Run, Melos!

“Run, Melos!” is a short story by Osamu Dazai.
The story is based on a poem written by Schiller, which came from an old Greek and Roman story.

Some people may think about the writer and try to find a hidden meaning, but I think it is good to read the story simply and honestly.

King Dionysius of Syracuse did not trust anyone. He was so cruel that he even killed his own sister.

Melos wanted to change the king. He made a promise with the king and went back to his village to hold his sister’s wedding.

He said, “Please wait for me for three days. I will come back.” He left his friend Selinuntius at the castle as a hostage and ran to his village.

After the wedding, Melos was very tired and rested for a while. Then he started running again.

On the way, a river was flooding, and he could not cross it. He thought about giving up, but he changed his mind and swam across the river.

He became very tired and almost wanted to stop, but he remembered that his friend was waiting for him and trusted him.
He did not want his friend to die, so he used all his strength and ran again.

The sun was setting, and he had no clothes because they were washed away by the river.

But he kept running and finally arrived in time, just before his friend was killed.

King Dionysius said, “Melos and Selinuntius have won my heart. Trust is not a dream.”

He also said, “Please let me be your friend too.” The people shouted, “Long live the king!”

In our lives, things often do not go as we want. But this story teaches us that trusting our friends and keeping promises are very important.