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The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: instance, or at any rate one-sided,[69] seeing that what they look
upon as lawful with us is scandalous.[70] Indeed, it strikes me that
this vaunted battle-order would seem to argue some mistrust on their
part who adopt it--a suspicion that their bosom friends, once
separated from them, may forget to behave as brave men should. But the
men of Lacedaemon, holding that "if a man but lay his hand upon the
body and for lustful purpose, he shall thereby forfeit claim to what
is beautiful and noble"--do, in the spirit of their creed, contrive to
mould and fashion their "beloved ones" to such height of virtue,[71]
that should these find themselves drawn up with foreigners, albeit no
longer side by side with their own lovers,[72] conscience will make
The Symposium |
