the memorabilia-第26章

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present；　was　felt　as　no　small　benefit　by　those　who　had　grown
accustomed　to　be　with　him；　and　who　accepted　him。　Nor　indeed　was　he
less　helpful　to　his　acquaintance　in　his　lighter　than　in　his　graver
moods。

Let　us　take　as　an　example　that　saying　of　his；　so　often　on　his　lips：　〃I
am　in　love　with　so　and　so〃；　and　all　the　while　it　was　obvious　the
going…forth　of　his　soul　was　not　towards　excellence　of　body　in　the
bloom　of　beauty；　but　rather　towards　faculties　of　the　soul　unfolding　in
virtue。＇1＇　And　these　〃good　natures〃　he　detected　by　certain　tokens：　a
readiness　to　learn　that　to　which　the　attention　was　directed；　a　power
of　retaining　in　the　memory　the　lessons　learnt；　and　a　passionate
predilection　for　those　studies　in　particular　which　serve　to　good
administration　of　a　house　or　of　a　state；＇2＇　and　in　general　to　the
proper　handling　of　man　and　human　affairs。　Such　beings；　he　maintained；
needed　only　to　be　educated＇3＇　to　become　not　only　happy　themselves　and
happy　administrators　of　their　private　households；　but　to　be　capable　of
rendering　other　human　beings　as　states　or　individuals　happy　also。

＇1＇　Or；　〃not　excellence　of　body　in　respect　of　beauty；　but　of　the　soul
　　　　as　regards　virtue；　and　this　good　natural　disposition　might　be
　　　　detected　by　the　readiness　of　its　possessor　to　learn；〃　etc。　Cf。
　　　　Plat。　〃Rep。〃　535　B。

＇2＇　Cf。　above；　I。　i。　7。

＇3＇　Or；　〃A　person　of　this　type　would；　if　educated；　not　only　prove　a
　　　　fortune…favoured　invididual　himself　and；〃　etc。　Al。　Kuhner；　〃Eos；
　　　　qui　ita　instituti　sunt；　ut　tales　sint。〃

He　had　indeed　a　different　way　of　dealing　with　different　kinds　of
people。＇4＇　Those　who　thought　they　had　good　natural　ability　and
despised　learning　he　instructed　that　the　most　highly…gifted　nature
stands　most　in　need　of　training　and　education；＇5＇　and　he　would　point
out　how　in　the　case　of　horses　it　is　just　the　spirited　and　fiery
thoroughbred　which；　if　properly　broken　in　as　a　colt；　will　develop　into
a　serviceable　and　superb　animal；　but　if　left　unbroken　will　turn　out
utterly　intractable　and　good　for　nothing。　Or　take　the　case　of　dogs：　a
puppy　exhibiting　that　zest　for　toil　and　eagerness　to　attack　wild
creatures　which　are　the　marks　of　high　breeding；＇6＇　will；　if　well
brought　up；　prove　excellent　for　the　chase　or　for　any　other　useful
purpose；　but　neglect　his　education　and　he　will　turn　out　a　stupid；
crazy　brute；　incapable　of　obeying　the　simplest　command。　It　is　just　the
same　with　human　beings；　here　also　the　youth　of　best　natural　endowments
that　is　to　say；　possessing　the　most　robust　qualities　of　spirit　and　a
fixed　determination　to　carry　out　whatever　he　has　laid　his　hand　to
will；　if　trained　and　taught　what　it　is　right　to　do；　prove　a
superlatively　good　and　useful　man。　He　achieves；　in　fact；　what　is　best
upon　the　grandest　scale。　But　leave　him　in　boorish　ignorance　untrained；
and　he　will　prove　not　only　very　bad　but　very　mischievous；＇7＇　and　for
this　reason；　that　lacking　the　knowledge　to　discern　what　is　right　to
do；　he　will　frequently　lay　his　hand　to　villainous　practices；　whilst
the　very　magnificence　and　vehemence　of　his　character　render　it
impossible　either　to　rein　him　in　or　to　turn　him　aside　from　his　evil
courses。　Hence　in　his　case　also　his　achievements　are　on　the　grandest
scale　but　of　the　worst。＇8＇

＇4＇　Or；　〃His　method　of　attack　was　not　indeed　uniformly　the　same。　It
　　　　varied　with　the　individual。〃

＇5＇　Or；　〃If　any　one　was　disposed　to　look　down　upon　learning　and　study
　　　　in　reliance　upon　his　own　natural　ability；　he　tried　to　lesson　him
　　　　that　it　is　just　the　highly…gifted　nature　which　stands；〃　etc。　See
　　　　Newman；　op。　cit。　i。　397。

＇6＇　Cf。　Aristot。　〃H。　A。〃　ix。　1；　and　〃Hunting；〃　iii。　11。

＇7＇　Or；　〃and　the　same　man　may　easily　become　a　master　villain　of　the
　　　　most　dangerous　sort。〃

＇8＇　Kuhner　ad　loc。　after　Fr。　Hermann　cf。　Plato。　〃Crito；〃　44　E；　〃Hipp。
　　　　min。〃　375　E；　〃Rep。〃　vi。　491　E；　〃Gorg。〃　526　A；　〃Polit。〃　303　A。

Or　to　take　the　type　of　person　so　eaten　up　with　the　pride　of　riches
that　he　conceives　himself　dispensed　from　any　further　need　of　education
since　it　is　〃money　makes　the　man；〃　and　his　wealth　will　amply　suffice
him　to　carry　out　his　desires　and　to　win　honours　from　admiring
humanity。＇9＇　Socrates　would　bring　such　people　to　their　senses　by
pointing　out　the　folly　of　supposing　that　without　instruction　it　was
possible　to　draw　the　line　of　demarcation＇10＇　between　what　is　gainful
and　what　is　hurtful　in　conduct；　and　the　further　folly　of　supposing
that；　apart　from　such　discrimination；　a　man　could　help　himself　by
means　of　wealth　alone　to　whatever　he　liked　or　find　the　path　of
expediency　plain　before　him；　and　was　it　not　the　veriest　simplicity　to
suppose　that；　without　the　power　of　labouring　profitably；　a　man　can
either　be　doing　well　or　be　in　any　sort　of　way　sufficiently　equipped
for　the　battle　of　life？　and　again；　the　veriest　simplicity　to　suppose
that　by　mere　wealth　without　true　knowledge　it　was　possible　either　to
purchase　a　reputation　for　some　excellence；　or　without　such　reputation
to　gain　distinction　and　celebrity？

＇9＇　Or；　〃and　to　be　honoured　by　mankind。〃

＇10＇　Or；　〃that　without　learning　the　distinction　it　was　possible　to
　　　　distinguish　between；〃　etc。


II

Or　to　come　to　a　third　kindthe　class　of　people　who　are　persuaded　that
they　have　received　the　best　education；　and　are　proud　of　their　wisdom：
his　manner　of　dealing　with　these　I　will　now　describe。

Euthydemus＇1＇　〃the　beautiful〃　had　（Socrates　was　given　to　understand）
collected　a　large　library；　consisting　of　the　most　celebrated　poets　and
philosophers；＇2＇　by　help　of　which　he　already　believed　himself　to　be
more　than　a　match　for　his　fellows　in　wisdom；　and　indeed　might
presently　expect　to　out…top　them　all　in　capacity　of　speech　and
action。＇3＇　At　first；　as　Socrates　noted；　the　young　man　by　reason　of　his
youth　had　not　as　yet　set　foot　in　the　agora；＇4＇　but　if　he　had　anything
to　transact；　his　habit　was　to　seat　himself　in　a　saddler's　shop　hard
by。　Accordingly　to　this　same　saddler's　shop　Socrates　betook　himself
with　some　of　those　who　were　with　him。　And　first　the　question　was
started　by　some　one：　〃Was　it　through　consorting　with　the　wise；＇5＇　or
by　his　own　unaided　talent；　that　Themistocles　came　so　to　surpass　his
fellow…citizens　that　when　the　services　of　a　capable　man　were　needed
the　eyes　of　the　whole　community　instinctively　turned　to　him？〃
Socrates；　with　a　view　to　stirring＇6＇　Euthydemus；　answered：　There　was
certainly　an　ingenuous　simplicity　in　the　belief　that　superiority　in
arts　of　comparatively　little　worth　could　only　be　attained　by　aid　of
qualified　teachers；　but　that　the　leadership　of　the　state；　the　most
important　concern　of　all；　was　destined　to　drop　into　the　lap　of
anybody；　no　matter　whom；　like　an　accidental　windfall。＇7＇

＇1＇　Euthydemus；　the　son　of　Diocles　perhaps。　See　Plat。　〃Symp。〃　222　B；
　　　　and　Jowet　ad　loc。；　Cobet；　〃Prosop。　Xen。〃　s。n。；　K。　Joel；　op。　cit。
　　　　p。　372　foll。　For　｛ton　kalon｝　cf。　〃Phaedr。〃　278　E；　〃Isocrates　the
　　　　fair。〃　For　the　whole　chapter　cf。　Plat。　〃Alc。〃　i。；　〃Lys。〃　210　E。
　　　　See　above；　〃Mem。〃　I。　ii。　29；　Grote；　〃Plato；〃　i。　ch。　x。　passim。

＇2＇　Lit。　〃sophists。〃　See　Grote；　〃H。　G。〃　viii。　p。　480；　note。　For
　　　　private　libraries　see　Becker；　〃Char。〃　p。　272　foll。　（Eng。　tr。）

＇3＇　See　〃Hipparch；〃　i。　24；　〃Cyrop。〃　V。　v。　46。

＇4＇　See　above；　III。　vi。　1；　Schneid。　cf。　Isocr。　〃Areop。〃　149　C。

＇5＇　Cf。　Soph。　fr。　12；　｛sophoi　turannoi　ton　sophon　xunousia｝。

＇6＇　L。　and　S。　cf。　Plat。　〃Lys。〃　223　A；　〃Rep。〃　329　B：　〃Wishing　to　draw
　　　　him　out。〃

＇7＇　Cf。　Plat。　〃Alc。〃　i。　118　C：　〃And　Pericles　is　said　not　to　have　got
　　　　his　wisdom　by　the　light　of　nature；　but　to　have　associated　with
　　　　several　of　the　philosophers〃　（Jowett）。

On　a　subsequent　occasion；　Euthydemus　being　present；　though；　as　was
plain　to　see；　somewhat　disposed　to　withdraw　from　the　friendly
concourse；＇8＇　as　if　he　would　choose　anything　rather　than　appear　to
admire　Socrates　on　the　score　of　wisdom；　the　latter　made　the　following
remarks。

＇8＇　｛sunedrias｝；　〃the　council。〃

Soc。　It　is　clear　from　his　customary　pursuits；　is　it　not；　sirs；　that
when　our　friend　Euthydemus　here　is　of　full　age；　and　the　state
propounds　some　question　for　solution；　he　will　not　abstain　from
offering　the　benefit　of　his　advice？　One　can　imagine　the　pretty
exordium　to　his　parliamentary　speeches　which；　in　his　anxiety　not　to　be
thought　to　have　learnt　anything　from　anybody；　he　has　ready　for　the
occasion。＇9＇　Clearly　at　the　outset　he　will　deliver　himself　thus：　〃Men
of　Athens；　I　have　never　at　any　time　learnt　anything　from　anybody；　nor；
if　I　have　ever　heard　of　any　one　as　being　an　able　statesman；　well
versed　in　speech　and　capable　of　action；　have　I　sought　to　come　across
him　individually。　I　have　not　so　much　as　been　at　pains　to　provide
muself　with　a　teacher　from　amongst　those　who　have　knowledge；＇10＇　on
the　contrary；　I　have　persistently　avoided；　I　will　not　say　learning
from　others；　but　the　very　faintest　suspicion　of　so　doing。　However；
anything　that　occurs　to　me　by　the　light　of　nature　I　shall　be　glad　to
place　at　your　disposal。〃　。　。　。　How　appropriate＇11＇　would　such　a
preface　sound　on　the　lips　of　any　one　seeking；　say；　the　office　of　state
physician；＇12＇　would　it　not？　How　advantageously　he　might　begin　an
address　on　this　wise：　〃Men　of　Athens；　I　have　never　learnt　the　art　of
healing　by　help　of　anybody；　nor　have　I　sought　to　provide　myself　with
any　teacher　among　medical　men。　Indeed；　to　put　it　briefly；　I　have　been
ever　on　my　guard　not　only　against　learning　anything　from　the
profession；　but　against　the　very　notion　of　having　studied　medicine　at
all。　If；　however；　you　will　be　so　good　as　to　confer　on　me　this　post；　I
promise　I　will　do　my　best　to　acquire　skill　by　experimenting　on　your
persons。〃　Every　one　present　laughed　at　the　exordium　（and　there　the
matter　dropped）。

＇9＇　Or；　〃the　pretty　exordium　。　。　。　now　in　course　of　conposition。　He
　　　　must　at　all　hazards　avoid　the　suspicion　of　having　picked　up　any
　　　　crumb　of　learning　from　anybody；　how　can　he　help　therefore
　　　　beginning　his　speech　thus？〃

＇10＇　Or；　〃scientific　experts。〃

＇11＇　Al。　〃Just　as　if　one　seeking　the　office　of　state　physician　were　to
　　　　begin　with　a　like　exordium。〃　｛armoseie｝　=　〃it　would　be　consistent
　　　　（with　what　has　gone　before）。〃

＇12＇　Schneider　cf。　Plat。　〃Laws；〃　iv。　720　A；　〃Gorg。〃　456　A；　and　for
　　　　〃the　parish　doctor；〃　〃Polit。〃　259　A；　Arist。　〃Acharn。〃　1030。

Presently；　when　it　became　apparent　that　Euthydemus　had　got　so　far　that
he　was　disposed　to　pay　attention　to　what　was　said；　though　he　was　still
at　pains　not　to　utter　a　sound　himself；　as　if　he　hoped　by　silence　to
attach　to　himself　some　reputation　for　sagacity；　Socrates；　wishing　to
cure　him　of　that　defect；　proceeded。

Soc。　Is　it　not　surprising　that　people　anxious　to　learn　to　play　the
harp　or　the　flute；　or　to　ride；　or　to　become　proficient　in　any　like
accomplishment；　are　not　content　to　work　unremittingly　in　private　by
themselves　at　whatever　it　is　in　which　they　desire　to　excel；　but　they
must　sit　at　the　feet　of　the　best…esteemed　teachers；　doing　all　things
and　enduring　all　things　for　the　sake　of　following　the　judgment　of
those　teachers　in　everything；　as　though　they　themselves　could　not
otherwise　become　famous；　whereas；　among　those　who　aspire　to　become
eminent　politically　as　orators　and　statesmen；＇13＇　there　are　some　who
cannot　see　why　the