| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: lover from all conversation[23] and discourse with the beloved.
[22] See Xen. "Symp." viii. 34; Plato, "Symp." 182 B (Jowett, II. p.
33).
[23] {dialegesthai} came to mean philosophic discussion and debate. Is
the author thinking of Socrates? See "Mem." I. ii. 35; IV. v. 12.
Lycurgus adopted a system opposed to all of these alike. Given that
some one, himself being all that a man ought to be, should in
admiration of a boy's soul[24] endeavour to discover in him a true
friend without reproach, and to consort with him--this was a
relationship which Lycurgus commended, and indeed regarded as the
noblest type of bringing up. But if, as was evident, it was not an
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from On Revenues by Xenophon: III
At this point I propose to offer some remarks in proof of the
attractions and advantages of Athens as a centre of commercial
enterprise. In the first place, it will hardly be denied that we
possess the finest and safest harbourage for shipping, where vessels
of all sorts can come to moorings and be laid up in absolute
security[1] as far as stress of weather is concerned. But further than
that, in most states the trader is under the necessity of lading his
vessel with some merchandise[2] or other in exchange for his cargo,
since the current coin[3] has no circulation beyond the frontier. But
at Athens he has a choice: he can either in return for his wares
|
