Living Poets

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τοῦ δὲ Νικίου καὶ διὰ τἆλλα μέγας ἦν καὶ διὰ τὸν πλοῦτον καὶ διὰ τὴν δόξαν ὁ ὄγκος. λέγεται δ’ ἐν τῶι στρατηγίωι ποτὲ βουλευομένων τι κοινῆι τῶν συναρχόντων κελευσθεὶς ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ πρῶτος εἰπεῖν γνώμην Σοφοκλῆς ὁ ποιητής, ὡς πρεσβύτατος ὢν τῶν συστρατήγων, “ἐγώ” φάναι “παλαιότατός εἰμι, σὺ δὲ πρεσβύτατος.”

Nicias, on the other hand, had great dignity for many reasons, which included his wealth and his reputation. It is said that once, when he and his fellow-archons were deliberating together about something in the public office, he asked Sophocles the poet to give his opinion first, since he was the eldest of the generals. Sophocles said, “I am the eldest, but you are the most senior.”

Relevant guides	Sophocles