| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: it incumbent on itself to share in the functions of the general or of
the commander of cavalry.[10] The sovereign People recognises the fact
that in forgoing the personal exercise of these offices, and leaving
them to the control of the more powerful[11] citizens, it secures the
balance of advantage to itself. It is only those departments of
government which bring emolument[12] and assist the private estate
that the People cares to keep in its own hands.
[3] Cf. "Mem." I. ii. 58 foll.
[4] Lit. "ply the oar and propel the galleys."
[5] See "Econ." viii. 14; Pollux, i. 96; Arist. "Knights," 543 foll.;
Plat. "Laws," v. 707 A; Jowett, "Plat." v. 278 foll.; Boeckh, "P.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The United States Constitution: the Seat of the Government of the United States, directed to the
President of the Senate. The President of the Senate shall,
in the Presence of the Senate and House of Representatives,
open all the Certificates, and the Votes shall then be counted.
The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President,
if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed;
and if there be more than one who have such Majority, and have an equal
Number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall immediately
chuse by Ballot one of them for President; and if no Person have
a Majority, then from the five highest on the List the said House
shall in like Manner chuse the President. But in chusing the President,
The United States Constitution |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Georgics by Virgil: Their residue of days nor apt to teem,
Nor strong for ploughing. Meantime, while youth's delight
Survives within them, loose the males: be first
To speed thy herds of cattle to their loves,
Breed stock with stock, and keep the race supplied.
Ah! life's best hours are ever first to fly
From hapless mortals; in their place succeed
Disease and dolorous eld; till travail sore
And death unpitying sweep them from the scene.
Still will be some, whose form thou fain wouldst change;
Renew them still; with yearly choice of young
Georgics |
