[7]
The clauses of the periodic style are divided or
opposed; divided, as in the following sentence: “I have often wondered
at those who gathered together the general assemblies and instituted the
gymnastic contests”;1 opposed, in which, in each of
the two clauses, one contrary is brought close to another, or the same word is
coupled with both contraries;
for instance, “They were useful to both, both those who stayed and
those who followed; for the latter they gained in addition greater possessions
than they had at home, for the former they left what was sufficient in their own
country.” Here “staying behind,”
“following,” “sufficient,”
“more” are contraries. Again: “to those who need
money and those who wish to enjoy it”; where
“enjoying” is contrary to “acquiring.”
Again: “It often happens in these vicissitudes that the wise are
unsuccessful, while fools succeed”: “At once they were
deemed worthy of the prize of valor and not long after won the command of the
sea”: “To sail over the mainland, to go by land over the
sea, bridging over the Hellespont and
digging through Athos”:
“And that, though citizens by nature, they were deprived of the rights
of citizenship by law”: “For some of them perished
miserably, others saved themselves disgracefully”:
“Privately to employ barbarians as servants,2 but publicly to view with indifference many
of the allies reduced to slavery”: “Either to possess it
while living or to leave it behind when dead.”3 And what some one said against
Pitholaus and Lycophron4 in the lawcourt: “These men, who
used to sell you when they were at home, having come to you have bought
you.”
All these passages are examples of
antithesis.
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2 “To dwell with us” （Jebb）. The point seems to be that the barbarian domestics were in a comfortable position as compared with those of the allies who were reduced to slavery; and there is a contrast between the desire of getting servants for private convenience, while in a matter affecting public life indifference was shown.
3 All the above quotations are from Isoc. 4.1, 35, 41, 48, 72, 89, 105, 149, 181, 186, with slight variations. The last quotation is part of the sentence of which the beginning appears in 7.11 above. The whole runs: “And how great must we consider the fame and the name and the glory which those who have highly distinguished themselves in such deeds of valor will either have when living or will leave behind after their death.”
4 They murdered Alexander, tyrant of Pherae, being instigated by their sister, his wife. Nothing is known of the case referred to. According to Cope, the meaning is: “When they were at Pherae, they used to sell you as slaves, but now they have come to buy you” （referring to bribery in court）. Others take ὠνεῖσθαι in a passive sense: “they have been bought,” i.e. have had to sell themselves to you.
Aristotle in 23 Volumes, Vol. 22, translated by J. H. Freese. Aristotle. Cambridge and London. Harvard University Press; William Heinemann Ltd. 1926.
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