Epistles of Phalaris

The original Epistles of Phalaris were said to have been written by Phalaris, tyrant of Acragas, Sicily, from c. 570 – 554 BC. In his 1699 dissertation, English scholar Richard Bentley attacked the authenticity of the letters and declared that they were written much later, possibly by Adrianus of Tyre in the first century AD. He argued that certain cities mentioned in the letters were not founded during the lifetime of Phalaris, therefore the letters could not have been written by him. Today the author of the letters has become known as Pseudo-Phalaris by most scholars.

These letters, written in Greek, were translated into Latin during the Italian Renaissance by Francesco Griffolini, known as Aretinus (1420 – 1490) from Arezzo.

Letter to Cleobolus, translated by Thomas Francklin, London 1749:

To Cleobulus
CI.
You cannot, with all your harangues, persuade the Camarians to enter into a war against me, which they know must be carried on, not by plausible speeches, but by great and glorious acts. Therefore, if you think to succeed with them, you must first convince them that the event will be answerable to your promises; but, if this will not gain their assent, change your opinion; advise them to the contrary; and you may probably, by this means, gain your point. As the case now stands, one of these two things is indisputable; they either disapprove of the counsel as prejudicial, or despite the counsellor, as insignificant. I am inclined to think both; but know I shall revenge myself on you, not by empty words, with which you attacked me, but by such actions as will be sufficient to deter others from conspiring against me. When the Camarians know this, they will surely much rather choose to experience the humanity and benevolence than the rage of Phalaris.