the memorabilia(纪念品)-第14节
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＇23＇ Cf。 above； I。 vi。 8。
＇24＇ Or； 〃in admiration of themselves； the praise and envy of the
world at large。〃
＇25＇ See Hippocrates； 〃V。 Med。〃 18。
＇26＇ Hesiod； 〃Works and Days；〃 285。 See Plat。 〃Prot。〃 340 C； 〃Rep。〃
ii。 364 D； 〃Laws；〃 iv。 718 E。
And Ephicharmus＇27＇ bears his testimony when he says：
The gods sell us all good things in return for our labours。
＇27＇ Epicharmus of Cos； the chief comic poet among the Dorians； fl。
500 B。C。 Cf。 Plat。 〃Theaet。〃 152 E； 〃the prince of comedy〃； 〃Gorg。〃
505 D。
And again in another passage he exclaims：
Set not thine heart on soft things； thou knave； lest thou light
upon the hard。
And that wise man Prodicus＇28＇ delivers himself in a like strain
concerning virtue in that composition of his about Heracles； which crowds
have listened to。＇29＇ This； as far as I can recollect it； is the substance at
least of what he says：
＇28＇ Prodicus of Ceos。 See Plat。 〃Men。〃 24； 〃Cratyl。〃 1； Philostr。
〃Vit。 Soph。〃 i。 12。
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＇29＇ Or； 〃which he is fond of reciting as a specimen of style。〃 The
title of the ｛epideixis｝ was ｛'Orai｝ according to Suidas； ｛Prodikos｝。
〃When Heracles was emerging from boyhood into the bloom of youth；
having reached that season in which the young man； now standing upon
the verge of independence； shows plainly whether he will enter upon the
path of virtue or of vice； he went forth into a quiet place； and sat debating
with himself which of those two paths he should pursue； and as he there
sat musing； there appeared to him two women of great stature which drew
nigh to him。 The one was fair to look upon； frank and free by gift of
nature；＇30＇ her limbs adorned with purity and her eyes with bashfulness；
sobriety set the rhythm of her gait； and she was clad in white apparel。 The
other was of a different type； the fleshy softness of her limbs betrayed her
nurture； while the complexion of her skin was embellished that she might
appear whiter and rosier than she really was； and her figure that she might
seem taller than nature made her； she stared with wide…open eyes； and the
raiment wherewith she was clad served but to reveal the ripeness of her
bloom。 With frequent glances she surveyed her person； or looked to see if
others noticed her； while ever and anon she fixed her gaze upon the
shadow of herself intently。
＇30＇ Reading ｛eleutherion phusei； 。 。 。｝ or if ｛eleutherion；
phusei 。 。 。｝ translate 〃nature had adorned her limbs 。 。 。〃
〃Now when these two had drawn near to Heracles； she who was first
named advanced at an even pace＇31＇ towards him； but the other； in her
eagerness to outstrip her； ran forward to the youth； exclaiming； 'I see you；
Heracles； in doubt and difficulty what path of life to choose； make me
your friend； and I will lead you to the pleasantest road and easiest。 This I
promise you： you shall taste all of life's sweets and escape all bitters。 In
the first place； you shall not trouble your brain with war or business； other
topics shall engage your mind；＇32＇ your only speculation； what meat or
drink you shall find agreeable to your palate； what delight＇33＇ of ear or
eye； what pleasure of smell or touch； what darling lover's intercourse shall
most enrapture you； how you shall pillow your limbs in softest slumber；
how cull each individual pleasure without alloy of pain； and if ever the
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suspicion steal upon you that the stream of joys will one day dwindle； trust
me I will not lead you where you shall replenish the store by toil of body
and trouble of soul。 No！ others shall labour； but you shall reap the fruit of
their labours； you shall withhold your hand from nought which shall bring
you gain。 For to all my followers I give authority and power to help
themselves freely from every side。'
＇31＇ Or； 〃without change in her demeanour。〃
＇32＇ Reading ｛diese｝； or ｛dioisei｝； 〃you shall continue speculating
solely。〃
＇33＇ It will be recollected that Prodicus prided himself on ｛orthotes
onomaton｝。 Possibly Xenophon is imitating （caricaturing？） his style。
｛terphtheies； estheies； euphrantheies｝。
〃Heracles hearing these words made answer： 'What； O lady； is the
name you bear？' To which she： 'Know that my friends call be Happiness；
but they that hate me have their own nicknames＇34＇ for me； Vice and
Naughtiness。'
＇34＇ So the vulg。 ｛upokorizomenoi｝ is interpreted。 Cobet （〃Pros。 Xen。〃
p。 36） suggests ｛upoknizomenoi｝ = 〃quippe qui desiderio
pungantur。〃
〃But just then the other of those fair women approached and spoke：
'Heracles； I too am come to you； seeing that your parents are well known
to me； and in your nurture I have gauged your nature； wherefore I
entertain good hope that if you choose the path which leads to me； you
shall greatly bestir yourself to be the doer of many a doughty deed of
noble emprise； and that I too shall be held in even higher honour for your
sake； lit with the lustre shed by valorous deeds。＇35＇ I will not cheat you
with preludings of pleasure；＇36＇ but I will relate to you the things that are
according to the ordinances of God in very truth。 Know then that among
things that are lovely and of good report； not one have the gods bestowed
upon mortal men apart from toil and pains。 Would you obtain the favour of
the gods； then must you pay these same gods service； would you be loved
by your friends； you must benefit these friends； do you desire to be
honoured by the state； you must give the state your aid； do you claim
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admiration for your virtue from all Hellas； you must strive to do some
good to Hellas； do you wish earth to yield her fruits to you abundantly； to
earth must you pay your court； do you seek to amass riches from your
flocks and herds； on them must you bestow your labour； or is it your
ambition to be potent as a warrior； able to save your friends and to subdue
your foes； then must you learn the arts of war from those who have the
knowledge； and practise their application in the field when learned； or
would you e'en be powerful of limb and body； then must you habituate
limbs and body to obey the mind； and exercise yourself with toil and
sweat。'
＇35＇ Or； 〃bathed in the splendour of thy virtues。〃
＇36＇ Or； 〃honeyed overtures of pleasure。〃
〃At this point； （as Prodicus relates） Vice broke in exclaiming： 'See you；
Heracles； how hard and long the road is by which yonder woman would
escort you to her festal joys。＇37＇ But I will guide you by a short and easy
road to happiness。'
＇37＇ Hesiod； 〃Theog。〃 909； Milton； 〃L'Allegro；〃 12。
〃Then spoke Virtue： 'Nay； wretched one； what good thing hast thou？ or
what sweet thing art thou acquainted withthat wilt stir neither hand nor
foot to gain it？ Thou； that mayest not even await the desire of pleasure； but；
or ever that desire springs up； art already satiated； eating before thou
hungerest； and drinking before thou thirsteth； who to eke out an appetite
must invent an army of cooks and confectioners； and to whet thy thirst
must lay down costliest wines； and run up and down in search of ice in
summer…time； to help thy slumbers soft coverlets suffice not； but couches
and feather…beds must be prepared thee and rockers to rock thee to rest；
since desire for sleep in thy case springs not from toil but from vacuity and
nothing in the world to do。 Even the natural appetite of love thou forcest
prematurely by every means thou mayest devise； confounding the sexes in
thy service。 Thus thou educatest thy friends： with insult in the night season
and drowse of slumber during the precious hours
