the memorabilia(纪念品)-第27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！
Nicomachides； the difference between the devotion requisite to private
affairs and to affairs of state is merely one of quantity。 For the rest the
parallel holds strictly； and in this respect pre…eminently； that both are
concerned with human instruments： which human beings； moreover； are of
one type and temperament； whether we speak of devotion to public affairs
or of the administration of private property。 To fare well in either case is
given to those who know the secret of dealing with humanity； whereas the
95
… Page 96…
The Memorabilia
absence of that knowledge will as certainly imply in either case a fatal
note of discord。＇11＇
＇10＇ Lit。 〃as long as he is unprepared。〃
＇11＇ L。 Dindorf； 〃Index Graec。〃 Ox。 ed。； cf。 Hor。 〃Ep。〃 II。 ii。 144；
〃sed verae numerosque modosque ediscere vitae；〃 〃the harmony of
life；〃 Conington。
V
A conversation held with Pericles the son of the great statesman may
here be introduced。＇1＇ Socrates began：
＇1＇ Or； 〃On one occasion Pericles was the person addressed in
conversation。〃 For Pericles see 〃Hell。〃 I。 v。 16； vii。 15； Plut。 〃Pericl。〃
37 （Clough； i。 368）。
I am looking forward； I must tell you； Pericles； to a great improvement
in our military affairs when you are minister of war。＇2＇ The prestige of
Athens； I hope； will rise； we shall gain the mastery over our enemies。
＇2＇ 〃Strategos。〃
Pericles replied： I devoutly wish your words might be fulfilled； but
how this happy result is to be obtained； I am at a loss to discover。
Shall we （Socrates continued）； shall we balance the arguments for and
against； and consider to what extent the possibility does exist？
Pray let us do so （he answered）。
Soc。 Well then； you know that in point of numbers the Athenians are
not inferior to the Boeotians？
Per。 Yes； I am aware of that。
Soc。 And do you think the Boeotians could furnish a better pick of fine
healthy men than the Athenians？
Per。 I think we should very well hold our own in that respect。
Soc。 And which of the two would you take to be the more united
people the friendlier among themselves？
Per。 The Athenians； I should say； for so many sections of the Boeotians；
96
… Page 97…
The Memorabilia
resenting the selfish policy＇3＇ of Thebes； are ill disposed to that power； but
at Athens I see nothing of the sort。
＇3＇ 〃The self…aggrandisement。〃 Soc。 But perhaps you will say that
there is no people more jealous of honour or haughtier in spirit。＇4＇ And
these feelings are no weak spurs to quicken even a dull spirit to hazard all
for glory's sake and fatherland。
＇4＇ Reading ｛megalophronestatoi｝； after Cobet。 See 〃Hipparch；〃 vii。 3；
or if as vulg。 ｛philophronestatoi｝； transl。 〃more affable。〃
Per。 Nor is there much fault to find with Athenians in these respects。
Soc。 And if we turn to consider the fair deeds of ancestry；＇5＇ to no
people besides ourselves belongs so rich a heritage of stimulating
memories； whereby so many of us are stirred to pursue virtue with
devotion and to show ourselves in our turn also men of valour like our
sires。
＇5＇ See Wesley's anthem； Eccles。 xliv。 1； 〃Let us now praise famous
men and our fathers that begat us。〃
Per。 All that you say； Socrates； is most true； but do you observe that
ever since the disaster of the thousand under Tolmides at Lebadeia；
coupled with that under Hippocrates at Delium；＇6＇ the prestige of Athens
by comparison with the Boeotians has been lowered； whilst the spirit of
Thebes as against Athens had been correspondingly exalted； so that those
Boeotians who in old days did not venture to give battle to the Athenians
even in their own territory unless they had the Lacedaemonians and the
rest of the Peloponnesians to help them； do nowadays threaten to make an
incursion into Attica single…handed； and the Athenians； who formerly； if
they had to deal with the Boeotians＇7＇ only； made havoc of their territory；
are now afraid the Boeotians may some day harry Attica。
＇6＇ Lebadeia； 447 B。C。； Delium； 424 B。C。 For Tolmides and
Hippocrates see Thuc。 i。 113； iv。 100 foll。； Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 v。 471； vi。
533。
＇7＇ Reading ｛ote B。 monoi｝； al。 ｛ou monoi｝； 〃when the Boeotians
were not unaided。〃
To which Socrates： Yes； I perceive that this is so； but it seems to me
97
… Page 98…
The Memorabilia
that the state was never more tractably disposed； never so ripe for a really
good leader； as to…day。 For if boldness be the parent of carelessness； laxity；
and insubordination； it is the part of fear to make people more disposed to
application； obedience； and good order。 A proof of which you may
discover in the behaviour of people on ship… board。 It is in seasons of calm
weather when there is nothing to fear that disorder may be said to reign；
but as soon as there is apprehension of a storm； or an enemy in sight； the
scene changes； not only is each word of command obeyed； but there is a
hush of silent expectation； the mariners wait to catch the next signal like
an orchestra with eyes upon the leader。
Per。 But indeed； given that now is the opportunity to take obedience at
the flood； it is high time also to explain by what means we are to rekindle
in the hearts of our countrymen＇8＇ the old firesthe passionate longing for
antique valour； for the glory and the wellbeing of the days of old。
＇8＇ Reading ｛anerasthenai｝； Schneider's emendation of the vulg。
｛aneristhenai｝。
Well （proceeded Socrates）； supposing we wished them to lay claim to
certain material wealth now held by others； we could not better stimulate
them to lay hands on the objects coveted than by showing them that these
were ancestral possessions＇9＇ to which they had a natural right。 But since
our object is that they should set their hearts on virtuous pre…eminence； we
must prove to them that such headship combined with virtue is an old
time…honoured heritage which pertains to them beyond all others； and that
if they strive earnestly after it they will soon out…top the world。
＇9＇ Cf。 Solon in the matter of Salamis； Plut。 〃Sol。〃 8； Bergk。 〃Poet。
Lyr。 Gr。 Solon；〃 SALAMIS； i。 2； 3。
Por。 How are we to inculcate this lesson？
Soc。 I think by reminding them of a fact already registered in their
minds；＇10＇ that the oldest of our ancestors whose names are known to us
were also the bravest of heroes。
＇10＇ Or； 〃to which their ears are already opened。〃
Per。 I suppose you refer to that judgment of the gods which； for their
virtue's sake； Cecrops and his followers were called on to decide？＇11＇
98
… Page 99…
The Memorabilia
＇11＇ See Apollodorus； iii。 14。
Soc。 Yes； I refer to that and to the birth and rearing of Erectheus；＇12＇
and also to the war＇13＇ which in his days was waged to stay the tide of
invasion from the whole adjoining continent； and that other war in the
days of the Heraclidae＇14＇ against the men of Peloponnese； and that series
of battles fought in the days of Theseus＇15＇in all which the virtuous pre…
eminence of our ancestry above the men of their own times was made
manifest。 Or； if you please； we may come down to things of a later date；
which their descendants and the heroes of days not so long anterior to our
own wrought in the struggle with the lords of Asia；＇16＇ nay of Europe also；
as far as Macedonia： a people possessing a power and means of attack far
exceeding any who had gone beforewho； moreover； had accomplished
the doughtiest deeds。 These things the men of Athens wrought partly
single…handed；＇17＇ and partly as sharers with the Peloponnesians in laurels
won by land and sea。 Heroes were these men al
