THE LIFE OF AESOP
Translated by Sir Roger L'Estrange
CHAPTER XII
XANTHUS undertakes to drink the Sea dry
THERE happened not long after this, to be a merry Meeting of
Philosophers; and Xanthus, one of the Company. Xanthus had
already gotten a Cup too much; and AEsop finding they were lke
to set out his hand; Sir, says he, 'tis the Humour of Bacchus, they
say, first to make Men chearful, and when they are past that, to
make 'em drunk, and in the Conclusion, to make them mad. Xanthus
took Offence at AEsop; and told him, that was a Lecture for
Children. (Laertius makes this to be they saying of Anacharsis.)
The Cups went round, and Xanthus by this time had taken his
load, who was mightily given to talk in his drink; and whatever
was uppermost, out it came without either Fear or Wit. One of
the Company observing the weak side of the Man, took the Oppor-
tunity of pumping him, with several Questions. Xanthus (says he)
I have read somewhere, that it is possible for a Man to drink the
Sea dry; but I can hardly believe it. Why, says Xanthus, I'll venture
my House and Land upon't, that I do't myself. They agreed upon
the Wager, and presently off went their Rings to seal to Con-
ditions. But early the next Morning Xanthus missing his Ring,
thought it might be slipt off his Finger, and ask'd AEsop about it.
Why truly, says AEsop, I can say nothing to the losing of your Ring;
but I can tell you that you lost your House and Land last Night:
And so AEsop told him the Story on't, which his Master, it seems,
had utterly forgotten. Xanthus began now to chew upon the
Matter, and it went to the Heart of him to consider, that he could
neither do the thing, nor yet get quit of his Bonds. In this trouble
of Thoughts he consults AEsop, (whose Advice before he had
rejected) what was to be done in this Case. I shall never forget,
says Xanthus, how much I owe you for your faithful Services;
and so with fair Words AEsop was prevail'd upon to undertake the
bringing him off. 'Tis impossible to do the thing (says he) but
if I can find a way to dissolve the Obligation, and to gain you
Credit by it over and above, that's the Point I suppose will do your
Business. The Time appointed, says AEsop, is now at hand, where-
fore do you set a bold Face upon it, and go to the Sea-side with all
your Servants and your Trinkets about you, and put on a Coun-
tenance that you are just now about to make good your under-
taking. You'll have thousands of Spectators there, and when they
are got together, let the Form of the Agreement and the Condition
be read which runs to this Effect: That you are to drink up the Sea
by such a certain Time, or to forfeit your House and Land, upon
such and such a Consideration. When this is done, call for a great
Glass, and let it be fill'd with Sea-Water, in the Sight of the whole
Multitude: Hold it up then in your Hand, and say as follows, You
have heard, good People, what I have undertaken to do, and upon
what Penalty, if I do not go through with it. I confess the Agreement,
and the Matter of Fact as you have heard it; and I am now about to
drink up the Sea; not the Rivers that run into't. And therefore let all
the Inlets be stopt, that there be nothing but pure Sea left me to drink,
and I am now ready to perform my part of the Agreement. But for
any drinking of the Rivers, there is nothing of that in the Contract.
The People found it so clear a Case, that they did not only agree
to the Reason and Justice of Xanthus's Case, but hiss'd his Adver-
sary out of the Field; who in the Conclusion made a publick
Ackowledgment, that Xanthus was the wiser and better Man of
the two; but desired the Contract might be made void, and offer'd
to submit himself further to such Arbitrators as Xanthus himself
should direct. Xanthus was so well pleased with the Character his
Adversary had given him, of a wise Man, that all was passed over,
and a final End made of the Dispute. Plutarch makes this to have
been the Invention of Bias.