the memorabilia(纪念品)-第24节
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The Memorabilia
BOOK III
I
Aspirants to honour and distinction＇1＇ derived similar help from
Socrates； who in each case stimulated in them a persevering assiduity
towards their several aims； as the following narratives tend to show。 He
had heard on one occasion of the arrival in Athens of Dionysodorus；＇2＇
who professed to teach the whole duty of a general。＇3＇ Accordingly he
remarked to one of those who were with him a young man whose
anxiety to obtain the office of Strategos＇4＇ was no secret to him：
＇1＇ ｛ton kalon｝ = everything which the ｛kalos te kagathos｝ should aim
at； but especially the honourable offices of state such as the
Archonship； Strategia； Hipparchia； etc。 See Plat。 〃Laches。〃
＇2＇ Dionysodorus of Chios； presumably。 See Plat。 〃Euthyd。〃 271 C
foll。
＇3＇ A professor of the science and art of strategy。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃that honour；〃 sc。 the Strategia。
Soc。 It would be monstrous on the part of any one who sought to
become a general＇5＇ to throw away the slightest opportunity of learning
the duties of the office。 Such a person； I should say； would deserve to be
fined and punished by the state far more than the charlatan who without
having learnt the art of a sculptor undertakes a contract to carve a statue。
Considering that the whole fortunes of the state are entrusted to the
general during a war； with all its incidental peril； it is only reasonable to
anticipate that great blessings or great misfortunes will result in proportion
to the success or bungling of that officer。 I appeal to you； young sir； do you
not agree that a candidate who； while taking pains to be elected neglects to
learn the duties of the office； would richly deserve to be fined？
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＇5＇ i。e。 〃head of the war department； and commander…in…chief；〃 etc。
With arguments like these he persuaded the young man to go and take
lessons。 After he had gone through the course he came back； and Socrates
proceeded playfully to banter him。
Soc。 Behold our young friend； sirs； as Homer says of Agamemnon； of
mein majestical；＇6＇ so he； does he not seem to move more majestically；
like one who has studied to be a general？ Of course； just as a man who has
learned to play the harp is a harper； even if he never touch the instrument；
or as one who has studied medicine is a physician； though he does not
practise； so our friend here from this time forward is now and ever shall be
a general； even though he does not receive a vote at the elections。 But the
dunce who has not the science is neither general nor doctor； no； not even if
the whole world appointed him。 But （he proceeded； turning to the youth）；
in case any of us should ever find ourselves captain or colonel＇7＇ under
you； to give us some smattering of the science of war； what did the
professor take as the starting…point of his instruction in generalship？ Please
inform us。
＇6＇ 〃Il。〃 iii。 169； 170。
＇7＇ Or； 〃brigadier or captain；〃 lit。 taxiarch or lochagos。
Then the young man： He began where he ended； he taught me
tactics＇8＇ tactics and nothing else。
＇8＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 12 foll。； VIII。 v。 15。
Yet surely （replied Socrates） that is only an infinitisemal part of
generalship。 A general＇9＇ must be ready in furnishing the material of war：
in providing the commissariat for his troops； quick in devices； he must be
full of practical resource； nothing must escape his eye or tax his endurance；
he must be shrewd； and ready of wit； a combination at once of clemency
and fierceness； of simplicity and of insidious craft； he must play the part of
watchman； of robber； now prodigal as a spendthrift； and again close…fisted
as a miser； the bounty of his munificence must be equalled by the
narrowness of his greed； impregnable in defence； a very dare…devil in
attackthese and many other qualities must he possess who is to make a
good general and minister of war； they must come to him by gift of nature
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or through science。 No doubt it is a grand thing also to be a tactician； since
there is all the difference in the world between an army properly handled
in the field and the same in disorder； just as stones and bricks； woodwork
and tiles； tumbled together in a heap are of no use at all； but arrange them
in a certain orderat bottom and atop materials which will not crumble or
rot； such as stones and earthen tiles； and in the middle between the two put
bricks and woodwork； with an eye to architectural principle；＇10＇ and
finally you get a valuable possessionto wit； a dwelling…place。
＇9＇ A strategos。 For the duties and spheres of action of this officer；
see Gow； op。 cit。 xiv。 58。
＇10＇ 〃As in the building of a house。〃 See Vitrivius； ii。 3； Plin。 xxv。
14。
The simile is very apt； Socrates＇11＇ （replied the youth）； for in battle；
too； the rule is to draw up the best men in front and rear； with those of
inferior quality between； where they may be led on by the former and
pushed on by the hinder。
＇11＇ Cf。 〃Il。〃 iv。 297 foll。； 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 iii。 25； Polyb。 x。 22。
Soc。 Very good； no doubt； if the professor taught you to distinguish
good and bad； but if not； where is the use of your learning？ It would
scarcely help you； would it； to be told to arrange coins in piles； the best
coins at top and bottom and the worst in the middle； unless you were first
taught to distinguish real from counterfeit。
The Youth。 Well no； upon my word； he did not teach us that； so that the
task of distinguishing between good and bad must devolve on ourselves。
Soc。 Well； shall we see； then； how we may best avoid making blunders
between them？
I am ready （replied the youth）。
Soc。 Well then！ Let us suppose we are marauders； and the task
imposed upon us is to carry off some bullion； it will be a right disposition
of our forces if we place in the vanguard those who are the greediest of
gain？＇12＇
＇12＇ 〃Whose fingers itch for gold。〃
The Youth。 I should think so。
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Soc。 Then what if there is danger to be faced？ Shall the vanguard
consist of men who are greediest of honour？
The Youth。 It is these； at any rate； who will face danger for the sake of
praise and glory。＇13＇ Fortunately such people are not hid away in a corner；
they shine forth conspicuous everywhere； and are easy to be discovered。
＇13＇ Cf。 Shakesp。 〃seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon's
mouth。〃
Soc。 But tell me； did he teach you how to draw up troops in general； or
specifically where and how to apply each particular kind of tactical
arrangement？
The Youth。 Nothing of the sort。
Soc。 And yet there are and must be innumerable circumstances in
which the same ordering of march or battle will be out of place。
The Youth。 I assure you he did not draw any of these fine distinctions。
He did not； did not he？ （he answered）。 Bless me！ Go back to him again；
then； and ply him with questions； if he really has the science； and is not
lost to all sense of shame； he will blush to have taken your money and then
to have sent you away empty。
II
At another time he fell in with a man who had been chosen general
and minister of war； and thus accosted him。
Soc。 Why did Homer； think you； designate Agamemnon 〃shepherd of
the peoples〃？＇1＇ Was it possibly to show that； even as a shepherd must
care for his sheep and see that they are safe and have all things needful；
and that the objects of their rearing be secured； so also must a general take
care that his soldiers are s
