ith himself while he
ordered the man to be put in possession of the property which he asked
for. However, the other, when driven out of his estate, did not, like a
peasant, endure his wrongs in silence, thankful that he himself was not
given away also, but sent a sharp and outspoken letter to Philip, who,
on reading it, was so much enraged that he straightway ordered Pausanias
to restore the property to its former owner, and to brand that
wickedest of soldiers, that most ungrateful of guests, that greediest
of shipwrecked men, with letters bearing witness to his ingratitude. He,
indeed, deserved to have the letters not merely branded but carved in
his flesh, for having reduced his host to the condition in which he
himself had been when he lay naked and shipwrecked upon the beach;
still, let us see within what limits one ought to keep in punishing him.
Of course what he had so villainously seized ought to be taken from him.
But who would be affected by the spectacle of his punishment? The crime
which he had committed would prevent his being pitied even by any humane
person.

XXXVIII. Will Philip then give you a thing because he has promised to
give it, even though he ought not to do so, even though he will commit
a wrong by doing so, nay, a crime, even though by this one act he will
make it impossible for shipwrecked men to reach the shore? There is no
inconsistency in giving up an intention which we have discovered to
be wrong and have condemned as wrong; we ought candidly to admit, "I
thought that it was something different; I have been deceived." It is
mere pride and folly to persist, "what I once have said, be it what
it may, shall remain unaltered and settled." There is no disgrace in
altering one's plans according to circumstances. Now, if Philip had
left this man in possession of that seashore which he obtained by
his shipwreck, would he not have practically pronounced sentence of
banishment against all unfortunates for the future? "Rather," says
Philip, "do thou carry upon thy forehead of brass those letters, that
they may be impressed upon the eyes of all throughout my kingdom. Go,
let men see how sacred a thing is the table of hospitality; show them
your face, that upon it they may read the decree which prevents its
being a capital crime to give refuge to the unfortunate under one's
roof. The order will be more certainly respected by this means than if I
had inscribed it upon tablets of brass."

XXXIX. "Why t