[73]
And
this woman offered on the city's behalf the sacrifices which none may name, and
saw what it was not fitting for her to see, being an alien; and despite her
character she entered where no other of the whole host of the Athenians enters
save the wife of the king only; and she administered the oath to the venerable
priestesses1 who preside over the
sacrifices, and was given as bride to Dionysus2; and she conducted on the city's behalf the rites which our
fathers handed down for the service of the gods, rites many and solemn and not
to be named. If it be not permitted that anyone even hear of them, how can it be
consonant with piety for a chance-comer to perform them, especially a woman of
her character and one who has done what she has done?
Demosthenes. Demosthenes with an English translation by Norman W. DeWitt, Ph.D., and Norman J. DeWitt, Ph.D. Cambridge, MA, Harvard University Press; London, William Heinemann Ltd. 1949.
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