Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch
Philosophy
Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 2 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Plutarch
Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy
_Solution._ Is it on the ground that they gained their liberty by
being thus absolved, that the story has gained credit? And is this
saying “to Eleutherae” the same as “into the region of security,”
or “thou shalt come to the seat of pleasure”? Or is the reason to
be rendered according to that fabulous story, that of all the sons
of Lycaon Eleuther and Lebadus alone were free from that conspiracy
against Jupiter, and fled into Boeotia, where the Lebadenses use the
like civil polity to that of the Arcadians, and therefore they send
them to Eleutherae that enter unwittingly into the inaccessible temple
of Jupiter? Or is it (as Architimus saith in his remarks on Arcadia)
that some that went into the Lycaeum unawares were delivered up to the
Phliasians by the Arcadians, and by the Phliasians to the Megarians,
and by the Megarians to the Thebans which inhabit about Eleutherae,
where they are detained under rain, thunder, and other direful
judgments from Heaven; and upon this account some say this place was
called Eleutherae. But the report is not true that he that enters into
the Lycaeum casts no shadow, though it hath had a firm belief. And
what if this be the reason of that report, that the air converted into
clouds looks darkly on them that go in? Or that he that goes in falls
down dead?—for the Pythagoreans say that the souls of the deceased do
neither give a shadow nor wink. Or is it that the sun only makes a
shadow, and the law bereaveth him that entereth here of the sight of
the sun? Though this they speak enigmatically; for verily he that goes
in is called Elaphus, _a stag_. Hence the Lacedaemonians delivered
up to the Arcadians Cantharion the Arcadian, who went over to the
Eleans whilst they waged war with the Arcadians, passing with his booty
through the inaccessible temple, and fled to Sparta when the war was
ended; the oracle requiring them to restore the stag.
_Question 40._ Who is Eunostus, the hero of Tanagra; and what is
the reason that women may not enter into his grove?
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