| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: Plato; for a conception of his character, Plato's dialogue
"Charmides"; "Theag." 128 E; "Hell." II. iv. 19; "Symp." iv. 31;
Grote, "Plato," i. 480.
Tell me, Charmides, supposing some one competent to win a victory in
the arena and to receive a crown,[2] whereby he will gain honour
himself and make the land of his fathers more glorious in Hellas,[3]
were to refuse to enter the lists--what kind of person should you set
him down to be?
[2] In some conquest (e.g. of the Olympic games) where the prize is a
mere wreath.
[3] Cf. Pindar passim.
The Memorabilia |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Odyssey by Homer: from the day that I left the snowy ranges of Crete to go on
shipboard. I will lie as I have lain on many a sleepless night
hitherto. Night after night have I passed in any rough sleeping
place, and waited for morning. Nor, again, do I like having my
feet washed; I shall not let any of the young hussies about your
house touch my feet; but, if you have any old and respectable
woman who has gone through as much trouble as I have, I will
allow her to wash them."
To this Penelope said, "My dear sir, of all the guests who ever
yet came to my house there never was one who spoke in all things
with such admirable propriety as you do. There happens to be in
The Odyssey |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Odyssey by Homer: roll it over on to the other side, its weight would be too much
for him, and the pitiless stone {98} would come thundering down
again on to the plain. Then he would begin trying to push it up
hill again, and the sweat ran off him and the steam rose after
him.
"After him I saw mighty Hercules, but it was his phantom only,
for he is feasting ever with the immortal gods, and has lovely
Hebe to wife, who is daughter of Jove and Juno. The ghosts were
screaming round him like scared birds flying all whithers. He
looked black as night with his bare bow in his hands and his
arrow on the string, glaring around as though ever on the point
The Odyssey |
