18
The Athenians, Cf. Moralia, 740 f - 741 b (Quaest. Symp., ix. 6, which is unfortunately fragmentary); Frazer’s note on Apollodorus, iii. 14. 1 (L.C.L., vol. ii. pp. 78 f.). though they absurdly invented the tale of the strife of the gods, yet inserted in it no slight correction of its absurdity, for they always omitThat is, in Meton’s scheme the day regularly became an ἡμέρα ἐξαιρέσιμος to make the lunar year agree with the solar. the second day of Boedromion, thinking that on that day occurred Poseidon’s quarrel with Athena. What, then, prevents us also from treating the day on which we have quarrelled with any of our family or relatives as one to be consigned to oblivion, and counting it one of the unlucky days, instead of forgetting because of one day the many good days in which we grew up and lived together? For either it is in vain and to no avail that Nature has given us gentleness and forbearance, the child of restraint, or we should make the utmost use of these virtues in our relations with our family and relatives. And our asking and receiving forgiveness for our own errors reveals goodwill and affection quite as much as granting it to others when they err. For this reason we should neither overlook the anger of others, nor be stubborn with them when they ask forgiveness, but, on the contrary, should try to forestall their anger, when we ourselves are time and again at fault, by begging forgiveness, and again, when we have been wronged, in our turn should forestall their request for forgiveness by granting it before being asked.
