| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Euthydemus by Plato: directed. Most of the jests appear to have a serious meaning; but we have
lost the clue to some of them, and cannot determine whether, as in the
Cratylus, Plato has or has not mixed up purely unmeaning fun with his
satire.
The two discourses of Socrates may be contrasted in several respects with
the exhibition of the Sophists: (1) In their perfect relevancy to the
subject of discussion, whereas the Sophistical discourses are wholly
irrelevant: (2) In their enquiring sympathetic tone, which encourages the
youth, instead of 'knocking him down,' after the manner of the two
Sophists: (3) In the absence of any definite conclusion--for while
Socrates and the youth are agreed that philosophy is to be studied, they
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: [2] Lit. "on the left-hand side."
[3] {ton megan daktulon}, Hdt. iii. 8.
[4] i.e. "canine tooth."
[5] Or, "it is a very exceptional horse that will not open his mouth
under the circumstances."
The groom can hardly be too much alive to the following points * * *
if any work is to be done:[6] in fact, so important is it that the
horse should readily take his bit, that, to put it tersely, a horse
that will not take it is good for nothing. Now, if the horse be bitted
not only when he has work to do, but also when he is being taken to
his food and when he is being led home from a ride, it would be no
 On Horsemanship |