But if it is not for these
achievements that you honor Orestes and Pylades,
tell me, Toxaris, what else they ever did for your
good, in return for which you have now reversed
your former judgment and sacrifice to them,
bringing victims to those who once came extremely near being victims themselves. It seems
absurdly inconsistent with the past.


 Toxaris And yet, Mnesippos, those were noble
deeds, though you laugh at them. Just think,
they were only two men, and yet they dared this
gallant adventure; sailed all this distance from
home and ventured into the Pontos, unknown as
yet to the Greeks, except those who manned the
Argo in the expedition against Kolchis, and they
were not frightened by the stories about this sea
or its name of "The Inhospitable," gained for
it, I suppose, by the savage tribes on its shores.
And when they were captured they took the affair
in such a courageous way that they were not contented merely to make their escape, but when
they had first taken their revenge and carried off
the statue of Artemis, then they sailed away.
Now, are not these wonderful achievements, and
really worthy of divine honor from any one who
gives bravery his approval? Still, it is not because we see these traits in Orestes and Pylades
that we deem them heroes.