He pleaded for life; life on the terms most degrading, most painful, most joyless--life, life and that only.

He cried out to Cornelia to save him, he confessed his villanies, and vowed repentance a score of times all in one breath.

But Cornelia lived in an age when the wisest and best--whatever the philosophers might theorize--thought it no shame to reward evil for evil, not less than good for good.

When Demetrius asked her, "Shall I spare this man, lady ?" she replied: "As he has made my life bitter for many days, why should I spare him a brief moment's pain?
Death ends all woe!" There was a dull splash over the side, a circle spreading out in the water, wider and wider, until it could be seen no more among the waves.
"There were heavy stones to his feet, Captain," reported Eurybiades, "and the cords will hold." "It is well," answered Demetrius, very grave....
Later in the day the boat returned from Puteoli, and with it sundry small round-bellied bags, which the pirate prince duly stowed away in his strong chest.

The ransomed captives were put on board a small unarmed yacht that had come out to receive them.