the memorabilia(纪念品)-第35节
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distributed partly along the collar…bone and shoulder… blade； partly over
the shoulders and chest； and partly the back and belly； feels like another
natural integument rather than an extra load to carry。＇13＇
＇13＇ Schneider ad loc。 cf Eur。 〃Electr。〃 192； ｛prosthemata aglaias｝；
and for the weight cf。 Aristoph。 〃Peace；〃 1224。
Pist。 You have named the very quality which gives my work its
exceptional value； as I consider； still there are customers； I am bound to
say； who look for something else in a corseletthey must have them
ornamental or inlaid with gold。
For all that （replied Socrates）； if they end by purchasing an ill… fitting
article； they only become the proprietors of a curiously… wrought and
gilded nuisance； as it seems to me。 But （he added）； as the body is never in
one fixed position； but is at one time curved； at another raised erect how
can an exactly…modelled corselet fit？
Pist。 It cannot fit at all。 You mean （Socrates continued） that it is not
the exactly…modelled corselet which fits； but that which does not gall the
wearer in the using？
Pist。 There； Socrates； you have hit the very point。 I see you understand
the matter most precisely。＇14＇
＇14＇ Or； 〃There； Socrates； you have hit the very phrase。 I could not
state the matter more explicitly myself。〃
XI
There was once in the city a fair woman named Theodote。＇1＇ She was
not only fair； but ready to consort with any suitor who might win her
favour。 Now it chanced that some one of the company mentioned her；
saying that her beauty beggared description。 〃So fair is she；〃 he added；
〃that painters flock to draw her portrait； to whom； within the limits of
decorum； she displays the marvels of her beauty。〃 〃Then there is nothing
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for it but to go and see her；〃 answered Socrates； 〃since to comprehend by
hearsay what is beyond description is clearly impossible。〃 Then he who
had introduced the matter replied： 〃Be quick then to follow me〃； and on
this wise they set off to seek Theodote。 They found her 〃posing〃 to a
certain painter； and they took their stand as spectators。 Presently the
painter had ceased his work； whereupon Socrates：
＇1＇ For Theodote see Athen。 v。 200 F； xiii。 574 F； Liban。 i。 582。 Some
say that it was Theodote who stood by Alcibiades to the last； though
there are apparently other better claimants to the honour。 Plut。 〃Alc。〃
（Clough； ii。 p。 50）。
〃Do you think； sirs； that we ought to thank Theodote for displaying her
beauty to us； or she us for coming to gaze at her？ 。 。 。 It would seem；
would it not； that if the exhibition of her charms is the more profitable to
her； the debt is on her side； but if the spectacle of her beauty confers the
greater benefit on us； then we are her debtors。〃
Some one answered that 〃was an equitable statement of the case。〃
Well then （he continued）； as far as she is concerned； the praise we
bestow on her is an immediate gain； and presently； when we have spread
her fame abroad； she will be further benefited； but for ourselves the
immediate effect on us is a strong desire to touch what we have seen； by
and by； too； we shall go away with a sting inside us； and when we are
fairly gone we shall be consumed with longing。 Consequently it seems that
we should do her service and she accept our court。
Whereupon Theodote： Oh dear！ if that is how the matter stands； it is I
who am your debtor for the spectacle。＇2＇
＇2＇ In reference to the remark of Socrates above； or； 〃have to thank
you for coming to look at me。〃
At this point； seeing that the lady herself was expensively attired； and
that she had with her her mother also； whose dress and style of
attendance＇3＇ were out of the common； not to speak of the waiting…
womenmany and fair to look upon； who presented anything but a forlorn
appearance； while in every respect the whole house itself was sumptuously
furnishedSocrates put a question：
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＇3＇ Or； 〃her mother there with her in a dress and general get…up
（｛therapeia｝） which was out of the common。〃 See Becker；
〃Charicles；〃 p。 247 （Eng。 tr。）
Pray tell me； Theodote； have you an estate in the country？
Theod。 Not I indeed。
Soc。 Then perhaps you possess a house and large revenues along with
it？
Theod。 No； nor yet a house。
Soc。 You are not an employer of labour on a large scale？＇4＇
＇4＇ Lit。 〃You have not （in your employ） a body of handicraftsmen of
any sort？〃
Theod。 No； nor yet an employer of labour。
Soc。 From what source； then； do you get your means of
subsistence？＇5＇
＇5＇ Or； Anglice； 〃derive your income。〃
Theod。 My friends are my life and fortune； when they care to be kind
to me。
Soc。 By heaven； Theodote； a very fine property indeed； and far better
worth possessing than a multitude of sheep or goats or cattle。 A flock of
friends！ 。 。 。 But （he added） do you leave it to fortune whether a friend
lights like a fly on your hand at random； or do you use any artifice＇6＇
yourself to attract him？
＇6＇ Or； 〃means and appliances；〃 〃machinery。〃
Theod。 And how might I hit upon any artifice to attract him？
Soc。 Bless me！ far more naturally than any spider。 You know how they
capture the creatures on which they live；＇7＇ by weaving webs of gossamer；
is it not？ and woe betide the fly that tumbles into their toils！ They eat him
up。
＇7＇ Lit。 〃the creatures on which they live。〃
Theod。 So then you would consel me to weave myself some sort of
net？
Soc。 Why； surely you do not suppose you are going to ensnare that
noblest of all gamea lover； to witin so artless a fashion？ Do you not see
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（to speak of a much less noble sort of game） what a number of devices are
needed to bag a hare？＇8＇ The creatures range for their food at night；
therefore the hunter must provide himself with night dogs。 At peep of
dawn they are off as fast as they can run。 He must therefore have another
pack of dogs to scent out and discover which way they betake them from
their grazing ground to their forms；＇9＇ and as they are so fleet of foot that
they run and are out of sight in no time； he must once again be provided
with other fleet…footed dogs to follow their tracks and overtake them；＇10＇
and as some of them will give even these the slip； he must； last of all； set
up nets on the paths at the points of escape； so that they may fall into the
meshes and be caught。
＇8＇ See the author's own treatise on 〃Hunting；〃 vi。 6 foll。
＇9＇ Lit。 〃from pasture to bed。〃
＇10＇ Or； 〃close at their heels and run them down。〃 See 〃Hunting〃； cf。
〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 40。
Theod。 And by what like contrivance would you have me catch my
lovers？
Soc。 Well now！ what if in place of a dog you can get a man who will
hunt up your wealthy lover of beauty and discover his lair； and having
found him； will plot and plan to throw him into your meshes？
Theod。 Nay； what sort of meshes have I？
Soc。 One you have； and a close…folding net it is；＇11＇ I trow； to wit；
your own person； and inside it sits a soul that teaches you＇12＇ with what
looks to please and with what words to cheer； how； too； with smiles you
are to welcome true devotion； but to exclude all wantons from your
presence。＇13＇ It tells you； you are to visit your beloved in sickness with
solicitude； and when he has wrought some noble deed you are greatly to
rejoice with him； and to one who passionately cares for you； you are to
make surrender of yourself with heart and soul。 The secret of true
