Icaromenippus

Lucian of Samosata

Lucian, Vol. 2. Harmon, A. M., editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1915.

TIMON Lo and behold! here comes a third, the orator Demeas, holding a resolution in his hand and saying that he is a relative of mine. That fellow paid the city treasury sixteen talents within a single day, getting his money from me, for he had been condemned to a fine and put in jail while it was unpaid. And yet when it became his duty recently to distribute the show-money to the Erechtheis tribe,[*](A slip on Lucian’s part, for Collytus belonged to Aegeis. The show-money (theoric fund) was at first given only to cover the cost of admission to state spectacles, but later became a distribution per capita of the surplus funds.) and I went up and asked for my share, he said he did not recognize me as a citizen !

v.2.p.383

DEMEAS Good day, Timon, great benefactor of your kin, bulwark of Athens, shield of Greece! ‘The assembly and both the councils are in session and awaiting your pleasure this long time. But before you go, listen to the resolution that I drew up in your behalf. “Whereas Timon of Collytus, the son of Echecratides, a man who is not only upright but wise beyond any other in Greece, labours always in the best interests of the city, and has won the boxing match, the wrestling match, and the foot-race at Olympia in a single day, as well as the horse-races, both with the regular chariot and with the span of colts””— -

TIMON But I never was even a delegate[*](An official representative of the state. Cf. Aristophanes, Wasps 1188 ff.) to the games at Olympia !

DEMEAS What of that? You will be, later. It is best to put in plenty of that sort of thing. — "and fought bravely for the city at Acharnae vee and cut to pieces two divisions of Spartans"—

TIMON What do you mean by that? I wasn’t even posted on the muster-roll because I had no arms.

DEMEAS You are modest in talking about yourself, but we should be ungrateful if we failed to remember. — “and furthermore has been of great service to the city by drawing up resolutions and serving on the council and acting as general ;

v.2.p.385
“On all these grounds be it resolved by the council, the assembly, the panel of jurors, the tribes and the demes, both severally and in common, to erect a golden statue of Timon beside Athena on the Acropolis with a thunderbolt in his hand and a halo[*](Literally, “rays,” the attribute of Helius. The colossal statue of Nero had these rays.) upon his head, and to crown him with seven crowns of gold, said crowns to be awarded by proclamation to-day at the Dionysia when the new tragedies are performed ; for the Dionysia must be held to-day on his account. Moved by the orator Demeas, his next of kin and his pupil; for Timon is an excellent orator and anything else that he wants to be.”

There you have the resolution. I wish I had brought my son to see you; I have called him Timon after you.

TIMON How can that be, Demeas, when you aren't even married, as far as I know?

DEMEAS No, but I am going to marry next year, Zeus willing, and havea child ; and I now name it Timon, for it will be a boy.

TIMON Perhaps you don’t care to marry now, sirrah, on getting such a clout from me.

DEMEAS Oh! Oh! What does this mean? Timon, you are trying to make yourself tyrant and you are beating free men when you yourself have not a clear title to your freedom. You shall soon pay for this, and for burning the Acropolis too.

v.2.p.387