THE SUITORS OF AGARISTE. 91

which he followed by certain Attic ones. Finally,
to show his utmost powers of performance, he stood
on his head on the table, and peg to dance with
his legs in empty air.

This was too much for Cleisthenes. He had
changed his opinion of Hippoclides during his light
and undignified exhibition, but restrained himself
from speaking to avoid any outbreak or ill feeling.
But on seeing him tossing his legs in this shameless
manner in the air, the indignant monarch cried out,—

“Son of Tisander, you have danced your wife
away.”

“What does Hippoclides care?” was the reply of
the tipsy youth.

And for centuries afterwards “ What does Hippo-
clides care?’ was a common saying in Greece, to
indicate reckless folly and lightness of mind.

Cleisthenes now commanded silence, and spoke as
follows to the assembly :

“Suitors of my daughter, well pleased am I with
you all, and right willingly, if it were possible,
would I content you all, and not, by making choice
of one, appear to put a slight upon the rest. But
as it is out of my power, seeing that I have only one
daughter, to grant to all their wishes, I will present
to each of you whom I must needs dismiss a talent
of silver * for the honor that you have done in seek-
ing to ally yourselves with my house, and for your
long absence from your homes. But my daughter
Agaristé I betroth to Megacles, the son of Alemzon,

 

* Equal to about one thousand dollars,