There was once a painter whose name was Zeuxis. [Footnote: Zeuxis
(_pro_. zuke'sis).] He could paint pictures so life-like that they were
mistaken for the real things which they represented.
At one time he painted the picture of some fruit which was so real
that the birds flew down and pecked at it. This made him very proud
of his skill.
"I am the only man in the world who can paint a picture so true to
life," he said.
There was another famous artist whose name was Parrhasius. [Footnote:
Parrhasius (_pro_. pa ra'shl us).] When he heard of the boast which
Zeuxis had made, he said to himself, "I will see what I can do."
So he painted a beautiful picture which seemed to be covered with a
curtain. Then he invited Zeuxis to come and see it.
Zeuxis looked at it closely. "Draw the curtain aside and show us the
picture," he said.