Laudator Temporis Acti

Lycurgus, Against Leocrates 94 (tr. Edward M. Harris):

I believe, gentlemen, that divine providence watches over all human affairs and especially the reverence we show our parents, the dead, and the gods themselves; rightly so. They have given us the beginning of our lives and the greatest share of the blessings we receive; it would be the greatest sacrilege not only to mistreat them but to refuse to devote our lives to helping them.

ἡγοῦμαι δ' ἔγωγ', ὦ ἄνδρες, τὴν τῶν θεῶν ἐπιμέλειαν πάσας μὲν τὰς ἀνθρωπίνας πράξεις ἐπισκοπεῖν, μάλιστα δὲ τὴν περὶ τοὺς γονέας καὶ τοὺς τετελευτηκότας καὶ τὴν πρὸς αὑτοὺς εὐσέβειαν, εἰκότως· παρ' ὧν γὰρ τὴν ἀρχὴν τοῦ ζῆν εἰλήφαμεν καὶ πλεῖστα ἀγαθὰ πεπόνθαμεν, εἰς τούτους μὴ ὅτι ἁμαρτεῖν, ἀλλὰ μὴ εὐεργετοῦντας τὸν αὑτῶν βίον καταναλῶσαι μέγιστον ἀσέβημά ἐστι.

καὶ τοὺς τετελευτηκότας καὶ τὴν πρὸς αὑτοὺς del. Hirschig, "Emendationes in Oratoribus Atticis," Philologus 5 (1850) 318-344 (at 329)

A. Petrie ad loc.: