22 Dec ” none hath sacrificed an ox to his benefactor but Pyrrhias” (PLUTARCH)
“Who was he that sacrificed an ox to his benefactor?” In a haven of Ithaca there was a pirate ship, in which happened to be an old man who had earthen pots holding pitch. It fell out that an Ithacan skipper named Pyrrhias put into this port, who ransomed the old man upon free cost, only upon his supplication and out of commiseration towards him, and at the request of the old man he purchased also some of his tar-pots. The pirates departing and all fear of danger over, the old fellow brings Pyrrhias to his earthen pots, and shows him a great deal of gold and silver blended amongst the pitch.
Whereupon Pyrrhias attaining to great riches treated the old man well in all respects, and sacrificed an ox to him.
Hence they say proverbially that none hath sacrificed an ox to his benefactor but Pyrrhias.
Plutarch’s Morals
Plutarch
