a, where he set up as a physician and in the second year the State
of AEgina hired his services at the price of a talent. In the third
year, the Athenians engaged him at 100 minae; and in the fourth,
Polycrates of Samos at two talents. Democedes shared the misfortunes of
Polycrates and was taken prisoner by Oroetes. Then Herodotus tells how
he cured Atossa, the daughter of Cyrus and wife of Darius, of a severe
abscess of the breast, but on condition that she help him to escape, and
she induced her husband to send an expedition of exploration to Greece
under the guidance of Democedes, but with the instructions at all
costs to bring back the much prized physician. From Tarentum, Democedes
escaped to his native city, but the Persians followed him, and it was
with the greatest difficulty that he escaped from their hands. Deprived
of their guide, the Persians gave up the expedition and sailed for Asia.
In palliation of his flight, Democedes sent a message to Darius that
he was engaged to the daughter of Milo, the wrestler, who was in high
repute with the King.(6)

(6) The well-known editor of Herodotus, R. W. Macan, Master
of University College, Oxford, in his Hellenikon. A Sheaf
of Sonnets after Herodotus (Oxford, 1898) has included a
poem which may be quoted in connection with this incident:

NOSTALGY
Atossa, child of Cyrus king of kings,
healed by Greek science of a morbid breast,
gave lord Dareios neither love nor rest
till he fulfilled her vain imaginings.
"Sir, show our Persian folk your sceptre's wings!
Enlarge my sire's and brother's large bequest.
This learned Greek shall guide your galleys west,
and Dorian slave-girls grace our banquetings."
So said she, taught of that o'er-artful man,
the Italiote captive, Kroton's Demokede,
who recked not what of maladies began,
nor who in Asia and in Greece might bleed,
if he--so writes the guileless Thurian--
regained his home, and freedom of the Mede.

Plato has several references to these state physicians, who were
evidently elected by a public assembly: "When the assembly meets to
elect a physician," and the office was yearly, for in "The Statesman" we
find the following:(7) "When the year of office has expired, the
pilot, or physician has to come before a court of review" to answer
any charges. The physician must have been in practice for some time
and attained eminence, b