Verily, the Gods do treat us men just like footballs [8]. You hear the
manner _now_ how he lost one _son_. Afterwards, the Aetolians
[9] are waging war with the people of Elis, _and_, as happens in
warfare, the other son is taken prisoner. The physician Menarchus buys
him there in Elis. _On this_, this _Hegio_ begins to traffic
in Elean captives, if, _perchance_, he may be able to find one to
change for that captive _son_ of his. He knows not that this one
who is in his house is his own _son_. And as he heard yesterday
that an Elean knight of very high rank and very high family was taken
prisoner, he has spared no expense to rescue his son [10]. In order that
he may more easily bring him back home, be buys both of these of the
Quaestors [11] out of the spoil.
Now they, between themselves, have contrived this plan, that, by means
of it, the servant may send away hence his master home. And therefore
among themselves they change their garments and their names. He, there
(_pointing_), is called Philocrates; this one (_pointing_),
Tyndarus; he this day assumes the character of this one, this one of
him. And this one to-day will cleverly carry out this plot, and cause
his master to gain his liberty; and by the same means he will save his
own brother, and without knowing it, will cause him to return back a
free man to his own country to his father, just as often now, on many
occasions, a person has done more good unknowingly than knowingly.
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