Athēnīs quīdam prōvectae aetātis, cum
lūdōs spectātum in theātrum sērō vēnisset,
sēdem vacuam invenīre nōn poterat. Quae
cum vidērent nōnnūllī, digitīs sīgnāvērunt sē
suās sēdēs, sī modo sibi appropinquāvisset, eī
esse concēssūrōs. Senex igitur nunc ad hōs,
nunc ad illōs, appropinquāvit; sed omnēs
simul atque advēnit ille, lūdibriī causā ōrdinēs
suōs ita stīpāvērunt ut senex exclūsus spectātōribus
rīsuī esset. Tandem autem ad
Lacedaemoniōrum lēgātōs forte pervēnit, quī,
misericordiā commōtī, et cānōs ēius et aetātem
venerātī, omnēs assurrēxērunt, sēdemque eī
inter ipsōs honōrātissimō locō dedērunt. Quod
ubi fierī spectātōrēs adspexērunt, pudōre cōnfectī,
māximō plausū aliēnae urbis ergā senēs
venerātiōnem comprobāvērunt; quibus senex,
"Athēniēnsēs vērō," inquit, "quid sit rēctum,
satis sciunt; Lacedaemoniī autem faciunt."