“Accused! O shame and disgrace! I cannot say it without weeping: Phidias is accused of having purloined gold from the statue of Athene.”
The silence which followed was first broken by Pericles: “Phidias hides his face in his mantle; he is ashamed for Athens. But by the gods and the nether world, let us swear to his innocence.”
“We swear!” exclaimed all like one man.
“I swear also,” said Nicias.
“Athens is dishonoured, if one has to swear that Phidias has not stolen.”
Nicias had approached Pericles, and, bowing to Aspasia, he whispered, “Pericles, your son Paralos is ill.”
“Of the pestilence! Follow me, Aspasia.”
“He is not my son, but yours; therefore I follow you.”
“The house collapses, friends depart, all beauty passes away, the ugly remains.”
“And the gods sleep.”