按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Xenophon's presence on the Spartan side at the battle of Coronea
against his native city of Athens。 See /Sketch/； Works； Vol。 I。 pp。
cxxiii。 ff。＇
C5。20。 The 〃archic man〃 does not recognise the littleness of soul of
the inferior nature； he winks at it； and so disarms at once and
triumphs over savagery； and this not through cunning and pride； but a
kind of godlike imperturbable sympathy； as of a fearless man with a
savage hound。 Still there is a good dash of diplomacy。
C5。21； fin。 Pretty sentence。 Xenophon's words： some of these are
prettily…sounding words； some are rare and choice and exquisite； some
are charged with feeling； you can't touch them with your finger…tips
without feeling an 〃affective〃 thrill。 That is in part the /goeteia/；
the witchery； of his style。
C5。30…31。 A brilliant stroke of diplomacy worthy of the archic man。
This ｛arkinoia｝ of the Hellene is the necessary sharp shrewdness of a
brain； which； however 〃affectively〃 developed； is at bottom highly
organised intellectually。 H。 S。＇*＇ has it； all 'cute people and
nations have it； the Americans； e。g。every proposition must； however
else it presents itself； be apprehended in its logical bearings： the
result may be logically damaging to the supporter of it； but does not
necessarily banish an affective sympathetic attitude on the part of
the common…sense antagonist； who is not bound； in other words； to be a
sharp practitioner because he sees clearly。 Affection is the inspirer；
intellect the up…and…doing agent of the soul。 The Hellenes and all
'cute people put the agent to the fore in action； but if besides being
'cute they are affective； the operations of the agent will be confined
within prescribed limits。
＇* 〃H。 S。〃 = Henry Sidgwick； the philosopher； author of /Methods of
Ethics/； etc。； a life…long friend of Mr。 Dakyns。＇
C5。32。 This is almost pummelling； but it's fair： it's rather； 〃See； I
have you now in Chancery； I could pummel if I would。〃
C5。37。 These constant masters' meetings！
C5。38 ff。 The mind of Xenophon： guiding principles； rule of Health；
rule of Forethought。 Religious trust in the divine； and for things
beyond man's control； orderly masterly working out of problems within
his power。 Economic； diplomatic； anchinoetic； archic manhood。 Moral
theory； higher hedonism。
C5。45。 The archic man trusts human nature： this appeal to their good
faith is irresistible。 The archic is also the diplomatic method。
C5。54。 N。B。Rhetorical artifice of winding…up a speech with a joke。
This is the popular orator。 Xenophon the prototype himself perhaps。
C6。3。 Is this by chance a situation in Elizabethan or other drama？
It's tragic enough for anything。
C6。4。 Admirable colloquial style： 〃well done； me！〃
C6。6； fin。 Beautifully…sounding sentence ＇in the Greek＇。 Like harp or
viol with its dying mournful note。
C6。8。 A new tributary for the archic man； and a foothold in the
enemy's country。
C6。9； fin。 As to this daughter； /vide infra/。 Who do you think will
win her？ We like her much already。
C6。11。 The first flutings of this tale。 The lady of Susa； quasi…
historic； or wholly imaginative； or mixed？
BOOK V
＇C。1＇ Such were the deeds they did and such the words they spoke。 Then
Cyrus bade them set a guard over the share chosen for Cyaxares；
selecting those whom he knew were most attached to their lord； 〃And
what you have given me；〃 he added； 〃I accept with pleasure； but I hold
it at the service of those among you who would enjoy it the most。〃
At that one of the Medes who was passionately fond of music said； 〃In
truth； Cyrus； yesterday evening I listened to the singing…girls who
are yours to…day； and if you could give me one of them； I would far
rather be serving on this campaign than sitting at home。〃
And Cyrus said； 〃Most gladly I will give her； she is yours。 And I
believe I am more grateful to you for asking than you can be to me for
giving； I am so thirsty to gratify you all。〃
So this suitor carried off his prize。 ＇2＇ And then Cyrus called to his
side Araspas the Mede； who had been his comrade in boyhood。 It was he
to whom Cyrus gave the Median cloak he was wearing when he went back
to Persia from his grandfather's court。 Now he summoned him； and asked
him to take care of the tent and the lady from Susa。 ＇3＇ She was the
wife of Abradatas； a Susian； and when the Assyrian army was captured
it happened that her husband was away： his master had sent him on an
embassy to Bactria to conclude an alliance there； for he was the
friend and host of the Bactrian king。 And now Cyrus asked Araspas to
guard the captive lady until her husband could take her back himself。
＇4＇ To that Araspas replied； 〃Have you seen the lady whom you bid me
guard？〃
〃No； indeed；〃 said Cyrus； 〃certainly I have not。〃
〃But I have；〃 rejoined the other； 〃I saw here when we chose her for
you。 When we came into the tent； we did not make her out at first； for
she was seated on the ground with all her maidens round her； and she
was clad in the same attire as her slaves； but when we looked at them
all to discover the mistress； we soon saw that one outshone the
others； although she was veiled and kept her eyes on the ground。 ＇5＇
And when we bade her rise； all her women rose with her； and then we
saw that she was marked out from them all by her height； and her noble
bearing； and her grace； and the beauty that shone through her mean
apparel。 And； under her veil； we could see the big tear…drops
trickling down her garments to her feet。 ＇6＇ At that sight the eldest
of us said； 'Take comfort； lady； we know that your husband was
beautiful and brave； but we have chosen you a man to…day who is no
whit inferior to him in face or form or mind or power； Cyrus； we
believe； is more to be admired than any soul on earth； and you shall
be his from this day forward。' But when the lady heard that； she rent
the veil that covered her head and gave a pitiful cry； while her
maidens lifted up their voice and wept with their mistress。 ＇7＇ And
thus we could see her face； and her neck； and her arms； and I tell
you； Cyrus；〃 he added； 〃I myself； and all who looked on her； felt that
there never was； and never had been； in broad Asia a mortal woman half
so fair as she。 Nay； but you must see her for yourself。〃
＇8＇ 〃Say； rather； I must not；〃 answered Cyrus； 〃if she be such as you
describe。〃
〃And why not？〃 asked the young man。
〃Because；〃 said he； 〃if the mere report of her beauty could persuade
me to go and gaze on her to…day； when I have not a moment to spare； I
fear she would win me back again and perhaps I should neglect all I
have to do； and sit and gaze at her for ever。〃
＇9＇ At that the young man laughed outright and said：
〃So you think； Cyrus； that the beauty of any human creature can compel
a man to do wrong against his will？ Surely if that were the nature of
beauty； all men would feel its force alike。 ＇10＇ See how fire burns
all men equally； it is the nature of it so to do； but these flowers of
beauty； one man loves them； and another loves them not； nor does every
man love the same。 For love is voluntary； and each man loves what he
chooses to love。 The brother is not enamoured of his own sister； nor
the father of his own daughter； some other man must be the lover。
Reverence and law are strong enough to break the heart of passion。
＇11＇ But if a law were passed saying； 'Eat not； and thou shalt not
starve； Drink not； and thou shalt not thirst； Let not cold bite thee
in winter nor heat inflame thee in summer；' I say there is no law that
could compel us to obey； for it is our nature to be swayed by these
forces。 But love is voluntary； each man loves to himself alone； and
according as he chooses； just as he chooses his cloak or his sandals。〃
＇12＇ 〃Then；〃 said Cyrus； 〃if love be voluntary； why cannot a man cease
to love when he wishes？ I have seen men in love；〃 said he； 〃who have
wept for very agony； who were the very slaves of those they loved；
though before the fever took them they thought slavery the worst of
evils。 I have seen them make gifts of what they ill could spare； I
have seen them praying； yes； praying； to be rid of their passion； as
though it were any other malady； and yet unable to shake it off； they
were bound hand and foot by a chain of something stronger than iron。
There they stood at the beck and call of their idols； and that without
rhyme or reason； and yet； poor slaves； they make no attempt to run
away； in spite of all they suffer； on the contrary； they mount guard
over their tyrants； for fear these should escape。〃
＇13＇ But the young man spoke in answer： 〃True；〃 he said； 〃there are
such men； but they are worthless scamps； and that is why； though they
are always praying to die and be put out of their misery and though
ten thousand avenues lie open by which to escape from life； they never
take one of them。 These are the very men who are prepared to steal and
purloin the goods of others； and yet you know yourself； when they do
it； you are the first to say stealing is not done under compulsion；
and you blame the thief and the robber； you do not pity him； you
punish him。 ＇14＇ In the same way； beautiful creatures do not compel
othe