How one man was willing to sacrifice his life for his friend.

Once upon a time there were two very great friends who lived in Syracuse. One was called Damon and the other Pythias. They were always together. They ate together, they walked together, and often could be seen with their arms around each other on the streets of Syracuse. On one occasion Damon, in anger, had called the ruler of Syracuse a tyrant, for which he was condemned to die. He asked to go and bid his wife and child farewell. Pythias promised to stay in prison for him and let his life be the forfeit if Damon failed to return. Dionysius, the ruler, was only too glad, as he thought Damon would not return, and thus he would be rid of the two friends.

Damon, after a long weary journey, had only a short while to stay with his family. When he called for his horse to start on his return trip, his slave, who loved him and did not want him to die, said:

“Master, your horse is dead.”

“Murderer!” cried Damon. “You have not only killed my horse, you have killed my friend!”

Damon started back to Syracuse on foot, and when he came to a raging river he threw himself into the water and swam across although his strength was nearly spent. After struggling along, weary and worn, he met a man riding a fine horse. He offered to buy the horse, but the man said: “No, I need my horse.” Whereupon Damon pulled him off, and throwing him a purse well filled with gold, rode off at high speed to Syracuse.

The time for the return of Damon came and he had not yet appeared. Pythias was ready to give his life for his friend—well knowing that nothing but sickness or death would have kept him.

Pythias was led up to be executed when suddenly a shout arose from the people who were watching the road; the thunder of a horse’s heels was heard, and Damon rode into the crowd. He leaped from his foam-covered horse, crying:

“Forgive me, Pythias! I could not get here sooner—but I am in time!”

“Oh, why did you return, my friend? I had hoped that some accident had detained you and that my life might be given for yours,” said Pythias.

When the people saw how devoted were the two friends, each willing to give up his life for the other, they cried with a thousand voices: “Pardon for Damon! Pardon for Damon.”

Dionysius ordered the prisoner released, for he, himself, was moved by this spectacle of devotion.

“Accept, Damon and Pythias, my life to link with yours in friendship’s chain,” said the tyrant.

And thus Damon, Pythias, and Dionysius became the closest of friends.