---- Rectory, Hereford.
_Passage of Thucydides on the Greek Factions_ (Vol. viii., p. 44.).--If L.,
or any of your readers, will take the trouble to compare the passage
quoted, and the one referred to by him, in the following translation of
Smith, with Sir A. Alison's supposititious quotation[7] (Vol. vii., p.
594.), they will find that my inquiry is still unanswered. The passage
quoted by L. in Greek is, according to Smith:
"Prudent consideration, to be specious cowardice; modesty, the disguise
of effeminacy; and being wise in everything, to be good for nothing."
The passage not quoted, but referred to by L., is:
"He who succeeded in a roguish scheme was wise; and he who suspected
such practices in others was still a more able genius."--Vol. i. book
iii. p. 281. 4to.: London, 1753.
In this "counterfeit presentment of two brothers," L. may discern a family
likeness; but my inquiry was for the identical passage, "sword and poniard"
included.
If L. desires to find Greek authority for the general sentiment only, I
would refer him to passages, equally to Sir A. Alison's purpose, in
_Thucydides_, iii. 83., viii. 89.; _Herodotus_, iii. 81.; Plato's
_Republic_, viii. 11., and Aristotle's _Politics_, v. 6. 9. I beg to thank
L. for his attempt, although unsuccessful.