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 Æsop, finding they were like 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 Æsop; and
told him, That was a Lecture for Children. (_Laertius_ makes this to be
the 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 Opportunity
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 my self. They Agreed upon the Wager, and presently
off went their Rings to Seal the Conditions. But Early the next Morning,
_Xanthus_ missing his Ring, thought it might be slipt off his Finger, and
asked Æsop about it. Why truly says Æsop, 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 Æsop 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 Æsop, (whose advice before he had rejected) what was to be done
in the Case. I shall never forget, says _Xanthus_, how much I owe you for
your Faithful Services; and so with fair Words Æsop was prevailed upon
to Undertake the bringing of 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 that will do
your business. The Time appointed, says Æsop, is now at hand, Wherefore
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 Countenance, that you
are just Now about to make good your Undertaking. You’ll have Thousands
of Spectators there, and When they are got together, let the Form of the
Agreement and the Conditions 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 or Such a Consideration. When This is done, call for
a Great Glass, and let it be filled 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_ Cause, but hissed his Adversary out of the Field; Who in the
Conclusion made a Publique Acknowledgment, 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 finall End made of the Dispute. _Plutarch_ makes this to have been
the Invention of _Bias_.