n the hope of proving to you my originality. Andreia is
quasi anpeia quasi e ano roe, the stream which flows upwards, and
is opposed to injustice, which clearly hinders the principle of
penetration; arren and aner have a similar derivation; gune is the same
as gone; thelu is derived apo tes theles, because the teat makes things
flourish (tethelenai), and the word thallein itself implies increase
of youth, which is swift and sudden ever (thein and allesthai). I am
getting over the ground fast: but much has still to be explained. There
is techne, for instance. This, by an aphaeresis of tau and an epenthesis
of omicron in two places, may be identified with echonoe, and signifies
'that which has mind.'

'A very poor etymology.' Yes; but you must remember that all language is
in process of change; letters are taken in and put out for the sake of
euphony, and time is also a great alterer of words. For example, what
business has the letter rho in the word katoptron, or the letter sigma
in the word sphigx? The additions are often such that it is impossible
to make out the original word; and yet, if you may put in and pull out,
as you like, any name is equally good for any object. The fact is, that
great dictators of literature like yourself should observe the rules of
moderation. 'I will do my best.' But do not be too much of a precisian,
or you will paralyze me. If you will let me add mechane, apo tou mekous,
which means polu, and anein, I shall be at the summit of my powers, from
which elevation I will examine the two words kakia and arete. The first
is easily explained in accordance with what has preceded; for all things
being in a flux, kakia is to kakos ion. This derivation is illustrated
by the word deilia, which ought to have come after andreia, and may
be regarded as o lian desmos tes psuches, just as aporia signifies an
impediment to motion (from alpha not, and poreuesthai to go), and arete
is euporia, which is the opposite of this--the everflowing (aei reousa
or aeireite), or the eligible, quasi airete. You will think that I am
inventing, but I say that if kakia is right, then arete is also right.
But what is kakon? That is a very obscure word, to which I can only
apply my old notion and declare that kakon is a foreign word. Next, let
us proceed to kalon, aischron. The latter is doubtless contracted from
aeischoroun, quasi aei ischon roun. The inventor of words being a patron
of the flux, was a great enemy to stagnatio