Kitap 11
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Ath. Oedipus, when he was dishonored (so our story runs), invoked upon his children curses Cp. Aesch. Seven 709 ff.; Soph. OC 1432 ff. which, as all men allege, were granted by Heaven and fulfilled; and we tell how Amyntor in his wrath cursed his son Phoenix, Cp. Hom. Il. 9.446 ff.: Phoenix, to avenge his neglected mother, seduced his father’s mistress. and Theseus cursed Hippolytus, Cp. Plat. Laws 687e, Eur. Hipp. 884 ff. : Hippolytus was falsely charged with dishonoring his step-mother, Phaedra. and countless other parents cursed countless other sons, which curses of parents upon sons it is clearly proved that the gods grant; for a parent’s curse laid upon his children is more potent than any other man’s curse against any other, and most justly so. Let no man suppose, then, that when a father or a mother is dishonored by the children, in that case it is natural for God to hearken especially to their prayers, whereas when the parent is honored and is highly pleased and earnestly prays the gods, in consequence, to bless his children—are we not to suppose that they hearken equally to prayers of this kind, and grant them to us? For if not, they could never be just dispensers of blessings; and that, as we assert, would be most unbecoming in gods.
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Clin. Most, indeed.
