courage can be taught,[22] when the girl there, woman should she be,
rushes so boldly into the midst of swords.

[22] Cf. "Mem." III. ix. 1.

He, thus challenged, answered: No; and what our friend, the Syracusan
here, should do is to exhibit his dancing-girl to the state.[23] Let
him tell the authorities he is prepared, for a consideration, to give
the whole Athenian people courage to face the hostile lances at close
quarters.

[23] Or, "to the city," i.e. of Athens.

Whereat the jester: An excellent idea, upon my word; and when it
happens, may I be there to see that mighty orator[24] Peisander
learning to throw somersaults[25] into swords; since incapacity to
look a row of lances in the face at present makes him shy of military
service.[26]

[24] Or, "tribune of the people." Cf. Plat. "Gorg." 520 B; "Laws," 908
D.

[25] Or, "learning to go head over heels into swords."

[26] For Peisander see Cobet, "Pros. Xen." p. 46 foll. A thoroughgoing
oligarch (Thuc. viii. 90), he was the occasion of much mirth to
the comic writers (so Grote, "H. G." viii. 12). See re his "want
of spirit" Aristoph. "Birds," 1556:

{entha kai Peisandros elthe