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Question 17. Who was called δορύξενος?
Solution. The country of Megaris was anciently settled
in villages, the inhabitants being divided into five parts;
and they were called Heraenians, Piraenians, Megarians,
Cynosurians, and Tripodiscaeans. These the Corinthians
drew into a civil war, for they always contrived to bring the
Megarians into their power. Yet they waged war with
much moderation and neighborly designs; for no man did
at all injure the husbandman, and there was a stated ransom
[p. 273]
determined for all that were taken captives. And this
they received after the release of the prisoner, and not before; but he that took the captive prisoner brought him
home, gave him entertainment, and then gave him liberty
to depart to his own house. Wherefore he that brought
in the price of his ransom was applauded, and remained
the friend of him that received it, and was called doryxenus, from his being a captive by the spear; but he that
dealt fraudulently was reputed an unjust and unfaithful
person, not only by the enemy but by his fellow-citizens
also.
Plutarch. Plutarch's Morals. Translated from the Greek by several hands. Corrected and revised by. William W. Goodwin, PH. D. Boston. Little, Brown, and Company. Cambridge. Press Of John Wilson and son. 1874. 2.
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