herodotus

the Persians who are in Sardis to slay Oroites." So the spearmen ofthe guard, when they heard this, drew their swords and slew himforthwith. Thus did retribution for the murder of Polycrates theSamian overtake Oroites.129. When the wealth of Oroites had come or had been carried[114] upto Susa, it happened not long after, that king Dareios while engagedin hunting wild beasts twisted his foot in leaping off his horse, andit was twisted, as it seems, rather violently, for the ball of hisankle-joint was put out of the socket. Now he had been accustomed tokeep about him those of the Egyptians who were accounted the first inthe art of medicine, and he made use of their assistance then: butthese by wrenching and forcing the foot made the evil continuallygreater. For seven days then and seven nights Dareios was sleeplessowing to the pain which he suffered; and at last on the eighth day,when he was in a wretched state, some one who had heard talk beforewhile yet at Sardis of the skill of Demokedes of Croton, reported thisto Dareios; and he bade them bring him forthwith into his presence. Sohaving found him somewhere unnoticed among the slaves of Oroites, theybrought him forth into the midst dragging fetters after him andclothed in rags. 130. When he had been placed in the midst of them,Dareios asked him whether he understood the art; but he would notadmit it, fearing lest, if he declared himself to be what he was, hemight lose for ever the hope of returning to Hellas: and it was clearto Dareios that he understood that art but was practisinganother,[115] and he commanded those who had brought him thither toproduce scourges and pricks. Accordingly upon that he spoke out,saying that he did not understand it precisely, but that he had keptcompany with a physician and had some poor knowledge of the art. Thenafter this, when Dareios had committed the case to him, by usingHellenic drugs and applying mild remedies after the former violentmeans, he caused him to get sleep, and in a short time made himperfectly well, though he had never hoped to be sound of foot again.Upon this Dareios presented him with two pairs of golden fetters; andhe asked him whether it was by design that he had given to him adouble share of his suffering, because he had made him well. Beingpleased by this saying, Dareios sent him to visit his wives, and theeunuchs in bringing him in said to the women that this was he who hadrestored to the king his life. Then each one of them plunged a cupinto the gold-chest[116] and presented Demokedes with so abundant agift that his servant, whose name was Skiton, following and gatheringup the coins[117] which fell from the cups, collected for himself avery large sum of gold.131. This Demokedes came from Croton, and became the associate ofPolycrates in the following manner:--at Croton he lived in strife with