136.
Themistocles received information of their purpose, and fled from the Peloponnesus to
the1 Corcyraeans, who were under an obligation to him.
The Corcyraeans said that they were afraid to keep him, lest they should incur the
enmity of Athens and Lacedaemon; so they conveyed him to the neighboring continent,
[2]
whither he was followed by the
officers, who constantly enquired in which direction he had gone and pursued him
everywhere. Owing to an accident he was compelled to stop at the house of Admetus, king of the
Molossians, who was not his friend.
[3]
He chanced to be absent from home,
but Themistocles presented himself as a suppliant to
his wife, and was instructed by her to take their child and sit at the hearth.
[4]
Admetus soon returned, and then Themistocles told him who he was,
adding that if in
past times he had opposed any request which Admetus had made to the Athenians, he ought
not to retaliate on an exile.
He was now in such extremity that a far weaker adversary than he could do him a
mischief; but a noble nature should not be revenged by taking at a disadvantage one as
good as himself.
Themistocles further argued that he had opposed Admetus in some matter of business, and
not when life was at stake; but that, if Admetus delivered him up, he would be
consigning him to death.
At the same time he told him who his pursuers were and what was the charge against him.
1 He seeks refuge among the Corcyraeans; they are afraid of Athens and Lacedaemon, and send him away to Epirus. Coming to he house of Admetus, king of the Molossians, he sits as a suppliant at the hearth
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