are of noble family, "eupatrid" by descent, a priest of the
divinities,[89] and of Erechtheus' famous line,[90] which with Iacchus
marched to encounter the barbarian.[91] And still, at the sacred
festival to-day, it is agreed that no one among your ancestors has
ever been more fitted to discharge the priestly office than yourself;
yours a person the goodliest to behold in all our city, and a frame
adapted to undergo great toils.

[88] Cf. "Mem." III. vii.

[89] i.e. Demeter and Core. Callias (see "Hell." VI. l.c.) was
dadouchos (or torch-holder) in the mysteries.

[90] Or, "whose rites date back to Erechtheus." Cf. Plat. "Theag."
122.

[91] At Salamis. The tale is told by Herod. viii. 65, and Plut.
"Themist." 15; cf. Polyaen. "Strat." iii. 11. 2. Just as
Themistocles had won the battle of Salamis by help of Iacchus on
the 16th Boedromion, the first day of the mysteries, so Chabrias
won the sea-fight of Naxos by help of the day itself, {to 'Alade
mustai}, 376 B.C.

But if I seem to any of you to indulge a vein more serious than befits
the wine-cup, marvel not. It has long been my wont to share our city's
passion for noble-natured souls, alert and emulous in pursuit of
virtue.

He ended, and, while the others continued to discuss the theme of his
discourse, Autolycus sat regarding Callias. That other, glancing the