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"PLATO, AND HIS EQUALL XENOPHON"

The article deals with a passage from John Milton's work "Apology for Smectymnuus" which claims that Xenophon is the equal of Plato. It notes that the passage's context suggests an answer that is congenial with the accepted opinions not only of Milton's high esteem for Plato but also of his care in...

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Published in:English Language Notes Vol. 7; no. 4; pp. 260 - 263
Main Author: Sasek, Lawrence A.
Format: Article
Published: Duke University Press Jun70
Subjects:
Milton, John, 1608-1674
Plato, 428-347 B.C.
Philosophers
Scholars
Epithets
Teachers
Xenophon, ca. 430-354 B.C.
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
Summary:The article deals with a passage from John Milton's work "Apology for Smectymnuus" which claims that Xenophon is the equal of Plato. It notes that the passage's context suggests an answer that is congenial with the accepted opinions not only of Milton's high esteem for Plato but also of his care in the choice of epithets. It also observes that the exaltation of Xenophon in the passage has a noteworthy analogue which can serve as a gloss for Milton's cryptic statement. It stresses that the passage means Xenophon is the equal of Plato as teacher, not as literary craftsman or philosopher.