the memorabilia(纪念品)-第15节
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and drowse of slumber during the precious hours of the day。 Immortal；
thou art cast forth from the company of gods； and by good men art
dishonoured： that sweetest sound of all； the voice of praise； has never
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thrilled thine ears； and the fairest of all fair visions is hidden from thine
eyes that have never beheld one bounteous deed wrought by thine own
hand。 If thou openest thy lips in speech； who will believe thy word？ If
thou hast need of aught； none shall satisfy thee。 What sane man will
venture to join thy rablle rout？ Ill indeed are thy revellers to look upon；
young men impotent of body； and old men witless in mind： in the heyday
of life they batten in sleek idleness； and wearily do they drag through an
age of wrinkled wretchedness： and why？ they blush with shame at the
thought of deeds done in the past； and groan for weariness at what is left to
do。 During their youth they ran riot through their sweet things； and laid up
for themselves large store of bitterness against the time of eld。 But my
companionship is with the gods； and with the good among men my
conversation； no bounteous deed； divine or human； is wrought without my
aid。 Therefore am I honoured in Heaven pre…eminently； and upon earth
among men whose right it is to honour me；＇38＇ as a beloved fellow…
worker of all craftsmen； a faithful guardian of house and lands； whom the
owners bless； a kindly helpmeet of servants；＇39＇ a brave assistant in the
labours of peace； an unflinching ally in the deeds of war； a sharer in all
friendships indispensable。 To my friends is given an enjoyment of meats
and drinks； which is sweet in itself and devoid of trouble； in that they can
endure until desire ripens； and sleep more delicious visits them than those
who toil not。 Yet they are not pained to part with it； nor for the sake of
slumber do they let slip the performance of their duties。 Among my
followers the youth delights in the praises of his elders； and the old man
glories in the honour of the young； with joy they call to memory their
deeds of old； and in to…day's well…doing are well pleased。 For my sake they
are dear in the sight of God； beloved of their friends and honoured by the
country of their birth。 When the appointed goal is reached they lie not
down in oblivion with dishonour； but bloom afreshtheir praise resounded
on the lips of men for ever。＇40＇ Toils like these； O son of noble parents；
Heracles； it is yours to meet with； and having endured； to enter into the
heritage assured you of transcendant happiness。'〃
＇38＇ Reading ｛ois prosekei｝； or if ｛proseko｝； translate 〃to whom I am
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attached。〃
＇39＇ Cf。 〃Econ。〃 v。 8。
＇40＇ Or； 〃so true is it； a branch is left them； undying honour to
their name！〃
This； Aristippus； in rough sketch is the theme which Prodicus
pursues＇41＇ in his 〃Education of Heracles by Virtue；〃 only he decked out
his sentiments； I admit； in far more magnificant phrases than I have
ventured on。 Were it not well； Aristippus； to lay to heart these sayings； and
to strive to bethink you somewhat of that which touches the future of our
life？
＇41＇ Reading ｛diokei｝； al。 ｛diokei｝ = 〃so Prodicus arranged the parts
of his discourse。〃
II
At another time； he had noticed the angry temper shown by
Lamprocles； the elder of his sons； towards their mother； and thus
addressed himself to the lad。
Soc。 Pray； my son； did you ever hear of certain people being called
ungrateful？
That I have （replied the young man）。
Soc。 And have you understood what it is they do to get that bad name？
Lamp。 Yes； I have： when any one has been kindly treated； and has it in
his power to requite the kindness but neglects to do so； men call him
ungrateful。
Soc。 And you admit that people reckon the ungrateful among
wrongdoers？
Lamp。 I do。
Soc。 And has it ever struck you to inquire whether； as regards the right
or wrong of it； ingratitude may not perhaps resemble some such conduct
as the enslavement； say； of prisoners； which is accounted wrong towards
friends but justifiable towards enemies？
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Lamp。 Yes； I have put that question to myself。 In my opinion； no
matter who confers the kindness； friend or foe； the recipient should
endeavour to requite it； failing which he is a wrongdoer。
Soc。 Then if that is how the matter stands； ingratitude would be an
instance of pure unadulterate wrongdoing？
Lamprocles assented to the proposition。
Soc。 It follows； then； that in proportion to the greatness of the benefit
conferred； the greater his misdoing who fails to requite the kindness？
Lamprocles again assented。
Socrates continued： And where can we hope to find greater benefits
than those which children derive from their parentstheir father and
mother who brought them out of nothingness into being； who granted
them to look upon all these fair sights； and to partake of all those blessings
which the gods bestow on man； things so priceless in our eyes that one and
all we shudder at the thought of leaving them； and states have made death
the penalty for the greatest crimes； because there is no greater evil through
fear of which to stay iniquity。
You do not suppose that human beings produce children for the sake of
carnal pleasure＇1＇ merely； were this the motive； street and bordell are full
of means to quit them of that thrall； whereas nothing is plainer than the
pains we take to seek out wives who shall bear us the finest children。＇2＇
With these we wed； and carry on the race。 The man has a twofold duty to
perform： partly in cherishing her who is to raise up children along with
him； and partly towards the children yet unborn in providing them with
things that he thinks will contribute to their well…beingand of these as
large a store as possible。 The woman； conceiving； bears her precious
burthen with travail and pain； and at the risk of life itselfsharing with that
within her womb the food on which she herself is fed。 And when with
much labour she has borne to the end and brought forth her offspring； she
feeds it and watches over it with tender carenot in return for any good
thing previously received； for indeed the babe itself is little conscious of
its benefactor and cannot even signify its wants； only she； the mother；
making conjecture of what is good for it； and what will please it； essays to
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satisfy it；＇3＇ and for many months she feeds it night and day； enduring the
toil nor recking what return she shall receive for all her trouble。 Nor does
the care and kindness of parents end with nurture； but when the children
seem of an age to learn； they teach them themselves whatever cunning
they possess； as a guide to life； or where they feel that another is more
competent； to him they send them to be taught at their expense。 Thus they
watch over their children； doing all in their power to enable them to grow
up to be as good as possible。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃the joys of Aphrodite。〃
＇2＇ 〃For the procreation of children。〃 See below； IV。 iv。 22； 〃Pol。
Lac。〃 i。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃to leave nought lacking。〃
So be it （the youth answered）； but even if she have done all that； and
twenty times as much； no soul on earth could endure my mother's cross…
grained temper。
Then Socrates： Which； think you； would be harder to beara wild
beast's savagery or a mother's？
Lamp。 To m
