Greek Anthology Book XIV: Metrodorus: 122

Arithmetical Epigram of Metrodorus

 * After staining the holy chaplet of fair-eyed Justice that I might see thee, all-subduing gold, grow so much, I have nothing;
 * for I gave forty talents under evil auspices to my friends in vain,
 * while, O ye varied mischances of men, I see my enemy in possession of the half, the third, and the eighth of my fortune.

Solution
Let $n$ be the value in of the narrator's fortune.

We have:

So the narrator started with $960$.