the memorabilia-第10章

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day　dwindle；　trust　me　I　will　not　lead　you　where　you　shall　replenish
the　store　by　toil　of　body　and　trouble　of　soul。　No！　others　shall
labour；　but　you　shall　reap　the　fruit　of　their　labours；　you　shall
withhold　your　hand　from　nought　which　shall　bring　you　gain。　For　to　all
my　followers　I　give　authority　and　power　to　help　themselves　freely　from
every　side。'

＇31＇　Or；　〃without　change　in　her　demeanour。〃

＇32＇　Reading　｛diese｝；　or　｛dioisei｝；　〃you　shall　continue　speculating
　　　　solely。〃

＇33＇　It　will　be　recollected　that　Prodicus　prided　himself　on　｛orthotes
　　　　onomaton｝。　Possibly　Xenophon　is　imitating　（caricaturing？）　his
　　　　style。　｛terphtheies；　estheies；　euphrantheies｝。

〃Heracles　hearing　these　words　made　answer：　'What；　O　lady；　is　the　name
you　bear？'　To　which　she：　'Know　that　my　friends　call　be　Happiness；　but
they　that　hate　me　have　their　own　nicknames＇34＇　for　me；　Vice　and
Naughtiness。'

＇34＇　So　the　vulg。　｛upokorizomenoi｝　is　interpreted。　Cobet　（〃Pros。　Xen。〃
　　　　p。　36）　suggests　｛upoknizomenoi｝　=　〃quippe　qui　desiderio
　　　　pungantur。〃

〃But　just　then　the　other　of　those　fair　women　approached　and　spoke：
'Heracles；　I　too　am　come　to　you；　seeing　that　your　parents　are　well
known　to　me；　and　in　your　nurture　I　have　gauged　your　nature；　wherefore
I　entertain　good　hope　that　if　you　choose　the　path　which　leads　to　me；
you　shall　greatly　bestir　yourself　to　be　the　doer　of　many　a　doughty
deed　of　noble　emprise；　and　that　I　too　shall　be　held　in　even　higher
honour　for　your　sake；　lit　with　the　lustre　shed　by　valorous　deeds。＇35＇
I　will　not　cheat　you　with　preludings　of　pleasure；＇36＇　but　I　will
relate　to　you　the　things　that　are　according　to　the　ordinances　of　God
in　very　truth。　Know　then　that　among　things　that　are　lovely　and　of　good
report；　not　one　have　the　gods　bestowed　upon　mortal　men　apart　from　toil
and　pains。　Would　you　obtain　the　favour　of　the　gods；　then　must　you　pay
these　same　gods　service；　would　you　be　loved　by　your　friends；　you　must
benefit　these　friends；　do　you　desire　to　be　honoured　by　the　state；　you
must　give　the　state　your　aid；　do　you　claim　admiration　for　your　virtue
from　all　Hellas；　you　must　strive　to　do　some　good　to　Hellas；　do　you
wish　earth　to　yield　her　fruits　to　you　abundantly；　to　earth　must　you
pay　your　court；　do　you　seek　to　amass　riches　from　your　flocks　and
herds；　on　them　must　you　bestow　your　labour；　or　is　it　your　ambition　to
be　potent　as　a　warrior；　able　to　save　your　friends　and　to　subdue　your
foes；　then　must　you　learn　the　arts　of　war　from　those　who　have　the
knowledge；　and　practise　their　application　in　the　field　when　learned；
or　would　you　e'en　be　powerful　of　limb　and　body；　then　must　you
habituate　limbs　and　body　to　obey　the　mind；　and　exercise　yourself　with
toil　and　sweat。'

＇35＇　Or；　〃bathed　in　the　splendour　of　thy　virtues。〃

＇36＇　Or；　〃honeyed　overtures　of　pleasure。〃

〃At　this　point；　（as　Prodicus　relates）　Vice　broke　in　exclaiming：　'See
you；　Heracles；　how　hard　and　long　the　road　is　by　which　yonder　woman
would　escort　you　to　her　festal　joys。＇37＇　But　I　will　guide　you　by　a
short　and　easy　road　to　happiness。'

＇37＇　Hesiod；　〃Theog。〃　909；　Milton；　〃L'Allegro；〃　12。

〃Then　spoke　Virtue：　'Nay；　wretched　one；　what　good　thing　hast　thou？　or
what　sweet　thing　art　thou　acquainted　withthat　wilt　stir　neither　hand
nor　foot　to　gain　it？　Thou；　that　mayest　not　even　await　the　desire　of
pleasure；　but；　or　ever　that　desire　springs　up；　art　already　satiated；
eating　before　thou　hungerest；　and　drinking　before　thou　thirsteth；　who
to　eke　out　an　appetite　must　invent　an　army　of　cooks　and　confectioners；
and　to　whet　thy　thirst　must　lay　down　costliest　wines；　and　run　up　and
down　in　search　of　ice　in　summer…time；　to　help　thy　slumbers　soft
coverlets　suffice　not；　but　couches　and　feather…beds　must　be　prepared
thee　and　rockers　to　rock　thee　to　rest；　since　desire　for　sleep　in　thy
case　springs　not　from　toil　but　from　vacuity　and　nothing　in　the　world
to　do。　Even　the　natural　appetite　of　love　thou　forcest　prematurely　by
every　means　thou　mayest　devise；　confounding　the　sexes　in　thy　service。
Thus　thou　educatest　thy　friends：　with　insult　in　the　night　season　and
drowse　of　slumber　during　the　precious　hours　of　the　day。　Immortal；　thou
art　cast　forth　from　the　company　of　gods；　and　by　good　men　art
dishonoured：　that　sweetest　sound　of　all；　the　voice　of　praise；　has
never　thrilled　thine　ears；　and　the　fairest　of　all　fair　visions　is
hidden　from　thine　eyes　that　have　never　beheld　one　bounteous　deed
wrought　by　thine　own　hand。　If　thou　openest　thy　lips　in　speech；　who
will　believe　thy　word？　If　thou　hast　need　of　aught；　none　shall　satisfy
thee。　What　sane　man　will　venture　to　join　thy　rablle　rout？　Ill　indeed
are　thy　revellers　to　look　upon；　young　men　impotent　of　body；　and　old
men　witless　in　mind：　in　the　heyday　of　life　they　batten　in　sleek
idleness；　and　wearily　do　they　drag　through　an　age　of　wrinkled
wretchedness：　and　why？　they　blush　with　shame　at　the　thought　of　deeds
done　in　the　past；　and　groan　for　weariness　at　what　is　left　to　do。
During　their　youth　they　ran　riot　through　their　sweet　things；　and　laid
up　for　themselves　large　store　of　bitterness　against　the　time　of　eld。
But　my　companionship　is　with　the　gods；　and　with　the　good　among　men　my
conversation；　no　bounteous　deed；　divine　or　human；　is　wrought　without
my　aid。　Therefore　am　I　honoured　in　Heaven　pre…eminently；　and　upon
earth　among　men　whose　right　it　is　to　honour　me；＇38＇　as　a　beloved
fellow…worker　of　all　craftsmen；　a　faithful　guardian　of　house　and
lands；　whom　the　owners　bless；　a　kindly　helpmeet　of　servants；＇39＇　a
brave　assistant　in　the　labours　of　peace；　an　unflinching　ally　in　the
deeds　of　war；　a　sharer　in　all　friendships　indispensable。　To　my　friends
is　given　an　enjoyment　of　meats　and　drinks；　which　is　sweet　in　itself
and　devoid　of　trouble；　in　that　they　can　endure　until　desire　ripens；
and　sleep　more　delicious　visits　them　than　those　who　toil　not。　Yet　they
are　not　pained　to　part　with　it；　nor　for　the　sake　of　slumber　do　they
let　slip　the　performance　of　their　duties。　Among　my　followers　the　youth
delights　in　the　praises　of　his　elders；　and　the　old　man　glories　in　the
honour　of　the　young；　with　joy　they　call　to　memory　their　deeds　of　old；
and　in　to…day's　well…doing　are　well　pleased。　For　my　sake　they　are　dear
in　the　sight　of　God；　beloved　of　their　friends　and　honoured　by　the
country　of　their　birth。　When　the　appointed　goal　is　reached　they　lie
not　down　in　oblivion　with　dishonour；　but　bloom　afreshtheir　praise
resounded　on　the　lips　of　men　for　ever。＇40＇　Toils　like　these；　O　son　of
noble　parents；　Heracles；　it　is　yours　to　meet　with；　and　having　endured；
to　enter　into　the　heritage　assured　you　of　transcendant　happiness。'〃

＇38＇　Reading　｛ois　prosekei｝；　or　if　｛proseko｝；　translate　〃to　whom　I　am
　　　　attached。〃

＇39＇　Cf。　〃Econ。〃　v。　8。

＇40＇　Or；　〃so　true　is　it；　a　branch　is　left　them；　undying　honour　to
　　　　their　name！〃

This；　Aristippus；　in　rough　sketch　is　the　theme　which　Prodicus
pursues＇41＇　in　his　〃Education　of　Heracles　by　Virtue；〃　only　he　decked
out　his　sentiments；　I　admit；　in　far　more　magnificant　phrases　than　I
have　ventured　on。　Were　it　not　well；　Aristippus；　to　lay　to　heart　these
sayings；　and　to　strive　to　bethink　you　somewhat　of　that　which　touches
the　future　of　our　life？

＇41＇　Reading　｛diokei｝；　al。　｛diokei｝　=　〃so　Prodicus　arranged　the　parts
　　　　of　his　discourse。〃


II

At　another　time；　he　had　noticed　the　angry　temper　shown　by　Lamprocles；
the　elder　of　his　sons；　towards　their　mother；　and　thus　addressed
himself　to　the　lad。

Soc。　Pray；　my　son；　did　you　ever　hear　of　certain　people　being　called
ungrateful？

That　I　have　（replied　the　young　man）。

Soc。　And　have　you　understood　what　it　is　they　do　to　get　that　bad　name？

Lamp。　Yes；　I　have：　when　any　one　has　been　kindly　treated；　and　has　it　in
his　power　to　requite　the　kindness　but　neglects　to　do　so；　men　call　him
ungrateful。

Soc。　And　you　admit　that　people　reckon　the　ungrateful　among　wrongdoers？

Lamp。　I　do。

Soc。　And　has　it　ever　struck　you　to　inquire　whether；　as　regards　the
right　or　wrong　of　it；　ingratitude　may　not　perhaps　resemble　some　such
conduct　as　the　enslavement；　say；　of　prisoners；　which　is　accounted
wrong　towards　friends　but　justifiable　towards　enemies？

Lamp。　Yes；　I　have　put　that　question　to　myself。　In　my　opinion；　no
matter　who　confers　the　kindness；　friend　or　foe；　the　recipient　should
endeavour　to　requite　it；　failing　which　he　is　a　wrongdoer。

Soc。　Then　if　that　is　how　the　matter　stands；　ingratitude　would　be　an
instance　of　pure　unadulterate　wrongdoing？

Lamprocles　assented　to　the　proposition。

Soc。　It　follows；　then；　that　in　proportion　to　the　greatness　of　the
benefit　conferred；　the　greater　his　misdoing　who　fails　to　requite　the
kindness？

Lamprocles　again　assented。

Socrates　continued：　And　where　can　we　hope　to　find　greater　benefits
than　those　which　children　derive　from　their　parentstheir　father　and
mother　who　brought　them　out　of　nothingness　into　being；　who　granted
them　to　look　upon　all　these　fair　sights；　and　to　partake　of　all　those
blessings　which　the　gods　bestow　on　man；　things　so　priceless　in　our
eyes　that　one　and　all　we　shudder　at　the　thought　of　leaving　them；　and
states　have　made　death　the　penalty　for　the　greatest　crimes；　because
there　is　no　greater　evil　through　fear　of　which　to　stay　iniquity。

You　do　not　suppose　that　human　beings　produce　children　for　the　sake　of
carnal　pleasure＇1＇　merely；　were　this　the　motive；　street　and　bordell
are　full　of　means　to　quit　them　of　that　thrall；　whereas　nothing　is
plainer　than　the　pains　we　take　to　seek　out　wives　who　shall　bear　us　the
finest　children。＇2＇　With　these　we　wed；　and　carry　on　the　race。　The　man
has　a　twofold　duty　to　perform：　partly　in　cherishing　her　who　is　to
raise　up　children　along　with　him；　and　partly　towards　the　children　yet
unborn　in　providing　them　with　things　that　he　thinks　will　contribute　to
their　well…beingand　of　these　as　large　a　store　as　possible。　The
woman；　conceiving；　bears　her　precious　burthen　with　travail　and　pain；
and　at　the　risk　of　life　itselfsharing　with　that　within　her　womb　the
food　on　which　she　herself　is　fed。　And　when　with　much　labour　she　has
borne　to　the　end　and　brought　forth　her　offspring；　she　feeds　it　and
watches　over　it　with　tender　carenot　in　return　for　any　good　thing
previously　received；　for　indeed　the　babe　itself　is　little　conscious　of
its　benefactor　and　cannot　even　signify　its　wants；　only　she；　the
mother；　making　conjecture　of　what　is　good　for　it；　and　what　will　please
it；　essays　to　satisfy　it；＇3＇　and　for　many　months　she　feeds　it　night
and　day；　enduring　the　toil　nor　recking　what　return　she　shall　receive
for　all　her　trouble。　Nor　does　the　care　and　kindness　of　parents　end
with　nurture；　but　when　the　children　seem　of　an　age　to　learn；　they
teach　them　themselves　whatever　cunning　they　possess；　as　a　guide　to
life；　or　where　they　feel　that　another　is　more　competent；　to　him　they
send　them　to　be　taught　at　their　expense。　Thus　they　watch　over　their
children；　doing　all　in　their　power　to　enable　them　to　grow　up　to　be　as
good　as　possible。

＇1＇　Lit。　〃the　joys　of　Aphrodite。〃

＇2＇　〃For　the　procreation　of　children。〃　See　below；　IV。　iv。　22；　〃Pol。
　　　　Lac。〃　i。

＇3＇　Lit。　〃to　leave　nought　lacking。〃

So　be　it　（the　youth　answered）；　but　even　if　she　have　done　all　that；　and
twenty　times　as　much；　no　soul　on　earth　could　endure　my　mother's　cross…
grained　temper。