the memorabilia(纪念品)-第22节
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＇6＇ Lit。 〃state liturgies；〃 or 〃to the burden of the public services。〃
For these see Gow； 〃Companion；〃 xviii。 〃Athenian Finance。〃
＇7＇ Cf。 Arist。 〃Acharnians；〃 519； ｛esukophantei Megareon ta
khlaniskia｝。 See Dr。 Merry's note ad loc。
Ar。 Bless me； yes！ They have got a set of barbarian fellows； whom
they purchase and keep； to manufacture by forced labour whatever takes
their fancy。 My kinswomen； I need not tell you； are free…born ladies。
Soc。 Then； on the ground that they are free…born and your kinswomen；
you think that they ought to do nothing but eat and sleep？ Or is it your
opinion that people who live in this wayI speak of free…born people in
generallead happier lives； and are more to be congratulated； than those
who give their time and attention to such useful arts of life as they are
skilled in？ Is this what you see in the world； that for the purpose of
learning what it is well to know； and of recollecting the lessons taught； or
with a view to health and strength of body； or for the sake of acquiring and
preserving all that gives life its charm； idleness and inattention are found
to be helpful； whilst work and study are simply a dead loss？ Pray； when
those relatives of yours were taught what you tell me they know； did they
learn it as barren information which they would never turn to practical
account； or； on the contrary； as something with which they were to be
seriously concerned some day； and from which they were to reap
advantage？ Do human beings in general attain to well…tempered manhood
by a course of idling； or by carefully attending to what will be of use？
Which will help a man the more to grow in justice and uprightness； to be
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up and doing； or to sit with folded hands revolving the ways and means of
existence？ As things now stand； if I am not mistaken； there is no love lost
between you。 You cannot help feeling that they are costly to you； and they
must see that you find them a burthen？ This is a perilous state of affairs； in
which hatred and bitterness have every prospect of increasing； whilst the
pre…existing bond of affection＇8＇ is likely to be snapped。
＇8＇ Or； 〃the original stock of kindliness will be used up。〃
But now； if only you allow them free scope for their energies； when
you come to see how useful they can be； you will grow quite fond of them；
and they； when they perceive that they can please you； will cling to their
benefactor warmly。 Thus； with the memory of former kindnesses made
sweeter； you will increase the grace which flows from kindnesses tenfold；
you will in consequence be knit in closer bonds of love and domesticity。 If；
indeed； they were called upon to do any shameful work； let them choose
death rather than that； but now they know； it would seem； the very arts and
accomplishments which are regarded as the loveliest and the most suitable
for women； and the things which we know； any of us； are just those which
we can best perform； that is to say； with ease and expedition； it is a joy to
do them； and the result is beautiful。＇9＇ Do not hesitate； then； to initiate
your friends in what will bring advantage to them and you alike； probably
they will gladly respond to your summons。
＇9＇ Or； 〃with ease； rapidity； pleasure and effect。〃
Well； upon my word （Aristarchus answered）； I like so well what you
say； Socrates； that though hitherto I have not been disposed to borrow；
knowing that when I had spent what I got I should not be in a condition to
repay； I think I can now bring myself to do so in order to raise a fund for
these works。
Thereupon a capital was provided； wools were purchased； the good
man's relatives set to work； and even whilst they breakfasted they worked；
and on and on till work was ended and they supped。 Smiles took the place
of frowns； they no longer looked askance with suspicion； but full into each
other's eyes with happiness。 They loved their kinsman for his kindness to
them。 He became attached to them as helpmates； and the end of it all was；
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he came to Socrates and told him with delight how matters fared； 〃and
now；〃 he added； 〃they tax me with being the only drone in the house； who
sit and eat the bread of idleness。〃
To which Socrates： Why do not you tell them the fable of the dog？＇10＇
Once on a time； so goes the story； when beasts could speak； the sheep said
to her master； 〃What a marvel is this； master； that to us； your own sheep；
who provide you with fleeces and lambs and cheese； you give nothing；
save only what we may nibble off earth's bosom； but with this dog of
yours； who provides you with nothing of the sort； you share the very meat
out of your mouth。〃 When the dog heard these words； he answered
promptly； 〃Ay； in good sooth； for is it not I who keep you safe and sound；
you sheep； so that you are not stolen by man nor harried by wolves； since；
if I did not keep watch over you； you would not be able so much as to
graze afield； fearing to be destroyed。〃 And so； says the tale； the sheep had
to admit that the dog was rightly preferred to themselves in honour。 And so
do you tell your flock yonder that like the dog in the fable you are their
guardian and overseer； and it is thanks to you that they are protected from
evil and evildoers； so that they work their work and live their lives in
blissful security。
＇10＇ See Joseph Jacobs； 〃The Fables of Aesop；〃 vol。 i。 p。 26 foll。；
for 〃a complete list of the Fables given in Greek literature up to the
fall of Greek independence。〃 Cf。 Hesiod； 〃Works and Days；〃 202
foll。； Archilochus； 89 （60）； Bergk； Herod。 i。 141； Aesch。 〃Myrmid。〃
fr。 123； Aristot。 〃Rhet。〃 II。 xx。
VIII
At another time chancing upon an old friend whom he had not seen for
a long while； he greeted him thus。
Soc。 What quarter of the world do you hail from； Eutherus？
The other answered： From abroad； just before the close of the war； but
at present from the city itself。＇1＇ You see； since we have been denuded of
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our possessions across the frontier；＇2＇ and my father left me nothing in
Attica； I must needs bide at home； and provide myself with the necessaries
of life by means of bodily toil； which seems preferable to begging from
another； especially as I have no security on which to raise a loan。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃from here。〃 The conversation perhaps takes place in Piraeus
404 B。C。
＇2＇ Or； 〃colonial possession。〃 Cf。 〃Symp。〃 iv。 31。
Soc。 And how long do you expect your body to be equal to providing
the necessaries of life for hire？
Euth。 Goodness knows； Socratesnot for long。
Soc。 And when you find yourself an old man； expenses will not
diminish； and yet no one will care to pay you for the labour of your hands。
Euth。 That is true。
Soc。 Would it not be better then to apply yourself at once to such work
as will stand you in good stead when you are oldthat is； address yourself
to some large proprietor who needs an assistant in managing his estate？＇3＇
By superintending his works； helping to get in his crops； and guarding his
property in general； you will be a benefit to the estate and be benefited in
return。
＇3＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 iii。 48。
I could not endure the yoke of slavery； Socrates！ （he exclaimed）。
Soc。 And yet the heads of departments in a state are not regarded as
adopting the badge of slavery because they manage the public property；
but as having attained a higher degree of freedom rather。
Euth。 In a word； Socrates； the idea of being held to account to another
is not at all to my taste。
Soc。 And yet； Eutherus； it would be hard to find a work which did not
involve some liability to account； in fact it is difficult to do anything
without some mistake or other； and no less difficult； if you should succe
