Thomas Taylor

“ For the aspect of parents is a thing divine and beautiful, and a diligent observance of them is attended with a delight such as neither the survey of the sun, nor of all the stars which dance round the illuminated heavens, is capable of producing, nor any other spectacle, should it even be greater than this. ”

“ And in every allotted condition of soul and body, and of external circumstances, in peace, also, and war, in health [and sickness [2] ] , in riches and in poverty, in renown and ignominy, and whether they are of the same class with most of the community, or are magistrates, it is necessary to be present with, and never to forsake them, and almost to submit to them even when they are insane. ”

“ For such conduct will be wisely and cheerfully adopted by those that are pious. But he who despises his parents will, both among the living and the dead, be condemned for this crime by the Gods, will be hated by men, and under the earth will, together with the impious, be eternally [3] punished in the same place by Justice, and the subterranean Gods, whose province it is to inspect things of this kind. ”