Demonax
Lucian of Samosata
Lucian, Vol. 1. Harmon, A. M., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1913.
On seeing an aristocrat who set great store on the breadth of his purple band, Demonax, taking hold of the garment and calling his attention to it,
When he was taking a bath and hesitated to enter the steaming water, a man reproached him with cowardice. “Tell me,’ said he, “was my country at stake in the matter?”
When someone asked him: “What do you think it is like in Hades?” he replied: “Wait a bit, and I'll send you word from there!”
A vile poet named Admetus told him that he had written an epitaph in a single line and had given instructions in his will to have it carved on his tomb- . stone. I may as well quote it exactly :
Earth, in thy bosom receive Admetus’s husk ; he’s a god now!Demonax said with a laugh: “The epitaph is so fine that I wish it were already carved!”
A man saw on the legs of Demonax a discoloration of the sort that is natural to old people, and enquired:
“What’s that, Demonax?”’ With a smile he said: “The ferryman’s toothmark !”
He, saw a Spartan beating a lave, and said: “Stop treating him as your equal !’