And yield a laughing-stock unto the age."
Again, the same Menander, stating his opinion ahout those who are received as gods, proving rather that they are not so, says:
"Yea, if I this beheld, I then should wish
That back to me again my soul returned.
For tell me where, O Getas, in the world
'Tis possible to find out righteous gods?"
And in the Depositum:
"There's an unrighteous judgment, as it seems,
Even with the gods."
And Euripides the tragedian, in Orestes, says:
"Apollo having caused by his command
The murder of the mother, knoweth not
What honesty and justice signify.
We serve the gods, whoever they may be;
But from the central regions of the earth
You see Apollo plainly gives response
To mortals, and whate'er he says we do.
I him obeyed, when she that bore me fell
Slain by my hand: he is the wicked man.
Then slay him, for twas he that sinned, not I.
What could I do? Think you not that the god
Should free me from the blame which I do bear?"
The same also in Hippolytus:
"But on these points the gods do not judge right."
And in Ion:
What interest have I? for that pertains
Not unto such as me. But when I come
With golden vessels for libations, I
The dew shall sprinkle, and yet needs must warn
