22.  And, best of all, we were surrounded by a far from ignoble band, under his instruction and guidance, and delighting in the same objects, as we ran on foot beside that Lydian car,34    Lydian car, proverbial expression for anything whose speed distances all competitors. his own course and disposition:  and so we became famous, not only among our own teachers and comrades, but even throughout Greece, and especially in the eyes of its most distinguished men.  We even passed beyond its boundaries, as was made clear by the evidence of many.  For our instructors were known to all who knew Athens, and all who knew them, knew us, as the subject of conversation, being actually looked upon, or heard of by report, as an illustrious pair.  Orestes and Pylades35    Orestes and Pylades, types of close comradeship in Greek tragedies. were in their eyes nothing to us, or the sons of Molione,36    Sons of Molione, Eurytus and Cteatus, Hom. Il. ii. 621.  Their father was Actor. the wonders of the Homeric scroll, celebrated for their union in misfortune, and their splendid driving, as they shared in reins and whip alike.  But I have been unawares betrayed into praising myself, in a manner I would not have allowed in another.  And it is no wonder that I gained here in some advantage from his friendship, and that, as in life he aided me in virtue, so since his departure he has contributed to my renown.  But I must return to my proper course.

Καὶ τὸ κάλλιστον, ὅτι καὶ φρατρία τις περὶ ἡμᾶς οὐκ ἀγεννὴς ἦν, ὑπ' ἐκείνῳ καθηγεμόνι παιδευομένη καὶ ἀγομένη καὶ τοῖς αὐτοῖς χαίρουσα: εἰ καὶ πεζοὶ παρὰ Λύδιον ἅρμα ἐθέομεν, τὸν ἐκείνου δρόμον καὶ τρόπον: ἐξ ὧν ὑπῆρχεν ἡμῖν ἐπισήμοις μὲν εἶναι παρὰ τοῖς ἡμετέροις παιδευταῖς καὶ συμπράκτορσιν, ἐπισήμοις δὲ παρὰ τῇ Ἑλλάδι πάσῃ καὶ ταύτης μάλιστα τοῖς γνωριμωτάτοις. Ἤδη δὲ καὶ μέχρι τῆς ὑπερορίας προήλθομεν, ὡς σαφὲς γέγονεν ἐκ πλειόνων τῶν ταῦτα διηγουμένων. Παρὰ τοσούτοις μὲν γὰρ οἱ ἡμέτεροι παιδευταί, παρ' ὅσοις Ἀθῆναι: παρὰ τοσούτοις δὲ ἡμεῖς, παρ' ὅσοις οἱ παιδευταί, συνακουόμενοί τε ἀλλήλοις καὶ συλλαλούμενοι, καὶ ξυνωρὶς οὐκ ἀνώνυμος καὶ ὄντες παρ' αὐτοῖς καὶ ἀκούοντες. Οὐδὲν τοιοῦτον αὐτοῖς οἱ Ὀρέσται καὶ οἱ Πυλάδαι: οὐδὲν οἱ Μολιονίδαι, τῆς Ὁμηρικῆς δέλτου τὸ θαῦμα, οὓς κοινωνία συμφορῶν ἐγνώρισε, καὶ τὸ καλῶς ἅρμα ἐλαύνειν μεριζομένους ἐν ταὐτῷ ἡνίας καὶ μάστιγας. Ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἔλαθον ἐμαυτὸν εἰς τοὺς ἐμοὺς ὑπαχθεὶς ἐπαίνους, ὁ μηδὲ παρ' ἑτέρου ποτὲ τοῦτο δεξάμενος: καὶ θαυμαστὸν οὐδέν, εἰ κἀνταῦθα τῆς ἐκείνου φιλίας τι παραπέλαυσα, ὥσπερ ζῶντος εἰς ἀρετήν, οὕτω μεταστάντος εἰς εὐφημίαν. Ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τὴν νύσσαν ἐπαναγέσθω πάλιν ἡμῖν ὁ λόγος.