the memorabilia(纪念品)-第7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！
single soul either by deprivation of good or infliction of evil； nor did he
ever lie under the imputation of any of those misdoings。 WHere then is his
liability to the indictment to be found？ Who； so far from disbelieving in
the gods； as set forth in the indictment； was conspicuous beyond all men
for service to heaven； so far from corrupting the younga charge alleged
with insistence by the prosecutorwas notorious for the zeal with which
he strove not only to stay his associates from evil desires； but to foster in
them a passionate desire for that loveliest and queenliest of virtues without
which states and families crumble to decay。＇38＇ Such being his conduct；
22
… Page 23…
The Memorabilia
was he not worthy of high honour from the state of Athens？
＇38＇ Or； 〃the noblest and proudest virtue by means of which states and
families are prosperously directed。〃
III
It may serve to illustrate the assertion that he benefited his associates
partly by the display of his own virtue and partly by verbal discourse and
argument； if I set down my various recollections＇1＇ on these heads。 And
first with regard to religion and the concerns of heaven。 In conduct and
language his behaviour conformed to the rule laid down by the Pythia＇2＇
in reply to the question； 〃How shall we act？〃 as touching a sacrifice or the
worship of ancestors； or any similar point。 Her answer is： 〃Act according
to the law and custom of your state； and you will act piously。〃 After this
pattern Socrates behaved himself； and so he exhorted others to behave；
holding them to be but busybodies and vain fellows who acted on any
different principle。
＇1＇ Hence the title of the work； ｛'Apomenmoneumata｝； 〃Recollections；
Memoirs； Memorabilia。〃 See Diog。 Laert。 〃Xen。〃 II。 vi。 48。
＇2＇ The Pythia at Delphi。
His formula or prayer was simple： 〃Give me that which is best for
me；〃 for； said he； the gods know best what good things areto pray for
gold or silver or despotic power were no better than to make some
particular throw at dice or stake in battle or any such thing the subject of
prayer； of which the future consequences are manifestly uncertain。＇3＇
＇3＇ See （Plat。） 〃Alcib。 II。〃 142 foll。； Valerius Max。 vii。 2；
〃Spectator；〃 No。 207。
If with scant means he offered but small sacrifices he believed that he
was in no wise inferior to those who make frequent and large sacrifices
from an ampler store。 It were ill surely for the very gods themselves； could
they take delight in large sacrifices rather than in small； else oftentimes
must the offerings of bad men be found acceptable rather than of good； nor
23
… Page 24…
The Memorabilia
from the point of view of men themselves would life be worth living if the
offerings of a villain rather than of a righteous man found favour in the
sight of Heaven。 His belief was that the joy of the gods is greater in
proportion to the holiness of the giver； and he was ever an admirer of that
line of Hesiod which says；
According to thine ability do sacrifice to the immortal gods。＇4＇
＇4＇ Hesiod； 〃Works and Days；〃 336。 See 〃Anab。〃 III。 ii。 9。
〃Yes；〃 he would say； 〃in our dealings with friends and strangers alike；
and in reference to the demands of life in general； there is no better motto
for a man than that： 'let a man do according to his ability。'〃
Or to take another point。 If it appeared to him that a sign from heaven
had been given him； nothing would have induced him to go against
heavenly warning： he would as soon have been persuaded to accept the
guidance of a blind man ignorant of the path to lead him on a journey in
place of one who knew the road and could see； and so he denounced the
folly of others who do things contrary to the warnings of God in order to
avoid some disrepute among men。 For himself he despised all human aids
by comparison with counsel from above。
The habit and style of living to which he subjected his soul and body
was one which under ordinary circumstances＇5＇ would enable any one
adopting it to look existence cheerily in the face and to pass his days
serenely： it would certainly entail no difficulties as regards expense。 So
frugal was it that a man must work little indeed who could not earn the
quantum which contented Socrates。 Of food he took just enough to make
eating a pleasurethe appetite he brought to it was sauce sufficient； while
as to drinks； seeing that he only drank when thirsty； any draught
refreshed。＇6＇ If he accepted an invitation to dinner； he had no difficulty in
avoiding the common snare of over… indulgence； and his advice to people
who could not equally control their appetite was to avoid taking what
would allure them to eat if not hungry or to drink if not thirsty。＇7＇ Such
things are ruinous to the constitution； he said； bad for stomachs； brains；
and soul alike； or as he used to put it； with a touch of sarcasm；＇8＇ 〃It must
have been by feasting men on so many dainty dishes that Circe produced
24
… Page 25…
The Memorabilia
her pigs； only Odysseus through his continency and the 'promptings＇9＇ of
Hermes' abstained from touching them immoderately； and by the same
token did not turn into a swine。〃 So much for this topic； which he touched
thus lightly and yet seriously。
＇5＇ ｛ei me ti daimonion eie｝； 〃save under some divinely…ordained
calamity。〃 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 18； 〃Symp。〃 viii。 43。
＇6＇ See 〃Ages。〃 ix； Cic。 〃Tusc。〃 v。 34； 97； 〃de Fin。〃 ii。 28； 90。
＇7＇ Cf。 Plut。 〃Mor。〃 128 D； Clement； 〃Paedag。〃 2。 173； 33； 〃Strom。〃 2；
492； 24； Aelian； 〃N。 A。〃 8； 9。
＇8＇ 〃Half in gibe and half in jest；〃 in ref。 to 〃Od。〃 x。 233 foll。：
〃So she let them in 。 。 。〃
＇9＇ ｛upothemosune｝； 〃inspiration。〃 Cf。 〃Il。〃 xv。 412； 〃Od。〃 xvi。 233。
But as to the concerns of Aphrodite； his advice was to hold strongly
aloof from the fascination of fair forms： once lay finger on these and it is
not easy to keep a sound head and a sober mind。 To take a particular case。
It was a mere kiss which； as he had heard； Critobulus＇10＇ had some time
given to a fair youth； the son of Alcibiades。＇11＇ Accordingly Critobulus
being present； Socrates propounded the question。
＇10＇ For Critobulus （the son of Crito） see 〃Econ。〃 i。 1 foll。； 〃Symp。〃
i。 3 foll。
＇11＇ See Isocr。 〃Or。〃 xvi。 Cobet conj。 ｛ton tou 'Axiokhou uion｝； i。e。
Clinias。
Soc。 Tell me； Xenophon； have you not always believed Critobulus to
be a man of sound sense； not wild and self…willed？ Should you not have
said that he was remarkable for his prudence rather than thoughtless or
foolhardy？
Xen。 Certainly that is what I should have said of him。
Soc。 Then you are now to regard him as quite the reversea hot…
blooded； reckless libertine： this is the sort of man to throw somersaults
into knives；＇12＇ or to leap into the jaws of fire。
＇12＇ Cf。 〃Symp。〃 ii。 10； iv。 16。 See Schneider ad loc。
Xen。 And what have you seen him doing； that you give him so bad a
character？
25
… Page 26…
The Memorabilia
Soc。 Doing？ Why； has not the fellow dared to steal a kiss from the son
of Alcibiades； most fair of youths and in the golden prime？
Xen。 Nay； then； if that is the foolhardy adventure； it is a danger which I
could well encounter myself。
Soc。 Pour soul！ and what do you expect your fate to be after that kiss？
Let me tell you。 On the instant you will lose your freedom； the indenture
of your bondage will be signed； it will be yours on compulsion to spend
large sums on hurtful pleasures； you will have scarcely a moment's leisure
left for any noble study； you will be driven to concern yourself most
zealously with things which no man； not even a madman； would choose to
make an object of concern。
Xen。 O Heracles！ how fell a power to reside in a kiss！
