Book 1, Chapter 48

“They also cite a little tale about Silenus. When he was captured by Midas, it is written, he gave this gift in exchange for his release: he taught the king that by far the best thing for a human being is not to be born, and the next best to die as soon as possible.

115 “Euripides used this thought in his Cresphontes:

“‘We should have gathered in the house“‘To mourn whenever someone came to light,“‘Recounting human life’s manifold woes;“‘But one whose death had ended heavy labors,“‘His friends should bear away with every praise and joy.’

“There is something similar in Crantor’s Consolation. He says that a certain Elysius of Terina, grieving bitterly over his son’s death, went to a place where the dead were summoned and asked the reason for so great a calamity. He received on tablets these three little verses:

“‘With minds unknowing, people wander through their lives;“‘Euthynous meets death by the power of the fates.“‘To end this way was better both for him and you.’

116 “Using these and similar authorities, they establish their case by the verdicts of the immortal gods. Alcidamas, one of the most distinguished of the early rhetoricians, even wrote a praise of death, consisting of an enumeration of human evils. He lacked the arguments worked out with greater subtlety by philosophers, but not abundance of eloquence. Rhetoricians commonly consider illustrious deaths met for one’s country not only glorious but happy. They begin far back with Erechtheus, whose very daughters eagerly sought death to preserve the citizens’ lives. They <recall> Codrus, who plunged into the midst of the enemy dressed as a slave, so that he could not be recognized, as he would have been in royal attire; for an oracle had declared that Athens would be victorious if its king were killed. Nor do they pass over Menoeceus, who likewise, after an oracle was delivered, freely gave his blood for his country; <for> Iphigenia at Aulis orders that she be led to sacrifice, so that her own blood may draw forth the enemy’s. From these they come to more recent examples:”

“Another tale they produce concerns Silenus. Midas captured him, and the written account says he bought his freedom with a gift of knowledge for the king. Much the best thing for us, he taught, is never to be born; failing that, the best is an early death—as early as possible.

115 “Euripides gave the same idea a place in Cresphontes: “‘We ought to gather, filling up the house, “‘And grieve each time a child is brought to light, “‘Considering all the ills that vary human life; “‘But when death ends someone’s burdensome work, “‘His friends should see him off with joy and every kind of praise.’ “Crantor’s Consolation has a comparable story. A man from Terina named Elysius was in deep grief at losing his son. He went to an oracle of the dead and asked why such a calamity had happened. The answer came on tablets in three little verses: “‘Through life we humans stray, our minds unknowing; “‘The Fates’ decree gives Euthynous his death. “‘This end served both his interests and your own.’

116 “Using these and similar authorities, speakers support their case as one already settled by the immortal gods. Alcidamas, one of the most famous early teachers of rhetoric, even wrote a work praising death. It consists of a list of human troubles. It lacked the more carefully developed arguments philosophers collect, but it didn’t lack a wealth of words. And speakers usually regard famous deaths faced for one’s country as not only glorious but happy. They go back to Erechtheus, whose daughters eagerly sought death themselves to save their fellow citizens’ lives. They recall Codrus, who rushed into the middle of the enemy dressed as a servant, so he wouldn’t be recognized, as he would have been in royal clothing. An oracle had declared that Athens would win if its king was killed. They don’t leave out Menoeceus, who likewise gave his blood for his country after an oracle was delivered. And Iphigenia at Aulis orders them to lead her to be sacrificed, so that her own blood may draw the enemy’s. From there they come to more recent examples:”