divers cities and towns
now in his possession are to be annexed to my kingdom; but if I cannot
resolve this hard sentence, and give him the right meaning thereof, he
requires of me my right to all the towns bordering upon Elephantina.
Consider with speed the premises, and let me receive your thoughts by
Niloxenus. Pray lose no time. If in anything I can be serviceable to
your city or friends, you may command me. Farewell.

Bias, having perused and for a little time meditated upon the letter,
and whispering Cleobulus in the ear (he sat by him), exclaimed: What a
narration is here, O Niloxenus! Will Amasis, who governs so many men and
is seized of so many flourishing territories, drink up the ocean for the
gain of a few paltry, beggarly villages? Niloxenus replied with a smile:
Consider, good sir, what is to be done, if he will obey. Why then, said
Bias, let Amasis require the Ethopian king to stop the stream which from
all parts flow and empty themselves in the ocean, until he have drunk
out the whole remainder; for I conceive he means the present waters, not
those which shall flow into it hereafter. Niloxenus was so overjoyed at
this answer, that he could not contain himself. He hugged and kissed
the author, and the whole company liked his opinion admirably well; and
Chilo laughing desired Niloxenus to get aboard immediately before the
sea was consumed, and tell his master he should mind more how to render
his government sweet and potable to his people, than how to swallow
such a quantity of salt water. For Bias, he told him, understands these
things very well, and knows how to oblige your lord with very useful
instructions, which if he vouchsafe to attend, he shall no more need a
golden basin to wash his feet, to gain respect from his subjects; all
will love and honor him for his virtue, though he were ten thousand
times more hateful to them than he is. It were well and worthily done,
quoth Periander, if all of us did pay him our first-fruits in this kind
by the poll (as Homer said). Such a course would bring him an accession
of profit greater than the whole proceeds of the voyage, besides being
of great use to ourselves.

To this point it is fit that Solon should first speak, quoth Chilo,
not only because he is the eldest in the company and therefore sits
uppermost at table, but because he governs and gives laws to the amplest
and most complete and flourishing republic in the world, that of Athens.
Here Niloxenus wh