artificers are sedentary,[5] we, the rest of the Hellenes, are content
that our girls should sit quietly and work wools. That is all we
demand of them. But how are we to expect that women nurtured in this
fashion should produce a splendid offspring?

[4] Cf. a fragment of Critias cited by Clement, "Stromata," vi. p.
741, 6; Athen. x. 432, 433; see "A Fragment of Xenophon" (?), ap.
Stob. "Flor." 88. 14, translated by J. Hookham Frere, "Theognis
Restitutus," vol. i. 333; G. Sauppe, "Append. de Frag. Xen." p.
293; probably by Antisthenes (Bergk. ii. 497).

[5] Or, "such technical work is for the most part sedentary."

Lycurgus pursued a different path. Clothes were things, he held, the
furnishing of which might well enough be left to female slaves. And,
believing that the highest function of a free woman was the bearing of
children, in the first place he insisted on the training of the body
as incumbent no less on the female than the male; and in pursuit of
the same idea instituted rival contests in running and feats of
strength for women as for men. His belief was that where both parents
were strong their progeny would be found to be more vigorous.

And so again after marriage. In view of the fact that immoderate
intercourse is elsewhere permitted during the earlier period of
matrimony, he adopted a principle directly opposite. He laid it down
as an ordinance that a man should be ashamed to be seen visiting the
chamber of his wife, whether going in or coming out. When they did
meet under such restraint the mutual longing of these lovers could not
but be increased, and the fruit which might spring from such
intercourse would tend to be more robust than theirs whose affections