| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Agesilaus by Xenophon: under his eyes, who to escape a life of pain must drag together from
the uttermost parts of earth the separate ingredients for his
pleasure. It was another source of joy that to himself it was given to
confront the appointed order of the universe[7] without pain; while
through weakness of soul his rival, it was plain to see, was driven to
flee away from heat and cold, and to shape his life, not by the
pattern of brave men, but of some mean and defenceless animal.[8]
[5] See Herod. i. 135, for the luxury of the Persians and for the
refinements of civilisation. See "Mem." II. i. 10; "Cyrop." VIII.
i. 40.
[6] Or, "in a round of festivity."
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Cavalry General by Xenophon: with fullest increase to yourself, and friends, and to the state at
large of affection, glory, and wide usefulness. The goodwill of
Heaven[3] so obtained, you shall proceed to mount your troopers,
taking care that the full complement which the law demands is reached,
and that the normal force of cavalry is not diminished. There will
need to be a reserve of remounts, or else a deficiency may occur at
any moment,[4] looking to the fact that some will certainly succumb to
old age, and others, from one reason or another, prove unserviceable.
[1] For the title, etc., see Schneid. "Praemon. de Xeno." {Ipp}.
Boeckh, "P. E. A." 251.
[2] Or, "with sacrifice to ask of Heaven those gifts of thought and
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Flame and Shadow by Sara Teasdale: Lovely Chance
O lovely chance, what can I do
To give my gratefulness to you?
You rise between myself and me
With a wise persistency;
I would have broken body and soul,
But by your grace, still I am whole.
Many a thing you did to save me,
Many a holy gift you gave me,
Music and friends and happy love
More than my dearest dreaming of;
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