the memorabilia-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



＇5＇　Nausicydes。　Cobet；　〃Pros。　Xen。〃　cf。　Aristoph。　〃Eccles。〃　426。

＇6＇　Lit。　〃state　liturgies；〃　or　〃to　the　burden　of　the　public　services。〃
　　　　For　these　see　Gow；　〃Companion；〃　xviii。　〃Athenian　Finance。〃

＇7＇　Cf。　Arist。　〃Acharnians；〃　519；　｛esukophantei　Megareon　ta
　　　　khlaniskia｝。　See　Dr。　Merry's　note　ad　loc。

Ar。　Bless　me；　yes！　They　have　got　a　set　of　barbarian　fellows；　whom　they
purchase　and　keep；　to　manufacture　by　forced　labour　whatever　takes
their　fancy。　My　kinswomen；　I　need　not　tell　you；　are　free…born　ladies。

Soc。　Then；　on　the　ground　that　they　are　free…born　and　your　kinswomen；
you　think　that　they　ought　to　do　nothing　but　eat　and　sleep？　Or　is　it
your　opinion　that　people　who　live　in　this　wayI　speak　of　free…born
people　in　generallead　happier　lives；　and　are　more　to　be
congratulated；　than　those　who　give　their　time　and　attention　to　such
useful　arts　of　life　as　they　are　skilled　in？　Is　this　what　you　see　in
the　world；　that　for　the　purpose　of　learning　what　it　is　well　to　know；
and　of　recollecting　the　lessons　taught；　or　with　a　view　to　health　and
strength　of　body；　or　for　the　sake　of　acquiring　and　preserving　all　that
gives　life　its　charm；　idleness　and　inattention　are　found　to　be
helpful；　whilst　work　and　study　are　simply　a　dead　loss？　Pray；　when
those　relatives　of　yours　were　taught　what　you　tell　me　they　know；　did
they　learn　it　as　barren　information　which　they　would　never　turn　to
practical　account；　or；　on　the　contrary；　as　something　with　which　they
were　to　be　seriously　concerned　some　day；　and　from　which　they　were　to
reap　advantage？　Do　human　beings　in　general　attain　to　well…tempered
manhood　by　a　course　of　idling；　or　by　carefully　attending　to　what　will
be　of　use？　Which　will　help　a　man　the　more　to　grow　in　justice　and
uprightness；　to　be　up　and　doing；　or　to　sit　with　folded　hands　revolving
the　ways　and　means　of　existence？　As　things　now　stand；　if　I　am　not
mistaken；　there　is　no　love　lost　between　you。　You　cannot　help　feeling
that　they　are　costly　to　you；　and　they　must　see　that　you　find　them　a
burthen？　This　is　a　perilous　state　of　affairs；　in　which　hatred　and
bitterness　have　every　prospect　of　increasing；　whilst　the　pre…existing
bond　of　affection＇8＇　is　likely　to　be　snapped。

＇8＇　Or；　〃the　original　stock　of　kindliness　will　be　used　up。〃

But　now；　if　only　you　allow　them　free　scope　for　their　energies；　when
you　come　to　see　how　useful　they　can　be；　you　will　grow　quite　fond　of
them；　and　they；　when　they　perceive　that　they　can　please　you；　will
cling　to　their　benefactor　warmly。　Thus；　with　the　memory　of　former
kindnesses　made　sweeter；　you　will　increase　the　grace　which　flows　from
kindnesses　tenfold；　you　will　in　consequence　be　knit　in　closer　bonds　of
love　and　domesticity。　If；　indeed；　they　were　called　upon　to　do　any
shameful　work；　let　them　choose　death　rather　than　that；　but　now　they
know；　it　would　seem；　the　very　arts　and　accomplishments　which　are
regarded　as　the　loveliest　and　the　most　suitable　for　women；　and　the
things　which　we　know；　any　of　us；　are　just　those　which　we　can　best
perform；　that　is　to　say；　with　ease　and　expedition；　it　is　a　joy　to　do
them；　and　the　result　is　beautiful。＇9＇　Do　not　hesitate；　then；　to
initiate　your　friends　in　what　will　bring　advantage　to　them　and　you
alike；　probably　they　will　gladly　respond　to　your　summons。

＇9＇　Or；　〃with　ease；　rapidity；　pleasure　and　effect。〃

Well；　upon　my　word　（Aristarchus　answered）；　I　like　so　well　what　you
say；　Socrates；　that　though　hitherto　I　have　not　been　disposed　to
borrow；　knowing　that　when　I　had　spent　what　I　got　I　should　not　be　in　a
condition　to　repay；　I　think　I　can　now　bring　myself　to　do　so　in　order
to　raise　a　fund　for　these　works。

Thereupon　a　capital　was　provided；　wools　were　purchased；　the　good　man's
relatives　set　to　work；　and　even　whilst　they　breakfasted　they　worked；
and　on　and　on　till　work　was　ended　and　they　supped。　Smiles　took　the
place　of　frowns；　they　no　longer　looked　askance　with　suspicion；　but
full　into　each　other's　eyes　with　happiness。　They　loved　their　kinsman
for　his　kindness　to　them。　He　became　attached　to　them　as　helpmates；　and
the　end　of　it　all　was；　he　came　to　Socrates　and　told　him　with　delight
how　matters　fared；　〃and　now；〃　he　added；　〃they　tax　me　with　being　the
only　drone　in　the　house；　who　sit　and　eat　the　bread　of　idleness。〃

To　which　Socrates：　Why　do　not　you　tell　them　the　fable　of　the　dog？＇10＇
Once　on　a　time；　so　goes　the　story；　when　beasts　could　speak；　the　sheep
said　to　her　master；　〃What　a　marvel　is　this；　master；　that　to　us；　your
own　sheep；　who　provide　you　with　fleeces　and　lambs　and　cheese；　you　give
nothing；　save　only　what　we　may　nibble　off　earth's　bosom；　but　with　this
dog　of　yours；　who　provides　you　with　nothing　of　the　sort；　you　share　the
very　meat　out　of　your　mouth。〃　When　the　dog　heard　these　words；　he
answered　promptly；　〃Ay；　in　good　sooth；　for　is　it　not　I　who　keep　you
safe　and　sound；　you　sheep；　so　that　you　are　not　stolen　by　man　nor
harried　by　wolves；　since；　if　I　did　not　keep　watch　over　you；　you　would
not　be　able　so　much　as　to　graze　afield；　fearing　to　be　destroyed。〃　And
so；　says　the　tale；　the　sheep　had　to　admit　that　the　dog　was　rightly
preferred　to　themselves　in　honour。　And　so　do　you　tell　your　flock
yonder　that　like　the　dog　in　the　fable　you　are　their　guardian　and
overseer；　and　it　is　thanks　to　you　that　they　are　protected　from　evil
and　evildoers；　so　that　they　work　their　work　and　live　their　lives　in
blissful　security。

＇10＇　See　Joseph　Jacobs；　〃The　Fables　of　Aesop；〃　vol。　i。　p。　26　foll。；
　　　　for　〃a　complete　list　of　the　Fables　given　in　Greek　literature　up　to
　　　　the　fall　of　Greek　independence。〃　Cf。　Hesiod；　〃Works　and　Days；〃　202
　　　　foll。；　Archilochus；　89　（60）；　Bergk；　Herod。　i。　141；　Aesch。
　　　　〃Myrmid。〃　fr。　123；　Aristot。　〃Rhet。〃　II。　xx。


VIII

At　another　time　chancing　upon　an　old　friend　whom　he　had　not　seen　for　a
long　while；　he　greeted　him　thus。

Soc。　What　quarter　of　the　world　do　you　hail　from；　Eutherus？

The　other　answered：　From　abroad；　just　before　the　close　of　the　war；　but
at　present　from　the　city　itself。＇1＇　You　see；　since　we　have　been
denuded　of　our　possessions　across　the　frontier；＇2＇　and　my　father　left
me　nothing　in　Attica；　I　must　needs　bide　at　home；　and　provide　myself
with　the　necessaries　of　life　by　means　of　bodily　toil；　which　seems
preferable　to　begging　from　another；　especially　as　I　have　no　security
on　which　to　raise　a　loan。

＇1＇　Lit。　〃from　here。〃　The　conversation　perhaps　takes　place　in　Piraeus
　　　　404　B。C。

＇2＇　Or；　〃colonial　possession。〃　Cf。　〃Symp。〃　iv。　31。

Soc。　And　how　long　do　you　expect　your　body　to　be　equal　to　providing　the
necessaries　of　life　for　hire？

Euth。　Goodness　knows；　Socratesnot　for　long。

Soc。　And　when　you　find　yourself　an　old　man；　expenses　will　not
diminish；　and　yet　no　one　will　care　to　pay　you　for　the　labour　of　your
hands。

Euth。　That　is　true。

Soc。　Would　it　not　be　better　then　to　apply　yourself　at　once　to　such
work　as　will　stand　you　in　good　stead　when　you　are　oldthat　is；
address　yourself　to　some　large　proprietor　who　needs　an　assistant　in
managing　his　estate？＇3＇　By　superintending　his　works；　helping　to　get　in
his　crops；　and　guarding　his　property　in　general；　you　will　be　a　benefit
to　the　estate　and　be　benefited　in　return。

＇3＇　Cf。　〃Cyrop。〃　VIII。　iii。　48。

I　could　not　endure　the　yoke　of　slavery；　Socrates！　（he　exclaimed）。

Soc。　And　yet　the　heads　of　departments　in　a　state　are　not　regarded　as
adopting　the　badge　of　slavery　because　they　manage　the　public　property；
but　as　having　attained　a　higher　degree　of　freedom　rather。

Euth。　In　a　word；　Socrates；　the　idea　of　being　held　to　account　to
another　is　not　at　all　to　my　taste。

Soc。　And　yet；　Eutherus；　it　would　be　hard　to　find　a　work　which　did　not
involve　some　liability　to　account；　in　fact　it　is　difficult　to　do
anything　without　some　mistake　or　other；　and　no　less　difficult；　if　you
should　succeed　in　doing　it　immaculately；　to　escape　all　unfriendly
criticism。　I　wonder　now　whether　you　find　it　easy　to　get　through　your
present　occupations　entirely　without　reproach。　No？　Let　me　tell　you
what　you　should　do。　You　should　avoid　censorious　persons　and　attach
yourself　to　the　considerate　and　kind…hearted；　and　in　all　your　affairs
accept　with　a　good　grace　what　you　can　and　decline　what　you　feel　you
cannot　do。　Whatever　it　be；　do　it　heart　and　soul；　and　make　it　your
finest　work。＇4＇　There　lies　the　method　at　once　to　silence　fault…finders
and　to　minister　help　to　your　own　difficulties。　Life　will　flow
smoothly；　risks　will　be　diminished；　provision　against　old　age　secured。

＇4＇　Or；　〃study　to　make　it　your　finest　work；　the　expression　of　a　real
　　　　enthusiasm。〃


IX

At　another　time；　as　I　am　aware；　he　had　heard　a　remark　made　by　Crito＇1＇
that　life　at　Athens　was　no　easy　matter　for　a　man　who　wished　to　mind
his　own　affairs。

＇1＇　Crito。　See　above；　I。　ii。　48；　Cobet；　〃P。　X。〃；　cf。　Plat。　〃Rep。〃
　　　　viii。　549　C。

As；　for　instance；　at　this　moment　（Crito　proceeded）　there　are　a　set　of
fellows　threatening　me　with　lawsuits；　not　because　they　have　any
misdemeanour　to　allege　against　me；　but　simply　under　the　conviction
that　I　will　sooner　pay　a　sum　of　money　than　be　troubled　further。

To　which　Socrates　replied：　Tell　me；　Crito；　you　keep　dogs；　do　you　not；
to　ward　off　wolves　from　your　flocks？

Cr。　Certainly；　it　pays　to　do　so。

Soc。　Then　why　do　you　not　keep　a　watchman　willing　and　competent　to　ward
off　this　pack　of　people　who　seek　to　injure　you？

I　should　not　at　all　mind　（he　answered）；　if　I　were　not　afraid　he　might
turn　again　and　rend　his　keeper。

What！　（rejoined　Socrates）；　do　you　not　see　that　to　gratify　a　man　like
yourself　is　far　pleasanter　as　a　matter　of　self…interest　than　to
quarrel　with　you？　You　may　be　sure　there　are　plenty　of　people　here　who
will　take　the　greatest　pride　in　making　you　their　friend。

Accordingly；　they　sought　out　Archedemus；＇2＇　a　practical　man　with　a
clever　tongue　in　his　head＇3＇　but　poor；　the　fact　being；　he　was　not　the
sort　to　make　gain　by　hook　or　by　crook；　but　a　lover　of　honesty　and　of
too　good　a　nature　himself　to　make　his　living　as　a　pettifogger。＇4＇
Crito　would　then　take　the　opportunity　of　times　of　harvesting　and　put
aside　small　presents　for　Achedemus　of　corn　and　oil；　or　wine；　or　wool；
or　any　other　of　the　farm　produce　forming　the　staple　commodities　of
life；　or　he　would　invite　him　to　a　sacrificial　feast；　and　otherwise　pay
him　marked　attention。　Archedemus；　feeling　that　he　had　in　Crito's　house
a　harbour　of　refuge；　could　not　make　too　much　of　his　patron；　and　ere
long　he　had　hunted　up　a　long　list　of　iniquities　which　could　be　lodged
against　Crito's　pettifogging　persecutors　themselves；　and　not　only
their　numerous　crimes　but　their　numerous　enemies；　and　presently　he
prosecuted　one　of　them　in　a　public　suit；　where　sentence　would　be　given
against　him　〃what　to　suffer　or　what　to　pay。〃＇5＇　The　accused；　conscious
as　he　was　of　many　rascally　deeds；　did　all　he　could　to　be　quit　of
Archedemus；　but　Archedemus　was　not　to　be　got　rid　of。　He　held　on　until
he　had　made　the　informer　not　only　loose　his　hold　of　Crito　but　pay
himself　a　sum　of　money；　and　now　that　Archedemus　had　achieved　this　and
other　similar　victories；　it　is　easy　to　guess　what　followed。＇6＇　It　was
just　as　when　some　shepherd　has　got　a　very　good　dog；　all　the　other
shepherds　wish　to　lodge　their　flocks　in　his　neighbourhood　that　they
too　may　reap　the　benefit　of　him。　So　a　number　o