the memorabilia(纪念品)-第23节
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without some mistake or other； and no less difficult； if you should succeed
in doing it immaculately； to escape all unfriendly criticism。 I wonder now
whether you find it easy to get through your present occupations entirely
without reproach。 No？ Let me tell you what you should do。 You should
avoid censorious persons and attach yourself to the considerate and kind…
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hearted； and in all your affairs accept with a good grace what you can and
decline what you feel you cannot do。 Whatever it be； do it heart and soul；
and make it your finest work。＇4＇ There lies the method at once to silence
fault…finders and to minister help to your own difficulties。 Life will flow
smoothly； risks will be diminished； provision against old age secured。
＇4＇ Or； 〃study to make it your finest work； the expression of a real
enthusiasm。〃
IX
At another time； as I am aware； he had heard a remark made by
Crito＇1＇ that life at Athens was no easy matter for a man who wished to
mind his own affairs。
＇1＇ Crito。 See above； I。 ii。 48； Cobet； 〃P。 X。〃； cf。 Plat。 〃Rep。〃 viii。
549 C。
As； for instance； at this moment （Crito proceeded） there are a set of
fellows threatening me with lawsuits； not because they have any
misdemeanour to allege against me； but simply under the conviction that I
will sooner pay a sum of money than be troubled further。
To which Socrates replied： Tell me； Crito； you keep dogs； do you not；
to ward off wolves from your flocks？
Cr。 Certainly； it pays to do so。
Soc。 Then why do you not keep a watchman willing and competent to
ward off this pack of people who seek to injure you？
I should not at all mind （he answered）； if I were not afraid he might
turn again and rend his keeper。
What！ （rejoined Socrates）； do you not see that to gratify a man like
yourself is far pleasanter as a matter of self…interest than to quarrel with
you？ You may be sure there are plenty of people here who will take the
greatest pride in making you their friend。
Accordingly； they sought out Archedemus；＇2＇ a practical man with a
clever tongue in his head＇3＇ but poor； the fact being； he was not the sort to
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make gain by hook or by crook； but a lover of honesty and of too good a
nature himself to make his living as a pettifogger。＇4＇ Crito would then take
the opportunity of times of harvesting and put aside small presents for
Achedemus of corn and oil； or wine； or wool； or any other of the farm
produce forming the staple commodities of life； or he would invite him to
a sacrificial feast； and otherwise pay him marked attention。 Archedemus；
feeling that he had in Crito's house a harbour of refuge； could not make
too much of his patron； and ere long he had hunted up a long list of
iniquities which could be lodged against Crito's pettifogging persecutors
themselves； and not only their numerous crimes but their numerous
enemies； and presently he prosecuted one of them in a public suit； where
sentence would be given against him 〃what to suffer or what to pay。〃＇5＇
The accused； conscious as he was of many rascally deeds； did all he could
to be quit of Archedemus； but Archedemus was not to be got rid of。 He
held on until he had made the informer not only loose his hold of Crito but
pay himself a sum of money； and now that Archedemus had achieved this
and other similar victories； it is easy to guess what followed。＇6＇ It was just
as when some shepherd has got a very good dog； all the other shepherds
wish to lodge their flocks in his neighbourhood that they too may reap the
benefit of him。 So a number of Crito's friends came begging him to allow
Archedemus to be their guardian also； and Archedemus was overjoyed to
do something to gratify Crito； and so it came about that not only Crito
abode in peace； but his friends likewise。 If any of those people with whom
Archedemus was not on the best of terms were disposed to throw it in his
teeth that he accepted his patron's benefits and paid in flatteries； he had a
ready retort： 〃Answer me this questionwhich is the more scandalous； to
accept kindnesses from honest folk and to repay them； with the result that
I make such people my friends but quarrel with knaves； or to make
enemies of honourable gentlemen＇7＇ by attempts to do them wrong； with
the off…chance indeed of winning the friendship of some scamps in return
for my co…operation； but the certainty of losing in the tone of my
acquaintances？〃＇8＇
＇2＇ Archedemus； possibly the demagogue； 〃Hell。〃 I。 vii。 2。 So Cobet；
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〃P。 X。；〃 but see Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 viii。 245。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃very capable of speech and action〃the writer's favourite
formula for the well…trained Athenian who can speak fluently and
reason clearly； and act energetically and opportunely。
＇4＇ Reading ｛kai euphuesteros on｝ ＇or ｛e os｝＇ 。 。 。 ｛apo sukophanton｝
＇or ｛sukophantion｝＇； after Cobet； 〃P。 X。〃 s。v。 Archedemus。 The MSS。
give ｛kai ephe raston einai｝〃nothing is easier；〃 he said； 〃than
recovering from sycophants。〃
＇5＇ For this formula cf。 〃Econ。〃 vi。 24。 Cf。 Plat。 〃Statesm。〃 299 A。
＇6＇ ｛ede tote｝。 Cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 vi。 778 C。
＇7＇ Lit。 the ｛kaloi kagathoi｝； which like ｛khrestous｝ and ｛ponerous｝
has a political as well as an ethical meaning。
＇8＇ Lit。 〃must associate with these （the ｛ponerois｝） instead of those
（the ｛kalois te kagathois｝）。
The net result of the whole proceedings was that Archedemus was now
Crito's right hand；＇9＇ and by the rest of Crito's friends he was held in
honour。
＇9＇ He was No。 1｛eis｝。
X
Again I may cite； as known to myself；＇1＇ the following discussion； the
arguments were addressed to Diodorus； one of his companions。 The
master said：
＇1＇ Or； 〃for which I can personally vouch。〃
Tell me； Diodorus； if one of your slaves runs away； are you at pains to
recover him？
More than that （Diodorus answered）； I summon others to my aid and I
have a reward cried for his recovery。
Soc。 Well； if one of your domestics is sick； do you tend him and call in
the doctors to save his life？
Diod。 Decidedly I do。
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Soc。 And if an intimate acquaintance who is far more precious to you
than any of your household slaves is about to perish of want； you would
think it incumbent on you to take pains to save his life？ Well！ now you
know without my telling you that Hermogenes＇2＇ is not made of wood or
stone。 If you helped him he would be ashamed not to pay you in kind。 And
yetthe opportunity of possessing a willing； kindly； and trusty assistant
well fitted to do your bidding； and not merely that； but capable of
originating useful ideas himself； with a certain forecast of mind and
judgmentI say such a man is worth dozens of slaves。 Good economists
tell us that when a precious article may be got at a low price we ought to
buy。 And nowadays when times are so bad it is possible to get good
friends exceedingly cheap。
＇2＇ Hermogenes； presumably the son of Hipponicus。 See I。 ii。 48。
Diodorus answered： You are quite right； Socrates； bid Hermogenes
come to me。
Soc。 Bid Hermogenes come to you！not I indeed！ since for aught I can
understand you are no better entitled to summon him that to go to him
yourself； nor is the advantage more on his side than your own。
Thus Diodorus went off in a trice to seek Hermogenes； and at no great
outlay won to himself a frienda friend whose one concern it now was to
discover how； by word or deed； he might help and gladden Diodorus。
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