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And before Solon had fully finished, in came Gorgias, Periander's brother, who was just returned from
Tacnarum, whither he had been sent by the advice of the
oracle to sacrifice to Neptune and to conduct a deputation.
Upon his entrance we welcomed him home; and Periander having among the rest saluted him, Gorgias sat by
him upon a bed, and privately whispered something to
his brother which we could not hear. Periander by his
[p. 33]
various gestures and motions discovered different affections;
sometimes he seemed sad and melancholic, by and by disturbed and angry; frequently he looked as doubtful and
distrustful men use to do; awhile after he lifts up his eyes
as is usual with men in a maze. At last recovering himself, saith he, I have a mind to impart to you the contents
of this embassy; but I scarce dare do it, remembering
Thales's aphorism, how things impossible or incredible are
to be concealed and only things credible and probable are
to be related. Bias answered, I crave leave to explain
Thales's saying, We may distrust enemies, even though
they speak things credible, and trust friends, even though
they relate things incredible; and I suppose by enemies
he meant vicious men and foolish, and by friends, wise and
good men. Then, brother Gorgias, quoth Periander, I pray
relate the whole story particularly.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 2.
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