ordinary ingratitude or pass judicial sentence on it; whilst it
overlooks the thanklessness of those who fail to make return for
kindly treatment, it reserves its pains and penalties for the special
case? If a man render not the service and allegiance due to his
parents, on him the finger of the law is laid; his name is struck off
the roll; he is forbidden to hold the archonship--which is as much as
to say, "Sacrifices in behalf of the state offered by such a man would
be no offerings, being tainted with impiety; nor could aught else be
'well and justly' performed of which he is the doer." Heaven help us!
If a man fail to adorn the sepulchre of his dead parents the state
takes cognisance of the matter, and inquisition is made in the
scrutiny of the magistrates.[6] And as for you, my son, if you are in
your sober senses, you will earnestly entreat your mother, lest the
very gods take you to be an ungrateful being, and on their side also
refuse to do you good; and you will beware of men also, lest they
should perceive your neglect of your parents, and with one consent
hold you in dishonour;[7] and so you find yourself in a desert devoid
of friends. For if once the notion be entertained that here is a man
ungrateful to his parents, no one will believe that any kindness shown
you would be other than thrown away.

[6] Lit. "the docimasia." See Gow, "Companion," xiv.

[7] "Visiti with atimia."


III

At another time the differences between two brothers named Chaerephon
and Chaerecrates, both well known to him, had drawn his attention; and