If you be remembred Clitophon at our first acquaintance in the ship, I told you I was an Aegyptian; now the greatest part of my possessions and lands lye neare to this Citie; the chief governours whereof are my friends: What time wee then suffered shipwracke, I was cast on the Aegyptain shore, where Satyrus and I were taken by the Pirats of this Citie, but some of them which knew me, led mee to their governour, by whom I was freed from my bonds, kindely intreated, and desired to bee an assistant to them in such enterprizes as they should undertake; finding so much favour at their hands I begged Satyrus freedome also, but they replyed unto me ere they granted mee that, I was to performe some noble exploite, wherein I might give sufficient testimony of my valour. At that time they had a strict command from the Oracle to offer up a Virgin, as an expiation for the Citie which they inhabited, and that they should eat part of the liver of the sacrifice, then bury the body, afterwards depart; and all this was to keepe the enemie back from assaulting them, what followed I pray will you tell Satyrus. So thus hee continued the story. When first I came to the Campe (Master) understanding what was like to befall Leucippe, I wept, and desired Menelaus to thinke on some meanes to free her; in which businesse I know not what god was propitious to us, for the very day before the sacrifice was to be don, we were both by the sea side, very pensive, thinking upon some way to deliver her: while we were in these dumps, the thieves espying a ship, which not knowing those coasts, had lost its way, set upon it; they who were in it seeing they were assaulted by Pirats, indevour’d to flie, which course failing them, they fought it out: In that ship was one who used to recite Homers Poems in the theatre, attir’d in the same manner as he used to be at recitation; he with the rest of his company gave them a shrewd onset, but the theeves having a fresh supply of gallies, and other long boats, quickly slew all the men, and brake the ship; a piece whereof did swim toward us, and in it a little cabinet, which had escaped the hands of those which ransackt the ship: this Menelaus tooke up, and going aside opened it, wherein I thought there had beene no smal treasure, but in it we found nothing but a short cloake and a knife, the handle whereof was foure handfulls long, but the blade not above three fingers; while Menelaus handled this knife, hee pulled unawares a great part of the blade out of the handle, wherein as in a sheath it was hid, so we straightway supposing that this was the weapon which that juggling fellow made people beleeve he stabd himselfe withall; wherefore turning me to Menelaus, I said, Now beat thy braines a little, and wee doubt not by the gods assistance but wee shall free the virgin, and the theeves never discover our device: wee will sow a very thinne sheepskinne in the forme of a wallet, about the bignesse of a mans belly, and filling it with the bloud and entrailes of some beast, put it before her, so when she hath her long garment on, and is adorned with garlands and flowers, our device cannot bee discovered, in which matter wee are much furthered by the Oracle, which gave strict charge that she being cloathed in a long robe, should bee led to the altar, there to be cut up; besides, this knife is made so, that the beholders will thinke it runs into her body when it runnes into the handle; so there is but just enough to cut the counterfeit belly, which neverthelesse when it is drawne out, you would thinke had beene sheathed in her body; if we doe this, the theeves can never detect us, for the skin shall be covered, and the entrailes at the first stroke shal start forth, which we presently snatching up wil fling on the altar – nor shall the standers by bee suffered to come neare the body, which we will prevent, by burying it. The meanes how wee shall come to have the chiefe care of the sacrifice is this: The King, if you be remembred, not long since enjoyned you some exploit, ere you could obtaine my enfranchisement, wherefore goe straight to him, and tell him you are ready for this enterprise.