Demetrius

Plutarch

Plutarch. Plutarch's Lives, Vol. IX. Perrin, Bernadotte, translator. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press; London: William Heinemann Ltd., 1920.

Therefore Philippides, who was an enemy of Stratocles, assailed him in a comedy with these verses[*](Cf. Kock, Com. Att. Frag. iii. p. 308.):—

  1. Through him it was that hoar-frost blasted all the vines,
  2. Through his impiety the robe was rent in twain,
  3. Because he gave the gods’ own honours unto men.
  4. Such work undoes a people, not its comedy.

Philippides was a friend of Lysimachus, and for his sake the king bestowed many favours on the Athenian people. Moreover, when he was about to undertake anything or make an expedition, he thought it a good omen to meet or catch sight of Philippides. And in general the character of Philippides gave him a good repute, since he was no busybody, and had none of the officious ways of a courtier. On one occasion Lysimachus wished to do him a kindness, and said: Philippides, what have I that I can share with thee?O King, said Philippides, anything but one of thy state secrets. Such a man, then, I purposely compare with Stratocles, the man of the stage with the man of the bema.