the memorabilia(纪念品)-第26节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
is sent to Delos＇12＇ there is nothing elsewhere from any quarter of the
world which can compete with it； nor will you find in any other state
collected so fair a flower of manhood as in Athens？＇13＇
＇10＇ Cf Arist。 〃Rhet。〃 ii。 12； ｛oi neoi pepaideuntai upo tou nomou
monon｝。
＇11＇ ｛dia logou｝。
＇12＇ See Thuc。 iii。 104； and below； IV。 viii。 2。
＇13＇ See references ap。 Schneider and Kuhner； 〃Symp。〃 iv。 17。
Hipp。 You say truly。
91
… Page 92…
The Memorabilia
Soc。 But for all that； it is not in sweetness of voice that the Athenians
differ from the rest of the world so much； nor in stature of body or strength
of limb； but in ambition and that love of honour＇14＇ which most of all
gives a keen edge to the spirit in the pursuit of things lovely and of high
esteem。
＇14＇ See below； v。 3； Dem。 〃de Cor。〃 28 foll。
Hipp。 That； too； is a true saying。
Soc。 Do you not think； then； that if a man devoted himself to our
cavalry also； here in Athens； we should far outstrip the rest of the world；
whether in the furnishing of arms and horses； or in orderliness of battle…
array； or in eager hazardous encounter with the foe； if only we could
persuade ourselves that by so doing we should obtain honour and
distinction？
Hipp。 It is reasonable to think so。
Soc。 Have no hesitation； therefore； but try to guide your men into this
path；＇15＇ whence you yourself； and through you your fellow… citizens； will
reap advantage。
＇15＇ Or； 〃to conduct which will not certainly fail of profit to
yourself or through you to 。 。 。〃
Yes； in good sooth； I will try （he answered）。
IV
At another time； seeing Nicomachides on his way back from the
elections （of magistrates）；＇1＇ he asked him： Who are elected generals；
Nicomachides？
＇1＇ Cf。 〃Pol。 Ath。〃 i。 3； Aristot。 〃Ath。 Pol。〃 44。 4； and Dr。 Sandys'
note ad loc。 p。 165 of his edition。
And he： Is it not just like them； these citizens of Athensjust like them；
I sayto go and elect； not me； who ever since my name first apepared on
the muster…roll have literally worn myself out with military servicenow
as a captain； now as a coloneland have received all these wounds from
92
… Page 93…
The Memorabilia
the enemy； look you！ （at the same time； and suiting the action to the word；
he bared his arms and proceeded to show the scars of ancient wounds）
they elect not me （he went on）； but； if you please； Antisthenes！ who never
served as a hoplite＇2＇ in his life nor in the cavalry ever made a brilliant
stroke； that I ever heard tell of； no！ in fact； he has got no science at all； I
take it； except to amass stores of wealth。
＇2＇ Cf。 Lys。 xiv。 10。
But still （returned Socrates）； surely that is one point in his favour he
ought to be able to provide the troops with supplies。
Nic。 Well； for the matter of that； merchants are good hands at
collecting stores； but it does not follow that a merchant or trader will be
able to command an army。
But （rejoined Socrates） Antisthenes is a man of great pertinacity； who
insists on winning； and that is a very necessary quality in a general。＇3＇ Do
not you see how each time he has been choragos＇4＇ he has been successful
with one chorus after another？
＇3＇ See Grote； 〃Plato；〃 i。 465 foll。
＇4＇ Choir…master； or Director of the Chorus。 It was his duty to
provide and preside over a chorus to sing； dance； or play at any of
the public festivals； defraying the cost as a state service of
｛leitourgia｝。 See 〃Pol。 Ath。〃 iii。 4； 〃Hiero；〃 ix。 4； Aristot。 〃Pol。 Ath。〃
28。 3。
Nic。 Bless me！ yes； but there is a wide difference between standing at
the head of a band of singers and dancers and a troop of soldiers。
Soc。 Still； without any practical skill in singing or in the training of a
chorus； Antisthenes somehow had the art to select the greatest proficients
in both。
Nic。 Yes； and by the same reasoning we are to infer that on a campaign
he will find proficients； some to marshal the troops for him and others to
fight his battles？
Soc。 Just so。 If in matters military he only exhibits the same skill in
selecting the best hands as he has shown in matters of the chorus； it is
highly probable he will here also bear away the palm of victory； and we
93
… Page 94…
The Memorabilia
may presume that if he expended so much to win a choric victory with a
single tribe；＇5＇ he will be ready to expend more to secure a victory in war
with the whole state to back him。
＇5＇ See Dem。 〃against Lept。〃 496。 26。 Each tribe nominated such of its
members as were qualified to undertake the burden。
Nic。 Do you really mean； Socrates； that it is the function of the same
man to provide efficient choruses and to act as commander…in…chief？
Soc。 I mean this； that； given a man knows what he needs to provide；
and has the skill to do so； no matter what the deparment of things may be
house or city or armyyou will find him a good chief and director＇6＇ of
the same。
＇6＇ Or； 〃representative。〃
Then Nicomachides： Upon my word； Socrates； I should never have
expected to hear you say that a good housekeeper＇7＇ and steward of an
estate would make a good general。
＇7＇ Or； 〃economist〃； cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 12。
Soc。 Come then； suppose we examine their respective duties； and so
determine＇8＇ whether they are the same or different。
＇8＇ Lit。 〃get to know。〃
Nic。 Let us do so。
Soc。 Well then； is it not a common duty of both to procure the ready
obedience of those under them to their orders？
Nic。 Certainly。
Soc。 And also to assign to those best qualified to perform them their
distinctive tasks？
That； too； belongs to both alike （he answered）。
Soc。 Again； to chastise the bad and reward the good belongs to both
alike； methinks？
Nic。 Decidedly。
Soc。 And to win the kindly feeling of their subordinates must surely be
the noble ambition of both？
That too （he answered）。
Soc。 And do you consider it to the interest of both alike to win the
94
… Page 95…
The Memorabilia
adherence of supporters and allies？＇9＇
＇9＇ In reference to the necessity of building up a family connection
or political alliances cf。 Arist。 〃Pol。〃 iii。 9； 13。
Nic。 Without a doubt。
Soc。 And does it not closely concern them both to be good guardians
of their respective charges？
Nic。 Very much so。
Soc。 Then it equally concerns them both to be painstaking and prodigal
of toil in all their doings？
Nic。 Yes； all these duties belong to both alike； but the parallel ends
when you come to actual fighting。
Soc。 Yet they are both sure to meet with enemies？
Nic。 There is no doubt about that。
Soc。 Then is it not to the interest of both to get the upper hand of
these？
Nic。 Certainly； but you omit to tell us what service organisation and
the art of management will render when it comes to actual fighting。
Soc。 Why； it is just then； I presume； it will be of most service； for the
good economist knows that nothing is so advantageous or so lucrative as
victory in battle； or to put it negatively； nothing so disastrous and
expensive as defeat。 He will enthusiastically seek out and provide
everything conducive to victory； he will painstakingly discover and guard
against all that tends to defeat； and when satisifed that all is ready and ripe
for victory he will deliver battle energetically； and what is equally
important； until the hour of final preparation has arrived；＇10＇ he will be
cautious to deliver battle。 Do not despise men of economic genius；
Nicomachides； the difference between the devotion requisite to private
affairs and
