The trial of Sophocles.
35.Sophocles wrote tragedies up to extreme old age: but he seemed to be neglecting his affairs through his application to study. Therefore he was summoned before the court by his sons. These implored the judges in these words: ‘Remove our foolish father from (the care of) his property.’ Then the old man is said to have recited that splendid tragedy, the ‘Oedipus Coloneus,’ to the judges, and to have asked, ‘Does this poem seem (the work) of a fool?’ When this had been recited, he was set at liberty by the sentences of the judges.
Respect paid to age.
36.Lysander the Lacedaemonian is said to have said this: ‘Old men can live best at Lacedaemon.’ For nowhere is so much (respect) paid to age, nowhere is old age more honoured. Once upon a time at Athens, at the beginning of the public games, a certain old man came into the theatre, nor was a place given to him by his own citizens; then he approached the Lacedaemonian ambassadors; but all these rose together and made room for the old man. When the Athenians began to applaud this act, one of the ambassadors remarked, ‘The Athenians indeed know (how) to do (what is) right, but they are not willing to do it.’
Diogenes.
37.Diogenes (when) dying, said: ‘Abandon me, do not place me in a tomb.’ Then (said) his friends, ‘To birds and wild beasts?’ ‘Not at all,’ remarked he, ‘but you must put a weapon by me: with this I shall drive the wild beasts from me.’ ‘How will you be able (to do so)?’ replied they; ‘for you will not perceive them.’ ‘What harm, then, will the teeth of wild beasts and the beaks of birds do to me if I perceive (lit. perceiving) nothing)?’
Anaxagoras.
38.That was a glorious answer of Anaxagoras the philosopher. For he, when dying at Lampsacus, said to his friends askng, ‘Do you wish to be carried to your own country)?’ ‘Not at all: for the way to the gods below is the same from all places.’
