19.7. 7. Of the Athenians and Lacedmonians.
The Athenians, this gentleman
adds, were a nation that had some relation to ours. They mingled gaiety
with business; a stroke of raillery was as agreeable in the senate as in
the theatre. This vivacity, which discovered itself in their councils,
went along with them in the execution of their resolves. The
characteristic of the Spartans was gravity, seriousness, severity, and
silence. It would have been as difficult to bring over an Athenian by
teasing as it would a Spartan by diverting him.
