29
When he was admitted to citizenship, he showed himself not inferior to those whom I have mentioned, nor did he think it fitting that he should lead a life of ease, pluming himself upon the brave deeds of his ancestors; on the contrary, from the beginning he was so fired with ambition that he thought that even their great deeds should be held in remembrance through his own. And first of all, when PhormioA famous Athenian general. led a thousand of the flower of Athenian soldiers to Thrace,Expedition to recover the city of Potidaea in 439 B.C. Thucydides (Thuc. 1.64.2) speaks of 1600 hoplites. Cf. Plat. Sym. 220 for the award of valor given to Alcibiades. my father served with this expedition, and so distinguished himself in the perilous actions of the campaign that he was crowned and received a full suit of armour from his general.
30
Really what is required of the man who is thought worthy of the highest praise? Should he not, when serving with the bravest of the citizens, be thought worthy of the prize of valor, and when leading an army against the best of the Greeks in all the battles show his superiority to them? My father, then, in his youth did win that prize of valor and in later life did achieve the latter.
31
After this he married my motherHipparet.; and I believe that in her he also won a glorious prize of valor. For her father was Hipponicus,Son of Callias, noted for his wealth. first in wealth of all the Greeks and second in birth to none of the citizens, most honored and admired of his contemporaries. The richest dowry and fairest reputation went with his daughter’s hand; and although all coveted union with her, and only the greatest thought themselves worthy, it was my father whom Hipponicus chose from among them all and desired to make his son-in-law.
