THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES

There was once a king named Dionysius. He was very unfair and cruel, and almost everyone hated him. He lived in fear that someone would kill him.

He was very rich and lived in a fine palace with many beautiful and costly things. A large number of servants waited on him and did everything he asked.

One day his friend Damocles said that the king must seem very happy because he had everything a man could wish.

The tyrant asked if Damocles would like to change places with him.

No, not that, O king, Damocles replied; but he thought that if he could have the king's riches and pleasures for one day, he would not want any greater happiness.

Very well, said the tyrant. You shall have them.

So, the next day Damocles was brought into the palace and the servants treated him as master. He sat at a table in the banquet hall, and rich foods were placed before him. There were costly wines, beautiful flowers, rare perfumes, and delightful music. He rested on soft cushions and felt that he was the happiest man in all the world.

Then he looked up toward the ceiling. Above him hung a sharp sword, almost touching his head, held up by a single horse-hair. If the hair broke, danger would come at any moment.

The smile left Damocles. His face grew pale and his hands trembled. He wanted no more food and he took no more delight in the music. He longed to be out of the palace and away.

The tyrant asked what was the matter. Damocles cried out that there was a sword above his head. He was so frightened that he could not move.

Dionysius replied that he knew there was a sword above his head as well, and that it might fall at any moment. But why should that trouble him? He had a sword over his head all the time and was in constant fear of losing his life.

Damocles asked to leave and go back to his old home in the poor cottage among the mountains. He now saw that he was mistaken, and that the rich and powerful are not as happy as they seem.

And so, for the rest of his life, he did not want to be rich or to swap places, even for a moment, with the king.