s--young Philotas of Amphissa, a student, and, moreover, a
courteous young man of excellent family--had gone to a banquet to which
Antyllus, the son of Antony, had invited several of his classmates. This
had already happened several times, and he, Phryx, had warned him, for,
when the lowly associate with the lofty, the lowly rarely escape kicks
and blows. The young fellow, who usually had behaved no worse than the
other Ephebi, had always returned from such festivities with a flushed
face and unsteady steps, but to-night he had not even reached his room
in the upper story. He had darted into the house as though pursued by
the watch, and, while trying to rush up the stairs--it was really only
a ladder-he had made a misstep and fell. He, Phryx, did not believe that
he was hurt, for none of his limbs ached, even when they were pulled and
stretched, and Dionysus kindly protected drunkards; but some demon must
have taken possession of him, for he howled and groaned continually,
and would answer no questions. True, he was aware, from the festivals
of Dionysus, that the young man was one of those who, when intoxicated,
weep and lament; but this time something unusual must have occurred,
for in the first place his handsome face was coloured black and looked
hideous, since his tears had washed away the soot in many places, and
then he talked nothing but a confused jargon. It was a pity.

When an attempt was made, with the help of the garden slave, to carry
him to his room, he dealt blows and kicks like a lunatic. Didymus now
also believed that he was possessed by demons, as often happens to those
who, in falling, strike their heads against the ground, and thus wake
the demons in the earth. Well, yes, they might be demons, but only those
of wine. The student was just "crazy drunk," as people say. But the old
gentleman was very fond of his pupil, and had ordered him, Pliryx, to
go to Olympus, who, ever since he could remember, had been the family
physician.

"The Queen's leech?" asked Gorgias, disapprovingly, and when the slave
assented, the architect exclaimed in a positive tone: "It is not right
to force the old man out of doors in such a north wind. Age is not
specially considerate to age. Now that the statues stand yonder, I can
leave my post for half an hour and will go with you. I don't think a
leech is needed to drive out these demons."

"True, my lord, true!" cried the slave, "but Olympus is our friend. He
visits few pat