{Having put his hand to the plough} (epibal(936e) t(886e) cheira
ep' arotron). Second aorist active participle of epiball(935c), an
old and common verb, to place upon. Note repetition of
preposition epi before arotron (plough). This agricultural
proverb is as old as Hesiod. Pliny observes that the ploughman
who does not bend attentively to his work goes crooked. It has
always been the ambition of the ploughman to run a straight
furrow. The Palestine _fellah_ had good success at it. {And
looking back} (kai blep(936e) eis ta opis(935c)). Looking to the things
behind. To do that is fatal as any ploughman knows. The call to
turn back is often urgent. {Fit} (euthetos). From eu and
	ith(886d)i=well-placed, suited for, adapted to. "The first case is
that of inconsiderate impulse, the second that of conflicting
duties, the third that of a divided mind" (Bruce).