“Yes, yes, my friend; and did not think even then, that I had paid too dearly for the experience that gold can make fools even of clever men.”

“You were the most generous of monarchs,” cried Phanes.

“And make a tolerably contented beggar,” answered Croesus.  “But tell me, Phryxus, how much has Amasis contributed to your collection?”

“He gave fifty tons of alum.”

“A royal gift!”

“And the prince Psamtik?”

“On my appealing to him by his father’s munificence, he turned his back on me, and answered with a bitter laugh:  ’Collect money for the destruction of your temple, and I am ready to double my father’s donation!’”

“The wretch!”

“Say rather:  the true Egyptian! to Psamtik everything foreign is an abomination.”

“How much have the Greeks in Naukratis contributed?”

“Beside munificent private donations, each community has given twenty minae.”

“That is much.”

“Philoinus, the Sybarite, alone sent me a thousand drachmm,” and accompanied his gift with a most singular epistle.  May I read it aloud, Rhodopis?”

“Certainly,” answered she, “it will show you that the drunkard has repented of his late behaviour.”

The Delphian began:  “Philoinus to Phryxus:  It grieves me that at Rhodopis’ house the other night I did not drink more; for had I done so I should have lost consciousness entirely, and so have been unable to offend even the smallest insect.  My confounded abstemiousness is therefore to blame, that I can no longer enjoy a place at the best table in all Egypt.  I am thankful, however, to Rhodopis for past enjoyment, and in memory of her glorious roastbeef (which has bred in me the wish to buy her cook at any price) I send twelve large spits for roasting oxen,—­[Rhodopis is said to have sent such a gift to Delphi.  Herod.]—­and beg they may be placed in some treasure-house at Delphi as an offering from Rhodopis.  As for myself, being a rich man, I sign my name for a thousand drachmae, and beg that my gift may be publicly announced at the next Pythian games.  To that rude fellow, Aristomachus of Sparta, express my thanks for the effectual manner in which he fulfilled my intention in coming to Egypt.  I came hither for the purpose of having a tooth extracted by an Egyptian dentist said to take out teeth without causing much pain.

   [The Egyptian dentists must have been very skilful.  Artificial
   teeth have been discovered in the jaws of mummies.  See Blumenbach
   on the teeth of the ancient Egyptians, and on mummies.]

Aristomachus, however, knocked out the defective tooth and so saved me from an operation, the thought of which had often made me tremble.  On recovering consciousness, I found that three teeth had been knocked into my mouth, the diseased one and two others, which though healthy, would probably at some future time have caused me pain.  Salute Rhodopis and the handsome Phanes from me.  You I invite to an entertainment at my house in Sybaris, this day year.  We are accustomed to issue invitations somewhat early, on account of my necessary preparations.  I have caused this epistle to be written by my slave Sophotatus in an adjoining chamber, as merely to behold the labor of writing causes cramp in my fingers.”