[Footnote IV.31: _Lest Libitina_)--Ver. 26. The “pollinctores,” or “undertakers,” kept their biers and other implements required at funerals, at the Temple of the Goddess Libitina.] FABLE XX. PHÆDRUS. Although malice may dissemble for the present, I am still perfectly aware what judgment it will think proper to arrive at. Whatever it shall {here} deem worthy {to be transmitted} to posterity, it will say belongs to Æsop; if it shall be not so well pleased with any portion, it will, for any wager, contend that the same was composed by me. One who thus thinks, I would refute once for all by {this} my answer: whether this work is silly, or whether it is worthy of praise, he was the inventor: my hand has brought it to perfection. But let us pursue our purpose in the order we proposed. FABLE XXI. THE SHIPWRECK OF SIMONIDES. A learned man has always a fund of riches in himself. Simonides, who wrote {such} excellent {lyric} poems, the more easily to support his poverty, began to make a tour of the celebrated cities of Asia, singing the praises of victors for such reward as he might receive. After he had become enriched by this kind of gain, he resolved to return to his native land by sea; (for he was born, it is said, in the island of Ceos[32]). {Accordingly} he embarked in a ship, which a dreadful tempest, together with its own rottenness, caused to founder at sea. Some gathered together their girdles,[33] others their precious effects, {which formed} the support of their existence. One who was over inquisitive, {remarked}: “Are you going to save none of your property, Simonides?” He made reply: “All my {possessions} are about me.” A few {only} made their escape by swimming, for the majority, being weighed down by their burdens, perished. Some thieves make their appearance, and seize what each person has saved, leaving them naked. Clazomenæ, an ancient city, chanced to be near; to which the shipwrecked persons repaired. Here a person devoted to the pursuits of literature, who had often read the lines of Simonides, and was a very great admirer of him though he had never seen him, knowing from his very language {who he was}, received him with the greatest pleasure into his house, and furnished him with clothes, money, and attendants. The others {meanwhile} were carrying about their pictures,[34] begging for victuals. Simonides chanced to meet them; and, as soon as he saw them, remarked: “I told you that all my property was about me; what you endeavoured to save is lost.” [Footnote IV.32: _In the island of Ceos_)--Ver. 28. The poet Simonides was born at Iulis, a city of the isle of Ceos, one of the Cyclades, in the Ægæan Sea.] [Footnote IV.33: _Their girdles_)--Ver. 11. Among the ancients, the zones or girdles were sometimes used for the purpose of keeping money there; while sometimes purses were carried suspended from them.]