http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/07/pleasure-reading/ Mon, 26 Jun 2017 15:15:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.15 http://www.dystel.com/blog/2011/07/pleasure-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-23983 Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:18:41 +0000 http://www.dystel.com/?p=6271#comment-23983 Funnily enough I use an anecdote from Aristotle and Alexander the Great in my after-dinner speech on the seven deadly sins. Half through Lust there is – something like –
‘I think that like Aristotle we feel we are on unsure ground and might make fools of ourselves. Aristotle had been lecturing the young Alexander – in his pre-the Great teens, about dissipating his energies with his courtesan Phyllis, so Alexander dropped Phyllis. In revenge Phyllis took to cavorting outside Aristotle’s study ‘her hair was loose, her feet were bare, and the belt was off her gown.’ Aristotle succumbed; Phyllis consented – but first he must satisfy her whim – she would saddle him and ride him around the garden. The besotted Aristotle agreed. Phyllis told Alexander to hide and see. He saw. ‘Master, can this be?’ he asked. Aristotle replied ‘If lust can so overcome wisdom in one so old, one so young as Alexander must be doubly watchful!’
I’m sure you read a fuller account in Cape Cod…

]]>