Laudator Temporis Acti

A man from Sparta called Timandridas went abroad and left his son in charge at home. When he returned later and found the son had made the family property more substantial than it had been at his departure, he declared that injustice was being done to many: the gods, his family, and their circle—because it is to them that free men dispose of what is surplus to their own needs. If a man during his lifetime gives the impression of poverty and on his death is found to be rich, that is the most shameful thing that can happen.

Λακεδαιμόνιος ἀνὴρ Τιμανδρίδας ὄνομα ἀποδημήσας τὸν υἱὸν ἀπέλιπε μελεδωνὸν τῆς οἰκίας. εἶτα ἐπανελθὼν χρόνῳ ὕστερον καὶ εὑρὼν τὴν οὐσίαν ποιήσαντα ἧς ἀπέλιπε πλείω, ἔφη πολλοὺς ἀδικεῖσθαι ὑπ´ αὐτοῦ θεούς τε καὶ οἰκείους καὶ ξένους· τὰ γὰρ περιττὰ τῶν ὄντων εἰς ἐκείνους ἀναλίσκεσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἐλευθέρων. τὸ δὲ ζῶντα μὲν φαίνεσθαι πένητα, τελευτήσαντα δὲ καταφωραθῆναι πλούσιον, ἀλλὰ τοῦτο τῶν ἐν ἀνθρώποις ἐστὶν αἴσχιστον.

τῶν ὄντων J. Gronovius: τούτων codd.