divert thee from committing such follyes , hath beene out of feare of thee ; If there were no other cause , there would be no occasion for my writing now ; but I heare thy father is a modest honest man ; and that he hath no other Sonne but thy selfe , which hath moved me to compassion : So that pardoning thee , whose ignorant youth is too too rash , I have beene hitherto patient . Yet thou art without pitty or care of thy father , who having attained unto an Old age , is now in danger for his Sonne . And besides thou without any providence continuest in thy rashnesse . It may be this happeneth because thou hast not beene chastened by me ; or that thou thinkest to be able to retire thy selfe at thy pleasure , which many more mighty then thou art , have not beene able to doe . Whatsoever it bee , which hath moved thee heretofore ; choice being given , now take the most profitable , and have a care thou doest not imitate Timander , but follow rather the counsell of a profitable enemy ; then of a pernitious friend .

XXXII . To Antimagnus .

IF thou canst pay mee that which thou hast borrowed and doest it not , thou art wilfully wicked ; but if thou hast not wherewith to pay , yet thou doest mee wrong . And because a fault committed against ones will , is worthy of pardon in their mindes , who doe iudge with humanity ; know that the pardon which I give thee , is only to prolong the payment , not that I despaire of recovering what I have lent .

XXXIII . To Aristomenes .

ALthough thy compassion and love bee most pleasing unto me , yet I intreate thee not to be troubled or grieved at my wounds ; for so farre am I from apprehending them ( although they were almost to death , ) that against the opinion of the vulgar , unto whom death is odious and terrible , I would rather die in Warre , and hasten my end appointed by the good gods ; then that they should grant me longer life than ordinary . For what can bee more acceptable to a noble man than to lose his life in fighting for vertue and victory .

XXXIIII . To Xenopithes .

THe vile and slanderous opinions , which are held of me doe not trouble me ; because if I doe evill I am constrained thereunto by necessity , which admitteth of no law ; whereas others commit wickednesse naturally . Wee differ also , in that I being a Tyrant , confesse my fault having power and liberty ; whereas you , of a private condition , dare not confesse what you doe , fearing the rigor of the Law .

XXXV . To the Cataneans .

WHen some of your Citizens were brought prisoners unto mee , and not one of a hundred hoping of life ; I delivered them , because I saw you carelesse of them : not that I would have you thinke , I have forgotten my hatred towards you , ( for I should want of my wit ; if my revenge should bee lesse than my anger ) but to the end , that when you shall have suffered sufficiently , deserved punishment , the greatnesse of your misery may bring to your memory , the evills which you have committed .

XXXVI . To the same .

YOu ( it may bee ) thinke you have suffered too much , for those injuries , which you did unto me and mine , because that for thirtie of my men which you have cruelly burned , you have lost five hundred men at armes , and in stead of seaven talents which you stole from me , you are deprived of great riches by my meanes : But I would have you know ; that what you have hitherto suffered , is but a beginning to what you shall suffer . So that you shall bee ashamed to confesse , the harmes which you have receaved through my meanes , ayde , and succour . Neither then , so long as that providence , which governeth the world , shall maintaine it in the harmony wherein it is , will I leave the hatred , which I beare you . Neither shall the Warre , which I shall make against you , be to vindicate my selfe , but the gods also , who have power to maintaine and ruine all things . For as all the other elements doe participate of the fatall divinity , so also doth the fire of Aetna : Into which most iniquusly casting my innocent men , you have not onely made Phalaris your enemy , but the Sun also who seeth all things .

XXXVII . To Chritophemes .

THou , and all those , who excessively praise me , witnessing my force , and perswading your selves that the Leontines have beene conquered by my counsell and labour , doe the part of good friends ; because honour is a spurre unto vertue . And I may boldly affirme I have not beene wanting in any thing required in so great a worke : yet the desired victory proceedeth from the hand of fortune : for there is nothing , how great or small soever in all humane acts , which is not confirmed by her ayde and favour .

XXXVIII . To Polygnotes .

I Will henceforward forbeare , either writing or offering any thing unto thee , to the end , thou maist leave those praises , with which thou doest indeavour to honour mee amongst men . For in effect thou doest blame me , in refusing my presents , and valuest me only in words . Knowest not thou that ●mongst men of wisedome , ●ords are but esteemed the sha●●ow of the thing ?

XXXIX . To Axiognes .

IT is not amisse to glorifie ones selfe of his Nobility , as of any other good ; yet I know no other Nobility than vertue . All other things hold of fortune : And in truth he who is a vertuous man , although hee be descended of base Parents , is more noble , then hee who is a King , or then all others . So contrary , he who is descended of a most antient stocke and of most high lineage , and a vitious person , is more ignoble than any other , who is vertuous , in how base or low a degree soever hee live . For this cause , amongst the Siracusans doe thou commend the vertue of the mind , and not the nobility of the dead , which is lost by ignoble successors .

XL . To Demoteles .

I Excuse the remonstrances which thou hast made unto mee , in that thou having never beene a Tyrant perswadest mee to leave my Tyranny , without fortifying thy reasons with the authority of some god , to whom I might rather have given credit than unto thee ; who wouldst be accounted the onely wise and assured counsellor in a matter of so great importance : yet doest not know that in the giving over such a principality , there is more danger than in the acquiring thereof ; for as unto a private man , it is better not to become a Tyrant ; So he , who is one , doth much better to keepe and maintaine the estate than to leave it . In briefe the same consideration ought to be had of a Tyranny , as is usually had of the birth and life of a man . For if it were possible for man to know before hee were borne into how many misfortunes and mischiefes hee should fall during his life , without doubt hee would never bee borne . So if a private man aspiring to a Tyranny , should first understand , what , and how many calamities are accompanying , he would rather choose a private life . Thus I know Demoteles , that not to be borne , is better than to bee borne , and a private life is better than a Tyranny ; If before I had beene possest of the Tyranny , thou hadst given me this counsell , declaring unto me the qualities of the evills thereof , assure thy selfe I would have obeyed thee ; but being a Tyrant , and constrained thereby to commit an infinite number of evills , so far is it from the power of any man ; that none of the gods can perswade me to leave the arme of a Tyrant . For I know well , that in leaving it I should bee forced to suffer infinite and most grievous torments , and in the end a miserable and shamefull death by their hands , over whom , I have tyrannically ruled .

XLI . To Epicarmes .

I Doe firmely beleeve , that thy counsell and Demotelesis , who perswade me to give over this Tyranny doth not proceed from any hatred towards mee , but from the small experience which you have in the world , because , one may desire the possession of a Tyranny ; but not the quitting thereof , in respect of many unjust acts , therein committed . For it is not unlike to an Archer , when he hath losed his arrow , he hath no power to stay it . But if you can bring to passe ; that I never had exercised Tyranny , doe it and I will beleeve you . Yet it is more difficult for your remonstrances to doe me good .

LII . Vnto the same .

THou who thinkest me just , art alone a sufficient testimony for me ; though no man give faith unto thy words : because I repute a man of thy integritie to be a rule and law unto all Sicilie , and the sottish multitude I have alwayes esteemed as an empty vessell . Of which multitude to be accounted evill , and worse than we are , is a thing ( it may bee ) of no small profit . Yet there are many like thee , whose vertue and not their number I take into consideration ; which have concurred with thy opinion of me . But if thou wert alone it is testimony sufficient , neither have I need of others .

XLIII . To Hipolicion .

I Have permitted thee to come safely unto mee , without giving thee any safe conduct by oath ; for I would in this , that my honesty should serve . But if thou doest not trust me , thou doest me an injury , greater than that , for which thou wert accused unto me ; because thou art assured , for any cause what ever , I have never broken my faith , and notwithstanding my permission , thou demandest a safe conduct , as if thou didst distrust me ; I pray thee tell mee , in true religion , what difference is there betweene breach of a promise and breach of an oath ; the minde only being that , which ought to confirme both .

XLIV . To Polytimon .

IF in judging my manners , by thy evill conditions , thou doest distrust me ; thou doest not accuse my malice , rather thy prudence ; but if thou accusest me by my owne manners , thou art in a great error , not truly knowing me . For I am so farre from breaking my faith , that measuring another mans heart by mine ; and trusting in another , more than I ought : presuming he had beene faithfull , I have beene deceaved . Come then upon my assurance , without doubting of fraud or deceit ; then mayst thou witnesse that Phalaris doth faithfully keepe his promise .

XLV . To Nicias .

THou hatest thy Sonne , because he approveth not thy manners ; and for this cause he is esteemed and beloved of all others . Be thou therefore assured , that all those who love him , hate thee .

XLVI . To Adimates .

I Heare thou debatest with thy brother , which of you two is the veriest Villan ; by that which I have heard from thee of him , and from him of thee . I doe verily beleeve , and hold it for a firme truth ; that hee is as bad as any , and that none is worse than thy selfe .

XLVII . To the Egestines .

TAke heede you doe not receave those whom I have banished ; for never man exceeded Phalaris in retribution of good turnes , nor in revenging of Injuries . You may discerne something to this purpose , if you consider the Leontines and the Melitines ; for wee have beene the cause of liberty unto the last , and of servitude unto the first : the Leontines drowned my Galley ; and the Melitines indeavoured to save it .

XLVIII . To Antisthenes and to Theotine .

OF the presents which I sent , Antisthenes hath receaved a part , but Theotine would not take any ; wherein I am to thanke one , but not to complaine of the other ; for he who receaved , did not despise my good will ; and he who refused did me no harme .

XLIX . To Menecles .

IF thou wouldest bee thought free from thy fathers vices , doe not repent that thou art become good : other wayes thou wilt lose the good opinion which the Cammarians have of thee ; who will beleeve that thou art not truly good , but that thou counterfeitest , and art only a time-server .

L. To Epistrates .

THou writest unto me , as if I were a most fortunate and happy man : But I will briefly tell thee my estate ; In my infancy I was deprived of my father and mother . In my youth ( by my misfortune ) banished from my Country and lost the greatest part of my estate ; I was taught by Barbarous people : And to avoide injuries , I was driven to flye from all places ; where I was not onely assayled by my enemies , but by those also to whom I had done pleasure . Last of all having attained to a Tyranny , I hate a Tyrannicall life . If this may be called happinesse ; truely I am happy .