| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Hiero by Xenophon: safely in their graves, he is not one whit more confident of spirit,
but still more on his guard than heretofore. That is the kind of war
with which the tyrant is beset from day to day continually, as I do
prove.[21]
[17] See Hold. (crit. app.); Hartman, op. cit. p. 260.
[18] Cf. "Mem." I. ii. 38.
[19] Cf. "Anab." II. vi. 11; "Hell." VI. iv. 16.
[20] "Not of malice prepense."
[21] Or, "Such then, as I describe it, is the type of war," etc.
III
Turn now and contemplate the sort of friendship whereof it is given to
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: healthier, and in general more useful than the good? Do you pour
contempt upon those blessings which flow from the healthy state? And
yet the very opposite of that which befalls the ill attends the sound
condition. Does not the very soundness imply at once health and
strength?[5] Many a man with no other talisman than this has passed
safely through the ordeal of war; stepping, not without dignity,[6]
through all its horrors unscathed. Many with no other support than
this have come to the rescue of friends, or stood forth as benefactors
of their fatherland; whereby they were thought worthy of gratitude,
and obtained a great renown and received as a recompense the highest
honours of the State; to whom is also reserved a happier and brighter
The Memorabilia |
