| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Eryxias by Platonic Imitator: fall to disputing about a matter of such moment, that is, about wealth, and
not merely whether it is black or white, light or heavy, but whether it is
a good or an evil, whereby, although you are now the dearest of friends and
kinsmen, the most bitter hatred may arise betwixt you, I must hinder your
dissension to the best of my power. If I could, I would tell you the
truth, and so put an end to the dispute; but as I cannot do this, and each
of you supposes that you can bring the other to an agreement, I am
prepared, as far as my capacity admits, to help you in solving the
question. Please, therefore, Critias, try to make us accept the doctrines
which you yourself entertain.
CRITIAS: I should like to follow up the argument, and will ask Eryxias
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: after the manner of the Eleians, where the fruition of beauty is an
act of grace; whilst there are others who would absolutely debar the
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
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber: it a brogue. It was nothing so gross as that. One does not
speak of the flavor of a rare wine; one calls attention
to its bouquet. A subtle, teasing, elusive something that
just tickles the senses instead of punching them in the
ribs. So his speech was permeated with a will-o'-the-wisp,
a tingling richness that evaded definition. You will have
to imagine it. There shall be no vain attempt to set it
down. Besides, you always skip dialect.
"So you're going away. I'd heard. Where to?"
"Chicago, Haynes-Cooper. It's a wonderful chance. I don't
see yet how I got it. There's only one other woman on their
Fanny Herself |
