[22] Or, "of choice spirits; and who are the choice spirits?--Clearly
those who choose to toil."

And this has been proved conclusively by a notable example. If we look
back to the men of old who sat at the feet of Cheiron--whose names I
mentioned--we see that it was by dedicating the years of their youth
to the chase[23] that they learnt all their noble lore; and therefrom
they attained to great renown, and are admired even to this day for
their virtue--virtue who numbers all men as her lovers, as is very
plain. Only because of the pains it costs to win her the greater
number fall away; for the achievement of her is hid in obscurity;
while the pains that cleave to her are manifest. Perchance, if only
she were endowed with a visible bodily frame, men would less have
neglected her, knowing that even as she is visible to them, so they
also are not hid from her eyes. For is it not so that when a man moves
in the presence of him whom he dearly loves,[24] he rises to a height
above himself, being incapable of aught base or foul in word or deed
in sight of him?[25] But fondly dreaming that the eye of virtue is
closed to them, they are guilty of many a base thing and foul before
her very face, who is hidden from their eyes. Yet she is present
everywhere, being dowered with immortality; and those who are perfect
in goodness[26] she honours, but the wicked she thrusts aside from
honour. If only men could know that she regards them, how eagerly
would they rush to the embrace of toilful training and
tribulation,[27] by which alone she is hardly taken; and so should
they gain the mastery over her, and she should be laid captive at
their feet.

[23] Or, "that they made their first essay in hunting when mere boys,
and from hunting upwards were taught many noble arts."