the memorabilia-第24章

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　　　　any　sort？〃

Theod。　No；　nor　yet　an　employer　of　labour。

Soc。　From　what　source；　then；　do　you　get　your　means　of　subsistence？＇5＇

＇5＇　Or；　Anglice；　〃derive　your　income。〃

Theod。　My　friends　are　my　life　and　fortune；　when　they　care　to　be　kind
to　me。

Soc。　By　heaven；　Theodote；　a　very　fine　property　indeed；　and　far　better
worth　possessing　than　a　multitude　of　sheep　or　goats　or　cattle。　A　flock
of　friends！　。　。　。　But　（he　added）　do　you　leave　it　to　fortune　whether　a
friend　lights　like　a　fly　on　your　hand　at　random；　or　do　you　use　any
artifice＇6＇　yourself　to　attract　him？

＇6＇　Or；　〃means　and　appliances；〃　〃machinery。〃

Theod。　And　how　might　I　hit　upon　any　artifice　to　attract　him？

Soc。　Bless　me！　far　more　naturally　than　any　spider。　You　know　how　they
capture　the　creatures　on　which　they　live；＇7＇　by　weaving　webs　of
gossamer；　is　it　not？　and　woe　betide　the　fly　that　tumbles　into　their
toils！　They　eat　him　up。

＇7＇　Lit。　〃the　creatures　on　which　they　live。〃

Theod。　So　then　you　would　consel　me　to　weave　myself　some　sort　of　net？

Soc。　Why；　surely　you　do　not　suppose　you　are　going　to　ensnare　that
noblest　of　all　gamea　lover；　to　witin　so　artless　a　fashion？　Do　you
not　see　（to　speak　of　a　much　less　noble　sort　of　game）　what　a　number　of
devices　are　needed　to　bag　a　hare？＇8＇　The　creatures　range　for　their
food　at　night；　therefore　the　hunter　must　provide　himself　with　night
dogs。　At　peep　of　dawn　they　are　off　as　fast　as　they　can　run。　He　must
therefore　have　another　pack　of　dogs　to　scent　out　and　discover　which
way　they　betake　them　from　their　grazing　ground　to　their　forms；＇9＇　and
as　they　are　so　fleet　of　foot　that　they　run　and　are　out　of　sight　in　no
time；　he　must　once　again　be　provided　with　other　fleet…footed　dogs　to
follow　their　tracks　and　overtake　them；＇10＇　and　as　some　of　them　will
give　even　these　the　slip；　he　must；　last　of　all；　set　up　nets　on　the
paths　at　the　points　of　escape；　so　that　they　may　fall　into　the　meshes
and　be　caught。

＇8＇　See　the　author's　own　treatise　on　〃Hunting；〃　vi。　6　foll。

＇9＇　Lit。　〃from　pasture　to　bed。〃

＇10＇　Or；　〃close　at　their　heels　and　run　them　down。〃　See　〃Hunting〃；　cf。
　　　　〃Cyrop。〃　I。　vi。　40。

Theod。　And　by　what　like　contrivance　would　you　have　me　catch　my　lovers？

Soc。　Well　now！　what　if　in　place　of　a　dog　you　can　get　a　man　who　will
hunt　up　your　wealthy　lover　of　beauty　and　discover　his　lair；　and　having
found　him；　will　plot　and　plan　to　throw　him　into　your　meshes？

Theod。　Nay；　what　sort　of　meshes　have　I？

Soc。　One　you　have；　and　a　close…folding　net　it　is；＇11＇　I　trow；　to　wit；
your　own　person；　and　inside　it　sits　a　soul　that　teaches　you＇12＇　with
what　looks　to　please　and　with　what　words　to　cheer；　how；　too；　with
smiles　you　are　to　welcome　true　devotion；　but　to　exclude　all　wantons
from　your　presence。＇13＇　It　tells　you；　you　are　to　visit　your　beloved　in
sickness　with　solicitude；　and　when　he　has　wrought　some　noble　deed　you
are　greatly　to　rejoice　with　him；　and　to　one　who　passionately　cares　for
you；　you　are　to　make　surrender　of　yourself　with　heart　and　soul。　The
secret　of　true　love　I　am　sure　you　know：　not　to　love　softly　merely；　but
devotedly。＇14＇　And　of　this　too　I　am　sure：　you　can　convince　your　lovers
of　your　fondness　for　them　not　by　lip　phrases；　but　by　acts　of　love。

＇11＇　Or；　〃right　well　woven。〃

＇12＇　Lit。　〃by　which　you　understand。〃

＇13＇　Or；　〃with　what　smiles　to　lie　in　wait　for　（cf。　'Cyrop。'　II。　iv。
　　　　20；　Herod。　vi。　104）　the　devoted　admirer；　and　how　to　banish　from
　　　　your　presence　the　voluptary。〃

＇14＇　Or；　〃that　it　should　be　simply　soft；　but　full　of　tender　goodwill。〃

Theod。　No；　upon　my　word；　I　have　none　of　these　devices。

Soc。　And　yet　it　makes　all　the　difference　whether　you　approach　a　human
being　in　the　natural　and　true　way；　since　it　is　not　by　force　certainly
that　you　can　either　catch　or　keep　a　friend。　Kindness　and　pleasure　are
the　only　means　to　capture　this　fearful　wild…fowl　man　and　keep　him
constant。

Theod。　You　are　right。

Soc。　In　the　first　place　you　must　make　such　demands　only　of　your　well…
wisher　as　he　can　grant　without　repentance；　and　in　the　next　place　you
must　make　requital；　dispensing　your　favours　with　a　like　economy。　Thus
you　will　best　make　friends　whose　love　shall　last　the　longest　and　their
generosity　know　no　stint。＇15＇　And　for　your　favours　you　will　best　win
your　friends　if　you　suit　your　largess　to　their　penury；　for；　mark　you；
the　sweetest　viands　presented　to　a　man　before　he　wants　them　are　apt　to
prove　insipid；　or；　to　one　already　sated；　even　nauseous；　but　create
hunger；　and　even　coarser　stuff　seems　honey…sweet。

＇15＇　Or；　〃This　is　the　right　road　to　friendshippermanent　and　open…
　　　　handed　friendship。〃

Theod。　How　then　shall　I　create　this　hunger　in　the　heart　of　my　friends？

Soc。　In　the　first　place　you　must　not　offer　or　make　suggestion　of　your
dainties　to　jaded　appetites　until　satiety　has　ceased　and　starvation
cries　for　alms。　Even　then　shall　you　make　but　a　faint　suggestion　to
their　want；　with　modest　converselike　one　who　would　fain　bestow　a
kindness　。　。　。　and　lo！　the　vision　fades　and　she　is　goneuntil　the
very　pinch　of　hunger；　for　the　same　gifts　have　then　a　value　unknown
before　the　moment　of　supreme　desire。

Then　Theodote：　Oh　why；　Socrates；　why　are　you　not　by　my　side　（like　the
huntsman's　assistant）　to　help　me　catch　my　friends　and　lovers？

Soc。　That　will　I　be　in　good　sooth　if　only　you　can　woo　and　win　me。

Theod。　How　shall　I　woo　and　win　you？

Soc。　Seek　and　you　will　find　means；　if　you　truly　need　me。

Theod。　Come　then　in　hither　and　visit　me　often。

And　Socrates；　poking　sly　fun　at　his　own　lack　of　business　occupation；
answered：　Nay；　Theodote；　leisure　is　not　a　commodity　in　which　I　largely
deal。　I　have　a　hundred　affairs　of　my　own　too；　private　or　public；　to
occupy　me；　and　then　there　are　my　lady…loves；　my　dear　friends；　who　will
not　suffer　me　day　or　night　to　leave　them；　for　ever　studying　to　learn
love…charms　and　incantations　at　my　lips。

Theod。　Why；　are　you　really　versed　in　those　things；　Socrates？

Soc。　Of　course；　or　else　how　is　it；　do　you　suppose；　that
Apollodorus＇16＇　here　and　Antisthenes　never　leave　me；　or　why　have　Cebes
and　Simmias　come　all　the　way　from　Thebes　to　stay　with　me？　Be　assured
these　things　cannot　happen　without　diverse　love…charms　and
incantations　and　magic　wheels。

＇16＇　For　Apollodorus　see　〃Apol。〃　28；　Plat。　〃Symp。〃　172　A；　〃Phaed。〃　59
　　　　A；　117　D。　For　Antisthenes　see　above。　For　Cebes　and　Simmias　see
　　　　above；　I。　ii。　48；　Plat。　〃Crit。〃　45　B；　〃Phaed。〃　passim。

Theod。　I　wish　you　would　lend　me　your　magic…wheel；＇17＇　then；　and　I　will
set　it　spinning　first　of　all　for　you。

＇17＇　Cf。　Theocr。　ii。　17；　Schneider　ad　loc。

Soc。　Ah！　but　I　do　not　wish　to　be　drawn　to　you。　I　wish　you　to　come　to
me。

Theod。　Then　I　will　come。　Only；　will　you　be　〃at　home〃　to　me？

Soc。　Yes；　I　will　welcome　you；　unless　some　one　still　dearer　holds　me
engaged；　and　I　must　needs　be　〃not　at　home。〃


XII

Seeing　one　of　those　who　were　with　him；　a　young　man；　but　feeble　of
body；　named　Epigenes；＇1＇　he　addressed　him。

＇1＇　Epigenes；　possibly　the　son　of　Antiphon。　See　Plat。　〃Apol。〃　33　E；
　　　　〃Phaed。〃　59　B。

Soc。　You　have　not　the　athletic　appearance　of　a　youth　in　training；＇2＇
Epigenes。

＇2＇　｛idiotikos｝；　lit。　of　the　person　untrained　in　gymnastics。　See　A。　R。
　　　　Cluer　ad　loc。　Cf。　Plat。　〃Laws；〃　839　E；　I。　ii。　4；　III。　v。　15；
　　　　〃Symp。〃　ii。　17。

And　he：　That　may　well　be；　seeing　I　am　an　amateur　and　not　in　training。

Soc。　As　little　of　an　amateur；　I　take　it；　as　any　one　who　ever　entered
the　lists　of　Olympia；　unless　you　are　prepared　to　make　light　of　that
contest　for　life　and　death　against　the　public　foe　which　the　Athenians
will　institute　when　the　day　comes。＇3＇　And　yet　they　are　not　a　few　who；
owing　to　a　bad　habit　of　body；　either　perish　outright　in　the　perils　of
war；　or　are　ignobly　saved。　Many　are　they　who　for　the　self…same　cause
are　taken　prisoners；　and　being　taken　must；　if　it　so　betide；　endure　the
pains　of　slavery　for　the　rest　of　their　days；　or；　after　falling　into
dolorous　straits；＇4＇　when　they　have　paid　to　the　uttermost　farthing　of
all；　or　may　be　more　than　the　worth　of　all；　that　they　possess；　must
drag　on　a　miserable　existence　in　want　of　the　barest　necessaries　until
death　release　them。　Many　also　are　they　who　gain　an　evil　repute　through
infirmity　of　body；　being　thought　to　play　the　coward。　Can　it　be　that
you　despise　these　penalties　affixed　to　an　evil　habit？　Do　you　think　you
could　lightly　endure　them？　Far　lighter；　I　imagine；　nay；　pleasant　even
by　comparison；　are　the　toils　which　he　will　undergo　who　duly　cultivates
a　healthy　bodily　condition。　Or　do　you　maintain　that　the　evil　habit　is
healthier；　and　in　general　more　useful　than　the　good？　Do　you　pour
contempt　upon　those　blessings　which　flow　from　the　healthy　state？　And
yet　the　very　opposite　of　that　which　befalls　the　ill　attends　the　sound
condition。　Does　not　the　very　soundness　imply　at　once　health　and
strength？＇5＇　Many　a　man　with　no　other　talisman　than　this　has　passed
safely　through　the　ordeal　of　war；　stepping；　not　without　dignity；＇6＇
through　all　its　horrors　unscathed。　Many　with　no　other　support　than
this　have　come　to　the　rescue　of　friends；　or　stood　forth　as　benefactors
of　their　fatherland；　whereby　they　were　thought　worthy　of　gratitude；
and　obtained　a　great　renown　and　received　as　a　recompense　the　highest
honours　of　the　State；　to　whom　is　also　reserved　a　happier　and　brighter
passage　through　what　is　left　to　them　of　life；　and　at　their　death　they
leave　to　their　children　the　legacy　of　a　fairer　starting…point　in　the
race　of　life。

＇3＇　Or；　〃should　chance　betide。〃　Is　the　author　thinking　of　a　life…and…
　　　　death　struggle　with　Thebes？

＇4＇　e。g。　the　prisoners　in　the　Latomiae。　Thuc。　vii。　87。

＇5＇　It　is　almost　a　proverb〃Sound　of　body　and　limb　is　hale　and
　　　　strong。〃　〃Qui　valet　praevalebit。〃

＇6＇　e。g。　Socrates　himself；　according　to　Alcibiades；　ap。　Plat。　〃Symp。〃
　　　　221　B；　and　for　the　word　｛euskhemonos｝　see　Arist。　〃Wasps；〃　1210；
　　　　〃like　a　gentleman〃；　L。　and　S。；　〃Cyr。〃　I。　iii。　8；　Aristot。　〃Eth。
　　　　N。〃　i。　10；　13；　〃gracefully。〃

Because　our　city　does　not　practise　military　training　in　public；＇7＇
that　is　no　reason　for　neglecting　it　in　private；　but　rather　a　reason
for　making　it　a　foremost　care。　For　be　you　assured　that　there　is　no
contest　of　any　sort；　nor　any　transaction；　in　which　you　will　be　the
worse　off　for　being　well　prepared　in　body；　and　in　fact　there　is
nothing　which　men　do　for　which　the　body　is　not　a　help。　In　every
demand；　therefore；　which　can　be　laid　upon　the　body　it　is　much　better
that　it　should　be　in　the　best　condition；　since；　even　where　you　might
imagine　the　claims　upon　the　body　to　be　slightestin　the　act　of
reasoningwho　does　not　know　the　terrible　stumbles　which　are　made
through　being　out　of　health？　It　suffices　to　say　that　forgetfulness；
and　despondency；　and　moroseness；　and　madness　take　occasion　often　of
ill…health　to　visit　the　intellectual　faculties　so　severely　as　to　expel
all　knowledge＇8＇　from　the　brain。　But　he　who　is　in　good　bodily　plight
has　large　security。　He　runs　no　risk　of　incurring　any　such　catastrophe
through　ill…health　at　any　rate；　he　has　the　expectation　rather　that　a
good　habit　must　procure　consequences　the　opposite　to　those　of　an　evil
habit；＇9＇　and　surely　to　this　end　there　is　nothing　a　man　in　his　senses
would　not　undergo。　。　。　。　It　is　a　base　thing　for　a　man　to　wax