hiero-第2节
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and yet be powerless。〃
＇21＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Rep。〃 ix。 579 B： 〃His soul is dainty and greedy； and
yet he only of all men is never allowed to go on a journey； or to
see things which other free men desire to see； but he lives in his
hole like a woman hidden in the house； and is jealous of any other
citizen who goes into foreign parts and sees things of interest〃
（Jowett）。
Perhaps you will retort： 〃Why should he trouble to go abroad to seek
for such things？ They are sure to come to him； although he stops at
home。〃 Yes； Simonides； that is so far true； a small percentage of them
no doubt will； and this scant moiety will be sold at so high a price
to the despotic monarch； that the exhibitor of the merest trifle looks
to receive from the imperial pocket； within the briefest interval； ten
times more than he can hope to win from all the rest of mankind in a
lifetime； and then he will be off。＇22＇
＇22＇ Lit。 〃to get from the tyrant all in a moment many times more than
he will earn from all the rest of mankind in a whole lifetime； and
depart。〃
To which Simonides： Well； granted you have the worst of it in sights
and sightseeing； yet； you must admit you are large gainers through the
sense of hearing； you who are never stinted of that sweetest of all
sounds；＇23＇ the voice of praise； since all around you are for ever
praising everything you do and everything you say。 Whilst； conversely；
to that most harsh and grating of all sounds； the language of abuse；
your ears are sealed； since no one cares to speak evil against a
monarch to his face。
＇23＇ Cf。 Cic。 〃pro Arch。〃 20； 〃Themistoclem illum dixisse aiunt cum ex
eo quaereretur； 'quod acroama aut cujus vocem libentissime
audiret'： 'ejus； a quo sua virtus optime praedicaretur。'〃
Then Hiero： And what pleasure do you suppose mere abstinence from evil
words implies； when it is an open secret that those silent persons are
cherishing all evil thoughts against the tyrant？＇24＇ What mirth； do
you imagine； is to be extracted from their panegyrics who are
suspected of bestowing praise out of mere flattery？
＇24＇ 〃One knows plainly that these dumb attendants stand there like
mutes； but harbour every evil thought against their autocratic
lord。〃
Simonides made answer： Yes； I must indeed admit； I do concede to you；
that praise alone is sweetest which is breathed from lips of free men
absolutely free。 But； look you； here is a point： you will find it hard
to persuade another； that you despots； within the limits of those
things whereby we one and all sustain our bodies； in respect； that is；
of meats and drinks； have not a far wider range of pleasures。
Yes； Simonides （he answered）； and what is more； I know the explanation
of the common verdict。 The majority have come to the conclusion that
we monarchs eat and drink with greater pleasure than do ordinary
people； because they have got the notion； they themselves would make a
better dinner off the viands served at our tables than their own。 And
doubtless some break in the monotony gives a fillip of pleasure。 And
that explains why folk in general look forward with pleasure to high
days and holy daysmankind at large； but not the despot； his well…
stocked table groaning from day to day under its weight of viands
admits of no state occasions。 So that； as far as this particular
pleasure； to begin with； goes； the pleasure of anticipation； the
monarch is at disadvantage compared with private people。
And in the next place （he continued）； I am sure your own experience
will bear me out so far： the more viands set before a man at table
（beyond what are sufficient）；＇25＇ the more quickly will satiety of
eating overtake him。 So that in actual duration of the pleasure； he
with his many dishes has less to boast of than the moderate liver。
＇25＇ ｛ta peritta ton ikanon｝。 These words Hartm。 op。 cit。 p。 254；
regards as an excrescence。
Yes； but good gracious！ surely （broke in Simonides）； during the actual
time；＇26＇ before the appetite is cloyed； the gastronomic pleasure
derived from the costlier bill of fare far exceeds that of the cheaper
dinner…table。
＇26＇ Lit。 〃so long as the soul （i。e。 the appetite） accepts with
pleasure the viands〃； i。e。 there's an interval； at any rate；
during which 〃such as my soul delights in〃 can still apply and for
so long。
But； as a matter of plain logic （Hiero retorted）； should you not say；
the greater the pleasure a man feels in any business； the more
enthusiastic his devotion to it？
That is quite true （he answered）。
Hiero。 Then have you ever noticed that crowned heads display more
pleasure in attacking the bill of fare provided them； than private
persons theirs？
No； rather the reverse （the poet answered）； if anything； they show a
less degree of gusto；＇27＇ unless they are vastly libelled。
＇27＇ 〃No； not more pleasure； but exceptional fastidiousness； if what
people say is true。〃 ｛agleukesteron｝； said ap。 Suid。 to be a
Sicilian word = 〃more sourly。〃
Well （Hiero continued）； and all these wonderfully…made dishes which
are set before the tyrant； or nine…tenths of them； perhaps you have
observed； are combinations of things acid to the taste； or pungent； or
astringent； or akin to these？＇28＇
＇28＇ Lit。 〃and their congeners；〃 〃their analogues；〃 e。g。 〃curries；
pickles； bitters； peppery condiments。〃
To be sure they are （he answered）； unnatural viands； one and all； in
my opinion； most alien to ordinary palates。＇29＇
＇29＇ Or； 〃unsuited to man's taste；〃 〃'caviare to the general' I name
them。〃
Hiero。 In fact； these condiments can only be regarded as the
cravings＇30＇ of a stomach weakened by luxurious living； since I am
quite sure that keen appetites （and you； I fancy； know it well too）
have not the slightest need for all these delicate made things。
＇30＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 687 C； 〃Hipp。〃 ii。 44。 Lit。 〃can you in fact
regard these condiments as other than 。 。 。〃 See Holden ad loc。
（ed。 1888）； Hartm。 op。 cit。 p。 259； suggests ｛enthumemata｝；
〃inventions。〃
It is true； at any rate （observed Simonides）； about those costly
perfumes； with which your persons are anointed； that your neighbours
rather than yourselves extract enjoyment from them； just as the
unpleasant odour of some meats is not so obvious to the eater as to
those who come in contact with him。
Hiero。 Good； and on this principle we say of meats； that he who is
provided with all sorts on all occasions brings no appetite to any of
them。 He rather to whom these things are rarities； that is the man
who； when some unfamiliar thing is put before him； will take his fill
of it with pleasure。＇31＇
＇31＇ ｛meta kharas｝。 Cf。 Aesch。 Fr。 237； ｛stomatos en prote khara｝； of
a hungry man； 〃Od。〃 xvii。 603。
It looks very much （interposed Simonides） as if the sole pleasure left
you to explain the vulgar ambition to wear a crown； must be that named
after Aphrodite。 For in this field it is your privilege to consort
with whatever fairest fair your eyes may light on。
Hiero。 Nay； now you have named that one thing of all others； take my
word for it； in which we princes are worse off than lesser people。＇32＇
＇32＇ Reading ｛saph' isthi｝； or if as Cobet conj。 ｛saphestata｝； transl。
〃are at a disadvantage most clearly by comparison with ordinary
folk。〃
To name marriage first。 I presume a marriage＇33＇ which is contracted
with some great family； superior in wealth and influence； bears away
the palm； since it confers upon the bridegroom not pleasure only but
distinction。＇34＇ Next comes the marriage made with equals； and last；
wedlock with inferiors； which is apt to be regarded as degrading and
disserviceable。
＇33＇ Cf。 〃Hunting；〃 i。 9。 Holden cf。 Eur。 〃Rhes。〃 168； 〃Androm。〃 1255。
＇34＇ Cf。 Dem。 〃in Lept。〃 S。 69； p。 499。 See Plat。 〃Rep。〃 553 C。
Now for the application： a despotic monarch； unless he weds some
foreign bride； is forced to choose a wife from those beneath him； so
that the height of satisfaction is denied him。＇35＇
＇35＇ Al。 〃supreme content； the quintessential bliss； is quite unknown
to him。〃
The tender service of the proudest…souled of women； wifely rendered；
