The histories of Herodotus;

122-125] DEATH OF POLYCRATES 1 99
formed this design, sent a message to the following effect:
" Orcetes to Polycrates says as follows : I understand that
you are planning vast enterprises, and that you have not
money answerable to your projects. Now, if you will do as
I advise, you will promote your own success, and preserve
me; for King Cambyses meditates my death, and of this I
have certain information. Now, do you convey me and my
wealth out of the country, and take part of it, and suffer me
to enjoy the rest : by means of the wealth, you will become
master of all Greece. If you doubt what I say concerning
my riches, send to me the most trusty of your servants, to
whom I will show them." Polycrates, having heard this, was
delighted, and accepted the offer; and as he was very eager
for wealth, he first sent Maeandrius, son of Maeandrius, to
view it, a citizen who was his secretary : he not long after
dedicated to the Temple of Juno all the ornamental furniture
from the men's apartment of Polycrates, which was indeed
magnificent. Orcetes, having learned that an inspector might
be expected, did as follows : having filled eight chests with
stones, except a very small space round the brim, he put gold
on the surface of the stones, and having made the chests fast
with cords, he kept them in readiness. But Maeandrius, having
come and inspected the chests, took back a report to
Polycrates. He, though earnestly dissuaded by the oracles
and by his friends, resolved to go in person; and moreover,
though his daughter had seen in a dream this vision : she imagined
she saw her father elevated in the air, washed by Jupiter,
and anointed by the sun. Having seen this vision, she
endeavoured by all possible means to divert Polycrates from
going from home to Orcetes ; and as he was going on board
a fifty-oared galley, she persisted in uttering words of bad
omen. But he threatened her, if he should return safe, that
she should long continue unmarried ; and she prayed that so
it might be brought to pass ; for she chose to continue a longer
time unmarried than be deprived of her father. Thus Polycrates,
disregarding all advice, set sail to visit Orcetes, taking
with him many others of his friends, and among them Democedes,
son of Calliphon, a Crotonian, who was a physician,
and the most skilful practitioner of his time. But Polycrates,
on his arrival at Magnesia, was put to death in a horrid manner,
unworthy of himself and his lofty thoughts : for, with the
exception of those who have been tyrants of Syracuse, not
one of all the Grecian tyrants deserves to be compared with
Polycrates for magnificence. But Orcetes, having put him
to death in a manner not to be described, caused him to be