the memorabilia(纪念品)-第34节
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trans。 〃Painting is the term applied to a particular representation；〃
etc。
You are right （he answered）； that is so。
Soc。 Further； in portraying ideal types of beauty； seeing it is not easy to
light upon any one human being who is absolutely devoid of blemish； you
cull from many models the most beautiful traits of each； and so make your
figures appear completely beautiful？＇4＇
＇4＇ Cf。 Cic。 〃de Invent。〃 ii。 1 ad in。 of Zeuxis； Max。 Tur。 〃Dissert。〃
23； 3； ap。 Schneider ad loc。
Parrh。 Yes； that is how we do。＇5＇
＇5＇ Or； 〃that is the secret of our creations；〃 or 〃our art of
composition。〃
Well； but stop （Socrates continued）； do you also pretend to represent in
similar perfection the characteristic moods of the soul； its captivating
charm and sweetness； with its deep wells of love； its intensity of yearning；
its burning point of passion？ or is all this quite incapable of being
depicted？
Nay （he answered）； how should a mood be other than inimitable；
Socrates； when it possesses neither linear proportion＇6＇ nor colour； nor
any of those qualities which you named just now； when； in a word； it is
not even visible？
＇6＇ Lit。 〃symmetry。〃 Cf。 Plin。 xxxv。 10； 〃primus symmetriam picturae
dedit；〃 etc。
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Soc。 Well； but the kindly look of love； the angry glance of hate at any
one； do find expression in the human subject； do they not？＇7＇
＇7＇ Or； 〃the glance of love； the scowl of hate； which one directs
towards another； are recognised expressions of human feeling。〃 Cf。
the description of Parrhasius's own portrait of Demos； ap。 Plin。 loc。
cit。
Parrh。 No doubt they do。
Soc。 Then this look； this glance； at any rate may be imitated in the eyes；
may it not？
Undoubtedly （he answered）。
Soc。 And do anxiety and relief of mind occasioned by the good or evil
fortune of those we love both wear the same expression？
By no means （he answered）； at the thought of good we are radiant； at
that of evil a cloud hangs on the brow。
Soc。 Then here again are looks with it is possible to represent？
Parrh。 Decidedly。
Soc。 Furthermore； as through some chink or crevice； there pierces
through the countenance of a man； through the very posture of his body as
he stands or moves； a glimpse of his nobility and freedom； or again of
something in him low and grovellingthe calm of self…restraint； and
wisdom； or the swagger of insolence and vulgarity？
You are right （he answered）。
Soc。 Then these too may be imitated？
No doubt （he said）。
Soc。 And which is the pleasanter type of face to look at； do you think …
…one on which is imprinted the characteristics of a beautiful； good； and
lovable disposition； or one which bears the impress of what is ugly； and
bad； and hateful？＇8＇
＇8＇ For this theory cp。 Ruskin； 〃Mod。 P。〃 ii。 94 foll。 and indeed
passim。
Parrh。 Doubtless； Socrates； there is a vast distinction between the two。
At another time he entered the workshop of the sculptor Cleiton；＇9＇
and in course of conversation with him said：
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＇9＇ An unknown artist。 Coraes conj。 ｛Kleona｝。 Cf。 Plin。 xxxiv。 19；
Paus。 v。 17； vi。 3。 He excelled in portrait statues。 See Jowett； 〃Plato；〃
iv。； 〃Laws；〃 p。 123。
You have a gallery of handsome people here；＇10＇ Cleiton； runners； and
wrestlers； and boxers； and pancratiaststhat I see and know； but how do
you give the magic touch of life to your creations； which most of all
allures the soul of the beholder through his sense of vision？
＇10＇ Reading after L。 Dind。 ｛kaloi ous｝； or if vulg。 ｛alloious｝；
translate 〃You have a variety of types； Cleiton； not all of one mould；
but runners；〃 etc。； al。 〃I see quite well how you give the diversity of
form to your runners；〃 etc。
As Cleiton stood perplexed； and did not answer at once； Socrates
added： Is it by closely imitating the forms of living beings that you
succeed in giving that touch of life to your statues？
No doubt （he answered）。
Soc。 It is； is it not； by faithfully copying the various muscular
contractions of the body in obedience to the play of gesture and poise； the
wrinklings of flesh and the sprawl of limbs； the tensions and the
relaxations； that you succeed in making your statues like real beings
make them 〃breathe〃 as people say？
Cleit。 Without a doubt。
Soc。 And does not the faithful imitation of the various affections of the
body when engaged in any action impart a particular pleasure to the
beholder？
Cleit。 I should say so。
Soc。 Then the threatenings in the eyes of warriors engaged in battle
should be carefully copied； or again you should imitate the aspect of a
conqueror radiant with success？
Cleit。 Above all things。
Soc。 It would seem then that the sculptor is called upon to incorporate
in his ideal form the workings and energies also of the soul？
Paying a visit to Pistias；＇11＇ the corselet maker； when that artist
showed him some exquisite samples of his work； Socrates exclaimed：
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＇11＇ Cf。 Athen。 iv。 20； where the same artist is referred to
apparently as ｛Piston｝； and for the type of person see the 〃Portrait of
a Tailor〃 by Moroni in the National Gallerysee 〃Handbook；〃 Edw。
T。 Cook； p。 152。
By Hera！ a pretty invention this； Pistias； by which you contrive that
the corselet should cover the parts of the person which need protection；
and at the same time leave free play to the arms and hands。 。 。 。 but tell me；
Pistias （he added）； why do you ask a higher price for these corselets of
yours if they are not stouter or made of costlier material than the others？
Because； Socrates （he answered）； mine are of much finer proportion。
Soc。 Proportion！ Then how do you make this quality apparent to the
customer so as to justify the higher priceby measure or weight？ For I
presume you cannot make them all exactly equal and of one pattern if
you make them fit； as of course you do？
Fit indeed！ that I most distinctly do （he answered）； take my word for it：
no use in a corselet without that。
But then are not the wearer's bodies themselves （asked Socrates） some
well proportioned and others ill？
Decidedly so （he answered）。
Soc。 Then how do you manage to make the corselet well proportioned
if it is to fit an ill…proportioned body？＇12＇
＇12＇ Or； 〃how do you make a well…proportioned corselet fit an ill…
proportioned body？ how well proportioned？〃
Pist。 To the same degree exactly as I make it fit。 What fits is well
proportioned。
Soc。 It seems you use the term 〃well…proportioned〃 not in an absolute
sense； but in reference to the wearer； just as you might describe a shield as
well proportioned to the individual it suits； and so of a military cloak； and
so of the rest of things； in your terminology？ But maybe there is another
considerable advantage in this 〃fitting〃？
Pist。 Pray instruct me； Socrates； if you have got an idea。
Soc。 A corselet which fits is less galling by its weight than one which
does not fit； for the latter must either drag from the shoulders with a dead
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weight or press upon some other part of the body； and so it becomes
troublesome and uncomfortable； but that which fits； having its weight
distributed partly along the collar…bone and shoulder… blade； partly over
the sh
