the memorabilia-第17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！


care　for　his　sheep　and　see　that　they　are　safe　and　have　all　things
needful；　and　that　the　objects　of　their　rearing　be　secured；　so　also
must　a　general　take　care　that　his　soldiers　are　safe　and　have　their
supplies；　and　attain　the　objects　of　their　soldiering？　Which　last　is
that　they　may　get　the　mastery　of　their　enemies；　and　so　add　to　their
own　good　fortune　and　happiness；　or　tell　me；　what　made　him　praise
Agamemnon；　saying

　　　　He　is　both　a　good　king　and　a　warrior　bold？＇2＇

Did　he　mean；　perhaps；　to　imply　that　he　would　be　a　'warrior　bold；'　not
merely　in　standing　alone　and　bravely　battling　against　the　foe；　but　as
inspiring　the　whole　of　his　host　with　like　prowess；　and　by　a　'good
king；'　not　merely　one　who　should　stand　forth　gallantly　to　protect　his
own　life；　but　who　should　be　the　source　of　happiness　to　all　over　whom
he　reigns？　Since　a　man　is　not　chosen　king　in　order　to　take　heed　to
himself；　albeit　nobly；　but　that　those　who　chose　him　may　attain　to
happiness　through　him。　And　why　do　men　go　soldiering　except　to
ameliorate　existence？＇3＇　and　to　this　end　they　choose　their　generals
that　they　may　find　in　them　guides　to　the　goal　in　question。　He；　then；
who　undertakes　that　office　is　bound　to　procure　for　those　who　choose
him　the　thing　they　seek　for。　And　indeed　it　were　not　easy　to　find　any
nobler　ambition　than　this；　or　aught　ignobler　than　its　opposite。

＇1＇　〃Il。〃　ii。　243。　〃The　People's　Paster；〃　Chapman。

＇2＇　〃Il。〃　iii。　179；　cf。　〃Symp。〃　iv。　6。　A　favourite　line　of　Alexander
　　　　the　Great's；　it　is　said。

＇3＇　Of；　〃that　life　may　reach　some　flower　of　happiness。〃

After　such　sort　he　handled　the　question；　what　is　the　virtue　of　a　good
leader？　and　by　shredding　off　all　superficial　qualities；　laid　bare　as
the　kernel　of　the　matter　that　it　is　the　function　of　every　leader　to
make　those　happy　whom　he　may　be　called　upon　to　lead。＇4＇

＇4＇　Cf。　Plat。　〃Rep。〃　342。


III

The　following　conversation　with　a　youth　who　had　just　been　elected
hipparch＇1＇　（or　commandant　of　cavalry）；　I　can　also　vouch　for。＇2＇

＇1＇　Cf。　〃Hipparch。〃

＇2＇　Lit。　〃I　know　he　once　held。〃

Soc。　Can　you　tell　us　what　set　you　wishing　to　be　a　general　of　cavalry；
young　sir？　What　was　your　object？　I　suppose　it　was　not　simply　to　ride
at　the　head　of　the　〃knights；〃　an　honour　not　denied　to　the　mounted
archers；＇3＇　who　ride　even　in　front　of　the　generals　themselves？

＇3＇　Lit。　〃Hippotoxotai。〃　See　Boeckh；　〃P。　E。　A。〃　II。　xxi。　p。　264　（Eng。
　　　　tr。）

Hipp。　You　are　right。

Soc。　No　more　was　it　for　the　sake　merely　of　public　notoriety；　since　a
madman　might　boast　of　that　fatal　distinction。＇4＇

＇4＇　Or；　〃as　we　all　know；　'Tom　Fool'　can　boast；〃　etc。

Hipp。　You　are　right　again。

Soc。　Is　this　possibly　the　explanation？　you　think　to　improve　the
cavalryyour　aim　would　be　to　hand　it　over　to　the　state　in　better
condition　than　you　find　it；　and；　if　the　cavalry　chanced　to　be　called
out；　you　at　their　head　would　be　the　cause　of　some　good　thing　to
Athens？

Hipp。　Most　certainly。

Soc。　Well；　and　a　noble　ambition　too；　upon　my　wordif　you　can　achieve
your　object。　The　command　to　which　you　are　appointed　concerns　horses
and　riders；　does　it　not？

Hipp。　It　does；　no　doubt。

Soc。　Come　then；　will　you　explain　to　us　first　how　you　propose　to
improve　the　horses。

Hipp。　Ah；　that　will　scarcely　form　part　of　my　business；　I　fancy。　Each
trooper　is　personally　responsible　for　the　condition　of　his　horse。

Soc。　But　suppose；　when　they　present　themselves　and　their　horses；＇5＇
you　find　that　some　have　brought　beasts　with　bad　feet　or　legs　or
otherwise　infirm；　and　others　such　ill…fed　jades　that　they　cannot　keep
up　on　the　march；　others；　again；　brutes　so　ill　broken　and　unmanageable
that　they　will　not　keep　their　place　in　the　ranks；　and　others　such
desperate　plungers　that　they　cannot　be　got　to　any　place　in　the　ranks
at　all。　What　becomes　of　your　cavalry　force　then？　How　will　you　charge
at　the　head　of　such　a　troop；　and　win　glory　for　the　state？

＇5＇　For　this　phrase；　see　Schneider　and　Kuhner　ad　loc。

Hipp。　You　are　right。　I　will　try　to　look　after　the　horses　to　my　utmost。

Soc。　Well；　and　will　you　not　lay　your　hand　to　improve　the　men
themselves？

Hipp。　I　will。

Soc。　The　first　thing　will　be　to　make　them　expert　in　mounting　their
chargers？

Hipp。　That　certainly；　for　if　any　of　them　were　dismounted　he　would　then
have　a　better　chance　of　saving　himself。

Soc。　Well；　but　when　it　comes　to　the　hazard　of　engagement；　what　will
you　do　then？　Give　orders　to　draw　the　enemy　down　to　the　sandy　ground＇6＇
where　you　are　accustomed　to　manouvre；　or　endeavour　beforehand　to　put
your　men　through　their　practice　on　ground　resembling　a　real
battlefield？

＇6＇　e。g。　the　hippodrome　at　Phaleron。

Hipp。　That　would　be　better；　no　doubt。

Soc。　Well；　shall　you　regard　it　as　a　part　of　your　duty　to　see　that　as
many　of　your　men　as　possible　can　take　aim　and　shoot　on　horseback？＇7＇

＇7＇　Cf。　〃Hipparch；〃　i。　21。

Hipp。　It　will　be　better；　certainly。

Soc。　And　have　you　thought　how　to　whet　the　courage　of　your　troopers？　to
kindle　in　them　rage　to　meet　the　enemy？which　things　are　but
stimulants　to　make　stout　hearts　stouter？

Hipp。　If　I　have　not　done　so　hitherto；　I　will　try　to　make　up　for　lost
time　now。

Soc。　And　have　you　troubled　your　head　at　all　to　consider　how　you　are　to
secure　the　obedience　of　your　men？　for　without　that　not　one　particle　of
good　will　you　get；　for　all　your　horses　and　troopers　so　brave　and　so
stout。

Hipp。　That　is　a　true　saying；　but　how；　Socrates；　should　a　man　best
bring　them　to　this　virtue？＇8＇

＇8＇　｛protrepsasthai｝。　See　above；　I。　ii。　64；　below；　IV。　v。　1。

Soc。　I　presume　you　know　that　in　any　business　whatever；　people　are　more
apt　to　follow　the　lead　of　those　whom　they　look　upon　as　adepts；　thus　in
case　of　sickness　they　are　readiest　to　obey　him　whom　they　regard　as　the
cleverest　physician；　and　so　on　a　voyage　the　most　skilful　pilot；　in
matters　agricultural　the　best　farmer；　and　so　forth。

Hipp。　Yes；　certainly。

Soc。　Then　in　this　matter　of　cavalry　also　we　may　reasonably　suppose
that　he　who　is　looked　upon　as　knowing　his　business　best　will　command
the　readiest　obedience。

Hipp。　If；　then；　I　can　prove　to　my　troopers　that　I　am　better　than　all
of　them；　will　that　suffice　to　win　their　obedience？

Soc。　Yes；　if　along　with　that　you　can　teach　them　that　obedience　to　you
brings　greater　glory　and　surer　safety　to　themselves。

Hipp。　How　am　I　to　teach　them　that？

Soc。　Upon　my　word！　How　are　you　to　teach　them　that？　Far　more　easily；　I
take　it；　than　if　you　had　to　teach　them　that　bad　things　are　better　than
good；　and　more　advantageous　to　boot。

Hipp。　I　suppose　you　mean　that；　besides　his　other　qualifications　a
commandant　of　cavalry　must　have　command　of　speech　and　argument？＇9＇

＇9＇　Or；　〃practise　the　art　of　oratory〃；　〃express　himself　clearly　and
　　　　rationally。〃　See　Grote；　〃H。　G。〃　VIII。　lxvii。　p。　463　note；
　　　　〃Hipparch；〃　i。　24；　viii。　22。

Soc。　Were　you　under　the　impression　that　the　commandant　was　not　to　open
his　mouth？　Did　it　never　occur　to　you　that　all　the　noblest　things　which
custom＇10＇　compels　us　to　learn；　and　to　which　indeed　we　owe　our
knowledge　of　life；　have　all　been　learned　by　means　of　speech＇11＇　and
reason；　and　if　there　be　any　other　noble　learning　which　a　man　may
learn；　it　is　this　same　reason　whereby　he　learns　it；　and　the　best
teachers　are　those　who　have　the　freest　command　of　thought　and
language；　and　those　that　have　the　best　knowledge　of　the　most　serious
things　are　the　most　brilliant　masters　of　disputation。　Again；　have　you
not　observed　that　whenever　this　city　of　ours　fits　out　one　of　her
chorusessuch　as　that；　for　instance；　which　is　sent　to　Delos＇12＇
there　is　nothing　elsewhere　from　any　quarter　of　the　world　which　can
compete　with　it；　nor　will　you　find　in　any　other　state　collected　so
fair　a　flower　of　manhood　as　in　Athens？＇13＇

＇10＇　Cf　Arist。　〃Rhet。〃　ii。　12；　｛oi　neoi　pepaideuntai　upo　tou　nomou
　　　　monon｝。

＇11＇　｛dia　logou｝。

＇12＇　See　Thuc。　iii。　104；　and　below；　IV。　viii。　2。

＇13＇　See　references　ap。　Schneider　and　Kuhner；　〃Symp。〃　iv。　17。

Hipp。　You　say　truly。

Soc。　But　for　all　that；　it　is　not　in　sweetness　of　voice　that　the
Athenians　differ　from　the　rest　of　the　world　so　much；　nor　in　stature　of
body　or　strength　of　limb；　but　in　ambition　and　that　love　of　honour＇14＇
which　most　of　all　gives　a　keen　edge　to　the　spirit　in　the　pursuit　of
things　lovely　and　of　high　esteem。

＇14＇　See　below；　v。　3；　Dem。　〃de　Cor。〃　28　foll。

Hipp。　That；　too；　is　a　true　saying。

Soc。　Do　you　not　think；　then；　that　if　a　man　devoted　himself　to　our
cavalry　also；　here　in　Athens；　we　should　far　outstrip　the　rest　of　the
world；　whether　in　the　furnishing　of　arms　and　horses；　or　in　orderliness
of　battle…array；　or　in　eager　hazardous　encounter　with　the　foe；　if　only
we　could　persuade　ourselves　that　by　so　doing　we　should　obtain　honour
and　distinction？

Hipp。　It　is　reasonable　to　think　so。

Soc。　Have　no　hesitation；　therefore；　but　try　to　guide　your　men　into
this　path；＇15＇　whence　you　yourself；　and　through　you　your　fellow…
citizens；　will　reap　advantage。

＇15＇　Or；　〃to　conduct　which　will　not　certainly　fail　of　profit　to
　　　　yourself　or　through　you　to　。　。　。〃

Yes；　in　good　sooth；　I　will　try　（he　answered）。


IV

At　another　time；　seeing　Nicomachides　on　his　way　back　from　the
elections　（of　magistrates）；＇1＇　he　asked　him：　Who　are　elected　generals；
Nicomachides？

＇1＇　Cf。　〃Pol。　Ath。〃　i。　3；　Aristot。　〃Ath。　Pol。〃　44。　4；　and　Dr。　Sandys'
　　　　note　ad　loc。　p。　165　of　his　edition。

And　he：　Is　it　not　just　like　them；　these　citizens　of　Athensjust　like
them；　I　sayto　go　and　elect；　not　me；　who　ever　since　my　name　first
apepared　on　the　muster…roll　have　literally　worn　myself　out　with
military　servicenow　as　a　captain；　now　as　a　coloneland　have
received　all　these　wounds　from　the　enemy；　look　you！　（at　the　same　time；
and　suiting　the　action　to　the　word；　he　bared　his　arms　and　proceeded　to
show　the　scars　of　ancient　wounds）they　elect　not　me　（he　went　on）；
but；　if　you　please；　Antisthenes！　who　never　served　as　a　hoplite＇2＇　in
his　life　nor　in　the　cavalry　ever　made　a　brilliant　stroke；　that　I　ever
heard　tell　of；　no！　in　fact；　he　has　got　no　science　at　all；　I　take　it；
except　to　amass　stores　of　wealth。

＇2＇　Cf。　Lys。　xiv。　10。

But　still　（returned　Socrates）；　surely　that　is　one　point　in　his　favour
he　ought　to　be　able　to　provide　the　troops　with　supplies。

Nic。　Well；　for　the　matter　of　that；　merchants　are　good　hands　at
collecting　stores；　but　it　does　not　follow　that　a　merchant　or　trader
will　be　able　to　command　an　army。

But　（rejoined　Socrates）　Antisthenes　is　a　man　of　great　pertinacity；　who
insists　on　winning；　and　that　is　a　very　necessary　quality　in　a
general。＇3＇　Do　not　you　see　how　each　time　he　has　been　choragos＇4＇　he
has　been　successful　with　one　chorus　after　another？

＇3＇　See　Grote；　〃Plato；〃　i。　465　foll。

＇4＇　Choir…master；　or　Director　of　the　Chorus。　It　was　his　duty　to
　　　　provide　and　preside　over　a　chorus　to　sing；　dance；　or　play　at　any
　　　　of　the　public　festivals；　defraying　the　cost　as　a　state　service　of
　　　　｛leitourgia｝。　See　〃Pol。　Ath。〃　iii。　4；　〃Hiero；〃　ix。　4；　Aristot。
　　　　〃Pol。　Ath。〃　28。　3。

Nic。　Bless　me！　yes；　but　there　is　a　wide　difference　between　standing　at
the　head　of　a　band　of　singers　and　dancers　and　a　troop　of　soldiers。

Soc。　Still；　without　any　practical　skill　in　singing　or　in　the　training
of　a　chorus；　Antisthenes　somehow　ha