Here, again, Lycurgus took an entirely opposite view of the matter.
This, if observation might be trusted, was the season when the tide of
animal spirits flows fast, and the froth of insolence rises to the
surface; when, too, the most violent appetites for divers pleasures,
in serried ranks, invade[2] the mind. This, then, was the right moment
at which to impose tenfold labours upon the growing youth, and to
devise for him a subtle system of absorbing occupation. And by a
crowning enactment, which said that "he who shrank from the duties
imposed on him would forfeit henceforth all claim to the glorious
honours of the state," he caused, not only the public authorities, but
those personally interested[3] in the several companies of youths to
take serious pains so that no single individual of them should by an
act of craven cowardice find himself utterly rejected and reprobate
within the body politic.

[2] Lit. "range themselves." For the idea, see "Mem."I. ii. 23;
Swinburne, "Songs before Sunrise": Prelude, "Past youth where
shoreward shallows are."

[3] Or, "the friends and connections."

Furthermore, in his desire to implant in their youthful souls a root
of modesty he imposed upon these bigger boys a special rule. In the
very streets they were to keep their two hands[4] within the folds of
the cloak; they were to walk in silence and without turning their
heads to gaze, now here, now there, but rather to keep their eyes
fixed upon the ground before them. And hereby it would seem to be
proved conclusively that, even in the matter of quiet bearing and
sobreity,[5] the masculine type may claim greater strength than that
which we attribute to the nature of women. At any rate, you might