Demades, a famous Greek orator, was once addressing an assembly at
Athens on a subject of great importance, and in vain tried to fix the
attention of his hearers. They laughed among themselves, watched the
sports of the children, and in twenty other ways showed their want of
interest in the subject of the discourse.
Demades, after a short pause, spoke as follows:
"Ceres one day journeyed in company with a Swallow and an Eel." At
this there was marked attention and every ear strained now to catch the
words of the orator. "The party came to a river," continued he; "the
Eel swam across, and the Swallow flew over." He then resumed the
subject of his harangue.
A great cry, however, arose from the people, "And Ceres? and Ceres?"
cried they. "What did Ceres do?"
"Why, the goddess was, as she is now," replied he, "mightily offended
that people should have their ears open to any sort of foolery, and
shut to words of truth and wisdom."