Page:A History of Ancient Greek Literature.djvu/348

 324 LITERATURE OF ANCIENT GREECE idioms, by the lingua franca of the soldiers in Asia, perhaps by long residence in foreign countries — though Doricisms are conspicuous by their absence. If, in spite of this, Xenophon became in Roman times a model of 'Atticism,' it is due. to his ancient simplicity and ease, his inaffectata jucmtditas. He is Attic in the sense that he has no bombast, and does not strive after effect, and that he can speak interestingly on many subjects * without raising his voice.'