The Orator Demades

The orator Demades was one day addressing the people of Athens. As they were not paying much attention to his speech, he asked leave to tell them a fable of Aesop. The request granted, he began: "Demeter, the swallow, and the eel were travelling together; they came to the bank of a river; then the swallow flew up into the air, and the eel dived into the water," and there he stopped. "And Demeter," they cried, "what did she do?" "She grew angry with you," he answered, "who neglect the affairs of the state to attach yourselves to Aesop's fables."