Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
Between Heathenism and Christianity - College of Stoic Philosophers
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"<br />
"<br />
The Delay <strong>of</strong> the Deity<br />
culty? Perhaps," said I. "<strong>and</strong> yet when persona<br />
are suffering from a high fever, the same or nearly<br />
the same heat remains whether they have on them<br />
one or more garments; nevertheless it affords some<br />
relief (to the patient) to remove what is superfluous.<br />
Still, if you do not wish to go on, we will let this mat<br />
ter pass; at any rate, these stories look like fables<br />
<strong>and</strong> inventions; remember, however, the festival<br />
<strong>of</strong> Theoxenia. recently celebrated, <strong>and</strong> the honorable<br />
place the heralds assign to the descendants <strong>of</strong> Pindar;<br />
how imposing <strong>and</strong> delightful the ceremony appeared<br />
to you. Who would not, I said, be charmed with the<br />
bestowal <strong>of</strong> this honor, so entirely in harmony with<br />
the spirit <strong>of</strong> Greek antiquity, unless his black heart<br />
had been forged with cold flame, to use one <strong>of</strong> Pin<br />
dar s own expressions? Then I forbear to mention, I<br />
said, a proclamation similar to this in Sparta called,<br />
After the Lesbian Bard, in honor <strong>and</strong> memory <strong>of</strong><br />
Terp<strong>and</strong>er the Ancient, for the argument is the<br />
same. And you too, descendants <strong>of</strong> Opheltas, for<br />
sooth, claim somewhat more consideration than<br />
others among the Boeotians <strong>and</strong> at the h<strong>and</strong>s <strong>of</strong> the<br />
Phokiaiis because <strong>of</strong> Diophantus; besides, you were<br />
present <strong>and</strong> were the first to support me when I up<br />
held the traditional honor <strong>of</strong> Herakles <strong>and</strong> the right<br />
to wear a crown which the Lycormae <strong>and</strong> the Satilaiae<br />
laid claim to; for I said it was altogether proper<br />
that the descendants <strong>of</strong> Herakles should enjoy unim<br />
paired honors <strong>and</strong> benefits for services which he had<br />
rendered to the Greeks, but for which he had not<br />
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