Personae Non Gratae Full Text

Gaius Canius, a Roman knight, when he had travelled to Syracuse, was saying that he wanted to buy a small estate to which he could invite his friends and where he could amuse himself without interruption. When this had become well known, a certain Pythius who ran a bank in Syracuse told him that he had a small estate, not indeed for sale but which Canius could use, if he wanted, as though his own: and at the same time, he invited the man to his gardens for a meal. When that man had accepted, then Pythius summoned fishermen to himself and asked them to fish in front of his estate on the next day and he told them what we wanted them to do. Canius came to the meal on time. Before his eyes were a multitude of fishing boats; each according to his ability was bringing what he had caught; fish were being thrown down before Pythius' feet. Then Canius said 'Tell me, what is this Pythius? Why are there so many fish, so many fishing boats?' And that man said 'Why is it surprising? All the fish there are in Syracuse are in this place.' Canius, on fire with greed, begged Pythius to sell. At first, that man refused. At last, however, the greedy and rich man bought the estate for as much as Pythius wanted. On the next day, Canius invites his friends; he himself arrives early; he sees no fishing boats. He asks his nearest neighbour whether it was a holiday for the fishermen. He replies 'There is no holiday, as far as I know, but no-one is accustomed to fish here. And so I was amazed yesterday at what had happened.' Canius was very angry; but what was he to do?