ed the public table. (7) The plainest answer to
the question asked--that is all you need expect to hear from their lips.

(4) See Cic. "pro Coelio," 5.

(5) See Plat. "Charmid." 159 B; Jowett, "Plato," I. 15.

(6) Longinus, {peri ups}, iv. 4, reading {ophthalmois} for
{thalamois}, says: "Yet why speak of Timaeus, when even men like
Xenophon and Plato, the very demigods of literature, though they
had sat at the feet of Socrates, sometimes forget themselves in
the pursuit of such pretty conceits? The former in his account of
the Spartan Polity has these words: 'Their voice you would no more
hear, than if they were of marble, their gaze is as immovable as
if they were cast in bronze. You would deem them more modest than
the very maidens in their eyes.' To speak of the pupils of the
eyes as modest maidens was a piece of absurdity becoming
Amphicrates rather than Xenophon; and then what a strange notion
to suppose that modesty is always without exception, expressed in
the eye!"--H. L. Howell, "Longinus," p. 8. See "Spectator," No.
354.

(7) See Paus. VII. i. 8, the {phidition} or {philition}; "Hell." V.
iv. 28.

IV

But if he was thus careful in the education of the stripling, (1) the
Spartan lawgiver showed a still greater anxiety in dealing with those
who had reached the prime of opening manhood; considering their immense
importance to the city in the scale of good, if only they proved
themselves the men they should be. He had only to look around to see
what wherever the spirit of emulation (2) is most deeply seated, there,
too, their choruses and gymnastic contests will present alike a far
higher charm to eye and ear. And on the same principle he persuaded
himself that he needed only to confront (3) his youthful warriors in
the strife of valour, and with like result. They also, in their degree,
might be expected to attain to some unknown height of manly virtue.

(1) See "Hell." V. iv. 32.

(2) Cf. "Cyrop." II. i. 22.

(3) Or, "pit face to face."

What method he adopted to engage these combatants I will now explain. It
is on this wise. Their ephors select three men out of the whole body of
the citizens in the prime of life. These three are named Hippagretai,
or masters of the horse. Each of these selects one hundred others,
being bound to explain for what reason he prefers in honour these and
disapproves of those. The result is that those who f