the memorabilia(纪念品)-第37节
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is much better that it should be in the best condition； since； even where
you might imagine the claims upon the body to be slightestin the act of
reasoningwho does not know the terrible stumbles which are made
through being out of health？ It suffices to say that forgetfulness； and
despondency； and moroseness； and madness take occasion often of ill…
health to visit the intellectual faculties so severely as to expel all
knowledge＇8＇ from the brain。 But he who is in good bodily plight has
large security。 He runs no risk of incurring any such catastrophe through
ill…health at any rate； he has the expectation rather that a good habit must
procure consequences the opposite to those of an evil habit；＇9＇ and surely
to this end there is nothing a man in his senses would not undergo。 。 。 。 It is
a base thing for a man to wax old in careless self…neglect before he has
lifted up his eyes and seen what manner of man he was made to be； in the
full perfection of bodily strength and beauty。 But these glories are
withheld from him who is guilty of self…neglect； for they are not wont to
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blaze forth unbidden。＇10＇
＇7＇ Cf。 〃Pol。 Ath。〃 i。 13； and above； III。 v。 15。
＇8＇ Or； 〃whole branches of knowledge〃 （｛tas epistemas｝）。
＇9＇ Or； 〃he may well hope to be insured by his good habit against the
evils attendant on its opposite。〃
＇10＇ Or； 〃to present themselves spontaneously。〃
XII
Once when some one was in a fury of indignation because he had
bidden a passer…by good…day and the salutation was not returned； Socrates
said： 〃It is enough to make one laugh！ If you met a man in a wretched
condition of body； you would not fall into a rage； but because you stumble
upon a poor soul somewhat boorishly disposed； you feel annoyed。〃
To the remark of another who complained that he did not take his foot
with pleasure； he said： 〃Acumenus＇1＇ has a good prescription for that。〃
And when the other asked： 〃And what may that be？〃 〃To stop eating；〃 he
said。 〃On the score of pleasure； economy； and health； total abstinence has
much in its favour。〃＇2＇
＇1＇ A well…known physician。 See Plat。 〃Phaedr。〃 227 A； 269 A；
〃Symp。〃 176 B。 A similar story is told of Dr。 Abernethy； I think。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃he would live a happier； thriftier； and healthier life； if he
stopped eating。〃
And when some one else lamented that 〃the drinking…water in his
house was hot；〃 he replied： 〃Then when you want a warm bath you will
not have to wait。〃
The Other。 But for bathing purposes it is cold。
Soc。 Do you find that your domestics seem to mind drinking it or
washing in it？
The Other。 Quite the reverse； it is a constant marvel to me how
contentedly they use it for either purpose。
Soc。 Which is hotter to the tastethe water in your house or the hot
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spring in the temple of Asclepius？＇3＇
＇3＇ In the Hieron at Epidauros probably。 See Baedeker； 〃Greece；〃 p。
240 foll。
The Other。 The water in the temple of Asclepius。
Soc。 And which is colder for bathingyours or the cold spring in the
cave of Amphiaraus？＇4＇
＇4＇ Possibly at Oropos。 Cf。 Paus。 i。 34。 3。
The Other。 The water in the cave of Amphiaraus。
Soc。 Then please to observe： if you do not take care； they will set you
down as harder to please than a domestic servant or an invalid。＇5＇
＇5＇ i。e。 〃the least and the most fastidious of men。〃
A man had administered a severe whipping to the slave in attendance
on him； and when Socrates asked： 〃Why he was so wroth with his own
serving…man？〃 excused himself on the ground that 〃the fellow was a lazy；
gourmandising； good…for…nothing doltfonder of money than of work。〃 To
which Socrates： 〃Did it ever strike you to consider which of the two in that
case the more deserves a whippingthe master or the man？〃
When some one was apprehending the journey to Olympia； 〃Why are
you afraid of the long distance？〃 he asked。 〃Here at home you spend
nearly all your day in taking walks。＇6＇ Well； on your road to Olympia you
will take a walk and breakfast； and then you will take another walk and
dine； and go to bed。 Do you not see； if you take and tack together five or
six days' length of walks； and stretch them out in one long line； it will soon
reach from Athens to Olympia？ I would recommend you； however； to set
off a day too soon rather than a day too late。 To be forced to lengthen the
day's journey beyond a reasonable amount may well be a nuisance； but to
take one day's journey beyond what is necessary is pure relaxation。 Make
haste to start； I say； and not while on the road。〃＇7＇
＇6＇ ｛peripateis｝； 〃promenading up and down。〃
＇7＇ 〃Festina lente〃that is your motto。
When some one else remarked 〃he was utterly prostrated after a long
journey；〃 Socrates asked him： 〃Had he had any baggage to carry？〃
〃Not I；〃 replied the complainer； 〃only my cloak。〃
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Soc。 Were you travelling alone； or was your man…servant with you？
He。 Yes； I had my man。
Soc。 Empty…handed； or had he something to carry？
He。 Of course； carrying my rugs and other baggage。
Soc。 And how did he come off on the journey？
He。 Better than I did myself； I take it。
Soc。 Well； but now suppose you had had to carry his baggage； what
would your condition have been like？
He。 Sorry enough； I can tell you； or rather； I could not have carried it
at all。
Soc。 What a confession！ Fancy being capable of so much less toil than
a poor slave boy！ Does that sound like the perfection of athletic training？
XIV
On the occasion of a common dinner…party＇1＇ where some of the
company would present themselves with a small； and others with a large
supply of viands； Socrates would bid the servants＇2＇ throw the small
supplies into the general stock； or else to help each of the party to a share
all round。 Thus the grand victuallers were ashamed in the one case not to
share in the common stock； and in the other not to throw in their supplies
also。＇3＇ Accordingly in went the grand supplies into the common stock。
And now； being no better off than the small contributors； they soon ceased
to cater for expensive delicacies。
＇1＇ For the type of entertainment see Becker； 〃Charicles；〃 p。 315
（Eng。 tr。）
＇2＇ 〃The boy。〃
＇3＇ Or； 〃were ashamed not to follow suit by sharing in the common
stock and contributing their own portion。〃
At a supper…party one member of the company； as Socrates chanced to
note； had put aside the plain fare and was devoting himself to certain
dainties。＇4＇ A discussion was going on about names and definitions； and
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the proper applications of terms to things。＇5＇ Whereupon Socrates；
appealing to the company： 〃Can we explain why we call a man a 'dainty
fellow'？ What is the particular action to which the term applies？＇6＇ since
every one adds some dainty to his food when he can get it。＇7＇ But we have
not quite hit the definition yet； I think。 Are we to be called dainty eaters
because we like our bread buttered？〃＇8＇
＇4＇ For the distinction between ｛sitos｝ and ｛opson｝ see Plat。 〃Rep。〃
372 C。
＇5＇ Or； 〃The conversation had fallen upon names： what is the precise
thing denoted under such and such a term？ Define the meaning of so
and so。〃
＇6＇ ｛opsophagos｝ = ｛opson｝ （or relish） eater； and so a 〃gourmand〃 or
〃epicure〃； but how to define a gourmand？
＇7＇ Lit。 〃takes some ｛opson｝ （relish） to his ｛sitos｝ （food）。〃
＇8＇ Lit。 〃simply for that〃 （sc。 the taking of some sort of ｛opson｝。
For ｛epi touto｝ cf。 Plat。 〃Soph。〃 218 C； 〃Parmen。〃 147 D。
No！ hardly！ （some me
