the memorabilia-第29章

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Soc。　By　heaven！　yes；　only　then　we　shall　be　including　the　commonest
sources　of　mischief　which　befall　mankind。　How　many　are　ruined　by　their
fair　faces　at　the　hand　of　admireres　driven　to　distraction＇54＇　by　the
sight　of　beauty　in　its　bloom！　how　many；　tempted　by　their　strength　to
essay　deeds　beyond　their　power；　are　involved　in　no　small　evils！　how
many；　rendered　effeminate　by　reason　of　their　wealth；　have　been　plotted
against　and　destroyed！＇55＇　how　many　through　fame　and　political　power
have　suffered　a　world　of　woe！

＇54＇　Cf。　Plat。　〃Rep。〃　vii。　517　D；　〃Phaedr。〃　249　D。

＇55＇　e。g。　Alcibiades。

Well　（the　youth　replied）　if　I　am　not　even　right　in　praising　happiness；
I　must　confess　I　know　not　for　what　one　ought　to　supplicate　the　gods　in
prayer。＇56＇

＇56＇　See　above　for　Socrates'　own　form　of　supplication。

Nay；　these　are　matters　（proceeded　Socrates）　which　perhaps；　through
excessive　confidence　in　your　knowledge　of　them；　you　have　failed　to
examine　into；　but　since　the　state；　which　you　are　preparing　yourself　to
direct；　is　democratically　constituted；＇57＇　of　course　you　know　what　a
democracy　is。

＇57＇　Or；　〃popularly　governed。〃

Euth。　I　presume　I　do；　decidedly。

Soc。　Well；　now；　is　it　possible　to　know　what　a　popular　state　is　without
knowing　who　the　people　are？

Euth。　Certainly　not。

Soc。　And　whom　do　you　consider　to　be　the　people？

Euth。　The　poor　citizens；　I　should　say。

Soc。　Then　you　know　who　the　poor　are；　of　course？

Euth。　Of　course　I　do。

Soc。　I　presume　you　also　know　who　the　rich　are？

Euth。　As　certainly　as　I　know　who　are　the　poor。

Soc。　Whom　do　you　understand　by　poor　and　rich？

Euth。　By　poor　I　mean　those　who　have　not　enough　to　pay　for　their
necessaries；＇58＇　and　by　rich　those　who　have　more　means　than　sufficient
for　all　their　needs。

＇58＇　Al。　〃who　cannot　contribute　their　necessary　quota　to　the　taxes
　　　　（according　to　the　census）。〃

Soc。　Have　you　noticed　that　some　who　possess　a　mere　pittance　not　only
find　this　sufficient；　but　actually　succeed　in　getting　a　surplus　out　of
it；　while　others　do　not　find　a　large　fortune　large　enough？

I　have；　most　certainly；　and　I　thank　you　for　the　reminder　（replied
Euthydemus）。　One　has　heard　of　crowned　heads　and　despotic　rulers　being
driven　by　want　to　commit　misdeeds　like　the　veriest　paupers。

Then；　if　that　is　how　matters　stand　（continued　Socrates）；　we　must　class
these　same　crowned　heads　with　the　commonalty；　and　some　possessors　of
scant　fortunes；　provided　they　are　good　economists；　with　the　wealthy？

Then　Euthydemus：　It　is　the　poverty　of　my　own　wit　which　forces　me　to
this　admission。　I　bethink　me　it　is　high　time　to　keep　silence
altogether；　a　little　more；　and　I　shall　be　proved　to　know　absolutely
nothing。　And　so　he　went　away　crestfallen；　in　an　agony　of　self…
contempt；　persuaded　that　he　was　verily　and　indeed　no　better　than　a
slave。

Amongst　those　who　were　reduced　to　a　like　condition　by　Socrates；　many
refused　to　come　near　him　again；　whom　he　for　his　part　looked　upon　as
dolts　and　dullards。＇59＇　But　Euthydemus　had　the　wit　to　understand　that；
in　order　to　become　worthy　of　account；　his　best　plan　was　to　associate
as　much　as　possible　with　Socrates；　and　from　that　moment；　save　for　some
necessity；　he　never　left　himin　some　points　even　imitating　him　in　his
habits　and　pursuits。　Socrates；　on　his　side；　seeing　that　this　was　the
young　man's　disposition；　disturbed　him　as　little　as　possible；　but　in
the　simplest　and　plainest　manner　initiated　him　into　everything　which
he　held　to　be　needful　to　know　or　important　to　practise。

＇59＇　Or；　〃as　people　of　dull　intelligence　and　sluggish　temperament。〃
　　　　Cf。　Plat。　〃Gorg。〃　488　A。


III

It　may　be　inferred　that　Socrates　was　in　no　hurry　for　those　who　were
with　him　to　discover　capacities　for　speech　and　action　or　as　inventive
geniuses；＇1＇　without　at　any　rate　a　well…laid　foundation　of　self…
control。＇2＇　For　those　who　possessed　such　abilities　without　these　same
saving　virtues　would；　he　believed；　only　become　worse　men　with　greater
power　for　mischief。　His　first　object　was　to　instil　into　those　who　were
with　him　a　wise　spirit　in　their　relation　to　the　gods。＇3＇　That　such　was
the　tenor　of　his　conversation　in　dealing　with　men　may　be　seen　from　the
narratives　of　others　who　were　present　on　some　particular　occasion。＇4＇
I　confine　myself　to　a　particular　discussion　with　Euthydemus　at　which　I
was　present。

＇1＇　Or；　〃as　speakers〃　（see　ch。　vi。　below）；　〃and　men　of　action〃　（see
　　　　ch。　v。　below）；　〃or　as　masters　of　invention〃　（see　ch。　vii。　below）。

＇2＇　Or；　〃but　as　prior　to　those　excellences　must　be　engrafted　in　them
　　　　｛sophrosune｝　（the　virtues　of　temperance　and　sanity　of　soul）。〃

＇3＇　Lit。　〃His　first　object　and　endeavour　was　to　make　those　who　were
　　　　with　him　｛sophronas｝　（sound　of　soul）　as　regards　the　gods。〃

＇4＇　Reading　after　Herbst；　Cobet；　etc。；　｛diegountai｝；　or　if　vulg。
　　　　｛diegounto｝；　translate；　〃from　the　current　accounts　penned　during
　　　　his　lifetime　by　the　other　witnesses。〃　For　｛alloi｝　see　K。　Joel；　op。
　　　　cit。　pp。　15；　23；　above；　〃Mem。〃　I。　iv。　1。

Socrates　said：＇5＇　Tell　me；　Euthydemus；　has　it　ever　struck　you　to
observe　what　tender　pains　the　gods　have　taken　to　furnish　man　with　all
his　needs？

＇5＇　For　the　subject　matter　of　this　〃teleological〃　chapter；　see　above；
　　　　I。　iv。；　K。　Joel；　op。　cit。　Appendix；　p。　547　foll。　in　ref。　to
　　　　Dummler's　views。

Euth。　No　indeed；　I　cannot　say　that　it　has　ever　struck　me。

Well　（Socrates　cotinued）；　you　do　not　need　to　be　reminded　that；　in　the
first　place；　we　need　light；　and　with　light　the　gods　supply　us。

Euth。　Most　true；　and　if　we　had　not　got　it　we　should；　as　far　as　our　own
eyes　could　help　us；　be　like　men　born　blind。

Soc。　And　then；　again；　seeing　that　we　stand　in　need　of　rest　and
relaxation；　they　bestow　upon　us　〃the　blessed　balm　of　silent　night。〃＇6＇

＇6＇　｛kalliston　anapauterion｝。　The　diction　throughout　is　〃poetical。〃

Yes　（he　answered）；　we　are　much　beholden　for　that　boon。

Soc。　Then；　forasmuch　as　the　sun　in　his　splendour　makes　manifest　to　us
the　hours　of　the　day　and　bathes　all　things　in　brightness；　but　anon
night　in　her　darkness　obliterates　distinctions；　have　they　not
displayed　aloft　the　starry　orbs；　which　inform　us　of　the　watches　of　the
night；　whereby　we　can　accomplish　many　of　our　needs？＇7＇

＇7＇　e。g。　for　temple　orientation　see　Dr。　Penrose　quoted　by　Norman
　　　　Lockyer；　〃Nature；〃　August　31。　1893。

It　is　so　（he　answered）。

Soc。　And　let　us　not　forget　that　the　moon　herself　not　only　makes　clear
to　us　the　quarters　of　the　night；　but　of　the　month　also？

Certainly　（he　answered）。

Soc。　And　what　of　this：　that　whereas　we　need　nutriment；　this　too　the
heavenly　powers　yield　us？　Out　of　earth's　bosom　they　cause　good　to
spring　up＇8＇　for　our　benefit；　and　for　our　benefit　provide　appropriate
seasons　to　furnish　us　in　turn　not　only　with　the　many　and　diverse
objects　of　need；　but　with　the　sources　also　of　our　joy　and　gladness？＇9＇

＇8＇　Cf。　Plat。　〃Laws；〃　747　D。

＇9＇　Or；　〃pleasure。〃

Yes　（he　answered　earerly）；　these　things　bear　token　truly　to　a　love　for
man。＇10＇

＇10＇　Cf。　Plat。　〃Laws；〃　713　D；　〃Symp。〃　189　D。　〃These　things　are　signs
　　　　of　a　beneficient　regard　for　man。〃

Soc。　Well；　and　what　of　another　priceless　gift；　that　of　water；　which
conspires　with　earth　and　the　seasons　to　give　both　birth　and　increase
to　all　things　useful　to　us；　nay；　which　helps　to　nurture　our　very
selves；　and　commingling　with　all　that　feeds　us；　renders　it　more
digestible；　more　wholesome；　and　more　pleasant　to　the　taste；　and　mark
you　in　proportion　to　the　abundance　of　our　need　the　superabundance　of
its　supply。　What　say　you　concerning　such　a　boon？

Euth。　In　this　again　I　see　a　sign　of　providential　care。

Soc。　And　then　the　fact　that　the　same　heavenly　power　has　provided　us
with　fire＇11＇our　assistant　against　cold；　our　auxiliary　in　darkness；
our　fellow…workman　in　every　art　and　every　instrument　which　for　the
sake　of　its　utility　mortal　man　may　invent　or　furnish　himself　withal。
What　of　this；　since；　to　put　it　compendiously；　there　is　nothing
serviceable　to　the　life　of　man　worth　speaking　of　but　owes　its
fabrication　to　fire？＇12＇

＇11＇　Lit。　〃and　then　the　fact　that　they　made　provision　for　us　of　even
　　　　fire〃；　the　credit　of　this　boon；　according　to　Hesiod；　being　due　to
　　　　Prometheus。

＇12＇　Or；　〃no　life…aiding　appliance　worthy　of　the　name。〃

Euth。　Yes；　a　transcendent　instance　of　benevolent　design。＇13＇

＇13＇　Or；　〃Yes；　that　may　be　called　an　extreme　instance　of　the　divine
　　　　'philanthropy。'〃　Cf。　Cic。　〃de　N。　D。〃　ii。　62。

Soc。　Again；　consider　the　motions　of　the　Sun；＇14＇　how　when　he　has
turned　him　about　in　winter＇15＇　he　again　draws　nigh　to　us；　ripening
some　fruits；　and　causing　others　whose　time　is　past　to　dry　up；　how　when
he　has　fulfilled　his　work　he　comes　no　closer；　but　turns　away　as　if　in
fear　to　scorch　us　to　our　hurt　unduly；　and　again；　when　he　has　reached　a
point　where　if　he　should　prolong　his　reatreat　we　should　plainly　be
frozen　to　death　with　cold；　note　how　he　turns　him　about　and　resumes　his
approach；　traversing　that　region　of　the　heavens　where　he　may　shed　his
genial　influence　best　upon　us。

＇14＇　A　single　MS。　inserts　a　passage　｛to　de　kai　era　。　。　。
　　　　'Anekphraston｝。

＇15＇　i。e。　as　we　say；　〃after　the　winter　solstice。〃

Yes；　upon　my　word　（he　answered）；　these　occurrences　bear　the　impress　of
being　so　ordered　for　the　sake　of　man。

Soc。　And　then；　again；　it　being　manifest　that　we　could　not　endure
either　scorching　heat　or　freezing　cold　if　they　came　suddenly　upon　us；
note　how　gradually　the　sun　approaches；　and　how　gradually　recedes；　so
that　we　fail　to　notice　how　we　come　at　last　to　either　extreme。＇16＇

＇16＇　Or；　〃note　the　gradual　approach　and　gradual　recession　of　the　sun…
　　　　god；　so　gradual　that　we　reach　either　extreme　in　a　manner
　　　　imperceptibly；　and　before　we　are　aware　of　its　severity。〃

For　my　part　（he　replied）；　the　question　forces　itself　upon　my　mind；
whether　the　gods　have　any　other　occupation　save　only　to　minister　to
man；　and　I　am　only　hindered　from　saying　so；　because　the　rest　of
animals　would　seem　to　share　these　benefits　along　with　man。

Soc。　Why；　to　be　sure；　and　is　it　not　plain　that　these　animals
themselves　are　born　and　bred　for　the　sake　of　man？　At　any　rate；　no
living　creature　save　man　derives　so　many　of　his　enjoyments　from　sheep
and　goats；　horses　and　cattle　and　asses；　and　other　animals。　He　is　more
dependent；　I　should　suppose；　on　these　than　even　on　plants　and
vegetables。　At　any　rate；　equally　with　these　latter　they　serve　him　as
means　of　subsistence　or　articles　of　commerce；　indeed；　a　large　portion
of　the　human　family　do　not　use　the　products　of　the　soil　as　food　at
all；　but　live　on　the　milk　and　cheese　and　flesh　of　their　flocks　and
herds；　whilst　all　men　everywhere　tame　and　domesticate　the　more　useful
kinds　of　animals；　and　turn　them　to　account　as　fellow…workers　in　war
and　for　other　purposes。

Yes；　I　cannot　but　agree　with　what　you　say　（he　answered）；　when　I　see
that　animals　so　much　stronger　than　man　become　so　subservient　to　his
hand　that　he　can　use　them　as　he　lists。

Soc。　And　as　we　reflect　on　the　infinite　beauty　and　utility　and　the
variety　of　nature；　what　are　we　to　say　of　the　fact　that　man　has　been
endowed　with　sensibilities　which　correspond　with　this　diversity；
whereby　we　take　our　fill　of　every　blessing；＇17＇　or；　again；　this
implanted　faculty　of　reasoning；　wh