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Thonis, on receiving these orders, arrested Alexander, and stopped
the departure of his ships; then, taking with him Alexander,
Helen, the treasures, and also the fugitive slaves, he went up to
Memphis. When all were arrived, Proteus asked Alexander, "who he
was, and whence he had come?" Alexander replied by giving his
descent, the name of his country, and a true account of his late
voyage. Then Proteus questioned him as to how he got possession of
Helen. In his reply Alexander became confused, and diverged from
the truth, whereon the slaves interposed, confuted his statements,
and told the whole history of the crime. Finally, Proteus delivered
judgment as follows: "Did I not regard it as a matter of the utmost
consequence that no stranger driven to my country by adverse winds
should ever be put to death, I would certainly have avenged the Greek
by slaying thee. Thou basest of men, - after accepting hospitality,
to do so wicked a deed! First, thou didst seduce the wife of thy own
host - then, not content therewith, thou must violently excite her
mind, and steal her away from her husband. Nay, even so thou wert
not satisfied, but on leaving, thou must plunder the house in which
thou hadst been a guest. Now then, as I think it of the greatest
importance to put no stranger to death, I suffer thee to depart; but
the woman and the treasures I shall not permit to be carried away.
Here they must stay, till the Greek stranger comes in person and
takes them back with him. For thyself and thy companions, I command
thee to begone from my land within the space of three days - and I
warn you, that otherwise at the end of that time you will be treated as enemies."
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