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 sent to Lemnos, (and) tried to bring Philoctetes with them to Troy. He resisted for a long time: at length, overcome by their prayers, he went to Troy. Not long after Troy was taken with the help of his arrows, having been attacked in vain for ten years. 52.The tyrant Dionysius, (when) supping with the Lacedaemonians, said, ‘I, for my part, am not at all pleased with this black soup.’ For at the public tables at Sparta they eat black soup, bread, (and) fruit; milk and water are drunk. Then the cook replied: ‘It is not at all surprising, for the sauces are wanting. Now these sauces are toil, running, hunger, (and) thirst. Without these no one can be pleased with this soup.’ 53.Once upon a time, after the Persians had been utterly defeated in a naval engagement, Themistocles said before the Assembly at Athens: ‘I have a plan in my mind; this will be useful to the republic, yet it must be kept secret. I wish to communicate it to one of our chief men.’ Aristides was chosen for this office. Themistocles said to him: ‘The fleet of the Lacedaemonians is at anchor in harbour. We shall be able to set it on fire secretly. Thus their naval power will be destroyed.’ On hearing this, Aristides having returned to the Council, spoke as follows: ‘The counsel of Themistocles is both useful, and also not at all honourable.’ Therefore, the Athenians rejected the plan without even hearing it.

54.Zeuxis and Parrhasius were very celebrated painters. Zeuxis, first painted grapes. The birds kept flying to the picture, wishing to eat the grapes. Then Parrhasius painted a cloth. But Zeuxis, not understanding a trick of this sort, said to Parrhasius, ‘Take away the cloth ; I want to see the picture.’ Soon on understanding his mistake, he said: ‘I have been conquered by thee: for I have deceived birds, thou hast (deceived) Zeuxis himself.’