Chapter IV: Xenophon

Xenophon--his character--essentially a man of action and not a theorist--the Sokratic element is in him an accessory 206

Date of Xenophon--probable year of his birth 207

His personal history--He consults Sokrates--takes the opinion of the Delphian oracle 208

His service and command with the Ten Thousand Greeks, afterwards under Agesilaus and the Spartans.--He is banished from Athens 209

His residence at Skillus near Olympia 210

Family of Xenophon--his son Gryllus killed at Mantineia _ib._

Death of Xenophon at Corinth--Story of the Eleian Exegetæ 211

Xenophon different from Plato and the other Sokratic brethren 212

His various works--Memorabilia, Oekonomikus, &c. 213

Ischomachus, hero of the Oekonomikus--ideal of an active citizen, cultivator, husband, house-master, &c. 214

Text upon which Xenophon insists--capital difference between command over subordinates willing and subordinates unwilling 215

Probable circumstances generating these reflections in Xenophon's mind 215

This text affords subjects for the Hieron and Cyropædia--Name of Sokrates not suitable 216

Hieron--Persons of the dialogue--Simonides and Hieron _ib._

Questions put to Hieron, view taken by Simonides. Answer of Hieron 217

Misery of governing unwilling subjects declared by Hieron 218

Advice to Hieron by Simonides--that he should govern well, and thus make himself beloved by his subjects 219

Probable experience had by Xenophon of the feelings at Olympia against Dionysius 220

Xenophon could not have chosen a Grecian despot to illustrate his theory of the happiness of governing willing subjects 222

Cyropædia--blending of Spartan and Persian customs--Xenophon's experience of Cyrus the Younger _ib._

Portrait of Cyrus the Great--his education--Preface to the Cyropædia 223

Xenophon does not solve his own problem--The governing aptitude and popularity of Cyrus come from nature, not from education 225

Views of Xenophon about public and official training of all citizens 226

Details of (so called) Persian education--Severe discipline--Distribution of four ages 227

Evidence of the good effect of this discipline--Hard and dry condition of the body 228

Exemplary obedience of Cyrus to the public discipline--He had learnt justice well--His award about the two coats--Lesson inculcated upon him by the Justice-Master 229

Xenophon's conception of the Sokratic problems--He does not recognise the Sokratic order of solution of those problems 230

Definition given by Sokrates of Justice--Insufficient to satisfy the exigencies of the Sokratic Elenchus 231

Biography of Cyrus--constant military success earned by suitable qualities--Variety of characters and situations 232

Generous and amiable qualities of Cyrus. Abradates and Pantheia 233

Scheme of government devised by Cyrus when his conquests are completed--Oriental despotism, wisely arranged 234

Persian present reality--is described by Xenophon as thoroughly depraved, in striking contrast to the establishment of Cyrus 236

Xenophon has good experience of military and equestrian proceedings--No experience of finance and commerce 236

Discourse of Xenophon on Athenian finance and the condition of Athens. His admiration of active commerce and variety of pursuits _ib._

Recognised poverty among the citizens. Plan for improvement 238

Advantage of a large number of Metics. How these may be encouraged _ib._

Proposal to raise by voluntary contributions a large sum to be employed as capital by the city. Distribution of three oboli per head per day to all the citizens _ib._

Purpose and principle of this distribution 240

Visionary anticipations of Xenophon, financial and commercial 241

Xenophon exhorts his countrymen to maintain peace 243

Difference of the latest compositions of Xenophon and Plato, from their point of view in the earlier 244

CHAPTER V.

Life of Plato.

Scanty information about Plato's life 246

His birth, parentage, and early education 247

Early relations of Plato with Sokrates 248

Plato's youth--service as a citizen and soldier 249

Period of political ambition 251

He becomes disgusted with politics 252

He retires from Athens after the death of Sokrates--his travels 253

His permanent establishment at Athens--386 B.C. _ib._

He commences his teaching at the Academy 254

Plato as a teacher--pupils numerous and wealthy, from different cities 255

Visit of Plato to the younger Dionysius at Syracuse, 367 B.C. Second visit to the same--mortifying failure 258

Expedition of Dion against Dionysius--sympathies of Plato and the Academy 259

Success, misconduct, and death of Dion _ib._

Death of Plato, aged 80, 347 B.C. 260

Scholars of Plato--Aristotle _ib._

Little known about Plato's personal history 262