the memorabilia(纪念品)-第13章
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than those which children derive from their parentstheir father and
mother who brought them out of nothingness into being； who granted
them to look upon all these fair sights； and to partake of all those blessings
which the gods bestow on man； things so priceless in our eyes that one and
all we shudder at the thought of leaving them； and states have made death
the penalty for the greatest crimes； because there is no greater evil through
fear of which to stay iniquity。
You do not suppose that human beings produce children for the sake of
carnal pleasure＇1＇ merely； were this the motive； street and bordell are full
of means to quit them of that thrall； whereas nothing is plainer than the
pains we take to seek out wives who shall bear us the finest children。＇2＇
With these we wed； and carry on the race。 The man has a twofold duty to
perform： partly in cherishing her who is to raise up children along with
him； and partly towards the children yet unborn in providing them with
things that he thinks will contribute to their well…beingand of these as
large a store as possible。 The woman； conceiving； bears her precious
burthen with travail and pain； and at the risk of life itselfsharing with that
within her womb the food on which she herself is fed。 And when with
much labour she has borne to the end and brought forth her offspring； she
feeds it and watches over it with tender carenot in return for any good
thing previously received； for indeed the babe itself is little conscious of
its benefactor and cannot even signify its wants； only she； the mother；
making conjecture of what is good for it； and what will please it； essays to
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satisfy it；＇3＇ and for many months she feeds it night and day； enduring the
toil nor recking what return she shall receive for all her trouble。 Nor does
the care and kindness of parents end with nurture； but when the children
seem of an age to learn； they teach them themselves whatever cunning
they possess； as a guide to life； or where they feel that another is more
competent； to him they send them to be taught at their expense。 Thus they
watch over their children； doing all in their power to enable them to grow
up to be as good as possible。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃the joys of Aphrodite。〃
＇2＇ 〃For the procreation of children。〃 See below； IV。 iv。 22； 〃Pol。
Lac。〃 i。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃to leave nought lacking。〃
So be it （the youth answered）； but even if she have done all that； and
twenty times as much； no soul on earth could endure my mother's cross…
grained temper。
Then Socrates： Which； think you； would be harder to beara wild
beast's savagery or a mother's？
Lamp。 To my mind； a mother'sat least if she be such as mine。
Soc。 Dear me！ And has this mother ever done you any injurysuch as
people frequently receive from beasts； by bite or kick？
Lamp。 If she has not done quite that； she uses words which any one
would sooner sell his life than listen to。
Soc。 And how many annoyances have you caused your mother； do you
suppose； by fretfulness and peevishness in word and deed； night and day；
since you were a little boy？ How much sorrow and pain； when you were
ill？
Lamp。 Well； I never said or did anything to bring a blush to her cheeks。
Soc。 No； come now！ Do you suppose it is harder for you to listen to
your mother's speeches than for actor to listen to actor on the tragic
stage；＇4＇ when the floodgates of abuse are opened？
＇4＇ See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 viii。 457； Plut。 〃Solon；〃 xxix。
Lamp。 Yes； for the simple reason that they know it is all talk on their
parts。 The inquisitor may cross…question； but he will not inflict a fine； the
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threatener may hurl his menaces； but he will do no mischiefthat is why
they take it all so easily。
Soc。 Then ought you to fly into a passion； who know well enough that；
whatever your mother says； she is so far from meaning you mischief that
she is actually wishing blessings to descend upon you beyond all others？
Or do you believe that your mother is really ill disposed towards you？
Lamp。 No； I do not think that。
Soc。 Then this mother； who is kindly disposed to you； and takes such
tender care of you when you are ill to make you well again； and to see that
you want for nothing which may help you； and； more than all； who is
perpetually pleading for blessings in your behalf and offering her vows to
Heaven＇5＇can you say of her that she is cross…grained and harsh？ For my
part； I think； if you cannot away with such a mother； you cannot away with
such blessings either。
＇5＇ Or； 〃paying vows。〃
But tell me （he proceeded）； do you owe service to any living being；
think you？ or are you prepared to stand alone？ Prepared not to please or
try to please a single soul？ to follow none？ To obey neither general nor
ruler of any sort？ Is that your attitude； or do you admit that you owe
allegience to somebody？
Lamp。 Yes； certainly I owe allegiance。
Soc。 May I take it that you are willing to please at any rate your
neighbour； so that he may kindle a fire for you in your need； may prove
himself a ready helpmate in good fortune； or if you chance on evil and are
stumbling； may friendlily stand by your side to aid？
Lamp。 I am willing。
Soc。 Well； and what of that other chance companionyour fellow…
traveller by land or sea？ what of any others； you may light upon？ is it
indifferent to you whether these be friends or not； or do you admit that the
goodwill of these is worth securing by some pains on your part？
Lamp。 I do。
Soc。 It stands thus then： you are prepared to pay attention to this； that；
and the other stranger； but to your mother who loves you more than all
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else； you are bound to render no service； no allegiance？ Do you not know
that whilst the state does not concern itself with ordinary ingratitude or
pass judicial sentence on it； whilst it overlooks the thanklessness of those
who fail to make return for kindly treatment； it reserves its pains and
penalties for the special case？ If a man render not the service and
allegiance due to his parents； on him the finger of the law is laid； his name
is struck off the roll； he is forbidden to hold the archonshipwhich is as
much as to say； 〃Sacrifices in behalf of the state offered by such a man
would be no offerings； being tainted with impiety； nor could aught else be
'well and justly' performed of which he is the doer。〃 Heaven help us！ If a
man fail to adorn the sepulchre of his dead parents the state takes
cognisance of the matter； and inquisition is made in the scrutiny of the
magistrates。＇6＇ And as for you； my son； if you are in your sober senses；
you will earnestly entreat your mother； lest the very gods take you to be an
ungrateful being； and on their side also refuse to do you good； and you
will beware of men also； lest they should perceive your neglect of your
parents； and with one consent hold you in dishonour；＇7＇ and so you find
yourself in a desert devoid of friends。 For if once the notion be entertained
that here is a man ungrateful to his parents； no one will believe that any
kindness shown you would be other than thrown away。
＇6＇ Lit。 〃the docimasia。〃 See Gow； 〃Companion；〃 xiv。
＇7＇ 〃Visiti with atimia。〃
III
At another time the differences between two brothers named
Chaerephon and Chaerecrates； both well known to him； had drawn his
attention； and on seeing the younger of the two he thus addresed him。
Soc。 Tell me； Chaerecrates； you are not； I take it； one of those strange
people who believe that goods are better and more precious than a
brother；＇1＇ and that too although the former are but senseless chattels
which need protection； the latter a sensitive and sensible being who can
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afford it； and what is more； he is himself alone； whilst as for them their
name is legion。 And here again is a marvellous thing： that a man should
count his brother a loss； because the goods of his brother are not his； but
he does not count his fellow…citizens loss； and yet their possessions are not
his； only it seems in their case he has wits to see that to dwell securely
with many and have enough is better than to own the whole wealth of a
community and to live in dangerous isolation； but this same doctrine as
applied to brothers they ignore。 Again； if a man have the means； he will
purchase domestic slaves； because he wants assistants in his work； he will
acquire friends； because he needs their support； but this brother of his
who cares about brothers？ It seems a friend may be discovered in an
ordinary citizen； but not in a blood relation who is also a brother。 And yet
it is a great vantage…ground towards friendship to have sprung from the
same loins and to have been suckled at the same breasts； since even among
beasts a certain natural craving； and sympathy springs up between
creatures reared together。＇2＇ Added to which； a man who has brothers
commands more respect from the rest of the world than the man who has
none； and who must fight his own battles。＇3＇
＇1＇ Cf。 〃Merchant of Venice；〃 II。 viii。 17： 〃Justice！ the law！ my
ducats； and my daughter！〃
＇2＇ Or； 〃a yearning after their foster…brothers manifests itself in
animals。〃 See 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 vii。 14 foll。
