"The Buried Classic" from Ancient Greece, and the roots of the Western World .... The Life of Apollonius of Tyana Philostratus {220 AD} The Folly of the King
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia in the Southern Spring of 1995

The Folly of the King ...

"Quite, right," he answered, "and true is what you heard: for it is Phraotes who entertains him here also."

"What," asked the king, "is his mode of life and pursuit?"

"Why, what else," replied Iarchas, "except that of that king himself?"

"It is no great compliment you have paid him," answered the king, "by saying that he has embraced a mode of life which has denied even to Phraotes the chance of being a noble man."

Thereupon Iarchas remarked: "You must judge more reasonably, O king, both about philosophy and about Phraotes: for as long as you were a stripling, your youth excused in you such extravagances. But now that you have already reached man's estate, let us avoid foolish and facile utterances."

But Apollonius, who found an interpreter in Iarchas said:

"And what have you gained, O king, by refusing to be a philospher?"

"What have I gained? Why, the whole of virtue and the identification of myself with the Sun."

Then the other, by way of checking his pride and muzzling him, said:

"If you were a philosopher, you would not entertain such fancies."

"And you," replied the king, "since you are a philosopher, what is your fancy about yourself, my fine fellow ?"

"That I may pass," replied Apollonius, "for being a good man, if only I can be a philosopher."

Thereupon the king stretched out his hand to heaven and exclaimed:

"By the Sun, you come here full of Phraotes."

But the other hailed this remark as a godsend, and catching him up said:

"I have not taken this long journey in vain, if I am become full of Phraotes. But if you should meet him presently, you will certainly say that he is full of me; and he wished to write to you in my behalf, but since he declared that you were a good man, I begged him not to take the trouble of writing, seeing that in his case no one sent a letter commending me."

THIS put a stop to the incipient folly of the king for having heard that he himself was praised by Phraotes he not only dropped his suspicions, but lowering his tone he said: "Welcome, goodly stranger."

But Apollonius answered: "And my welcome to you also, O king, for you appear to have only just arrived."

"And who," asked the other, "attracted you to us ?"

"These gentlemen here, who are both Gods and wise men."

"And about myself, O stranger"; said the king, "what is said among Hellenes?"

"Why, as much," said Apollonius, "as is said about the Hellenes here."

"As for myself, I find nothing in the Helenes," said the other, "that is worth speaking of."

"I will tell them that," said Apollonius, "and they will crown you at Olympia."

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"The Buried Classic" from Ancient Greece, and the roots of the Western World .... The Life of Apollonius of Tyana Philostratus {220 AD} The Folly of the King ...
Web Publication by Mountain Man Graphics, Australia in the Southern Spring of 1995