第 22 节
作者:      更新:2021-02-18 23:31      字数:9322
  '6'   Lit。   〃state   liturgies;〃   or   〃to   the   burden   of   the   public   services。〃
  For these see Gow; 〃Companion;〃 xviii。 〃Athenian Finance。〃
  '7'     Cf。   Arist。    〃Acharnians;〃        519;    {esukophantei        Megareon        ta
  khlaniskia}。 See Dr。 Merry's note ad loc。
  Ar。   Bless   me;   yes!   They   have   got   a   set   of   barbarian   fellows;   whom
  they purchase and keep; to manufacture by forced labour whatever takes
  their fancy。 My kinswomen; I need not tell you; are free…born ladies。
  Soc。 Then; on the ground that they are free…born and your kinswomen;
  you think that   they ought   to do nothing but eat   and sleep? Or is it  your
  opinion that people who live in this wayI speak of free…born people in
  generallead happier lives; and are more to be congratulated; than those
  who   give   their   time   and   attention   to   such   useful   arts   of   life   as   they   are
  skilled   in?   Is   this   what   you   see   in   the   world;   that   for   the   purpose   of
  learning what it is well to know; and of recollecting the lessons taught; or
  with a view to health and strength of body; or for the sake of acquiring and
  preserving all that gives life its charm; idleness and inattention are found
  to be helpful; whilst work and study are simply a dead loss? Pray; when
  those relatives of yours were taught what you tell me they know; did they
  learn   it   as   barren   information   which   they   would   never   turn   to   practical
  account;   or;   on   the   contrary;   as   something   with   which   they   were   to   be
  seriously      concerned      some     day;   and    from    which     they   were     to  reap
  advantage? Do human beings in general attain to well…tempered manhood
  by   a   course   of   idling;   or   by   carefully   attending   to   what   will   be   of   use?
  Which will help a man the more to grow in justice and uprightness; to be
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  up and doing; or to sit with folded hands revolving the ways and means of
  existence? As things now stand; if I am not mistaken; there is no love lost
  between you。 You cannot help feeling that they are costly to you; and they
  must see that you find them a burthen? This is a perilous state of affairs; in
  which hatred and bitterness have every prospect of increasing; whilst the
  pre…existing bond of affection'8' is likely to be snapped。
  '8' Or; 〃the original stock of kindliness will be used up。〃
  But now; if only  you allow them free scope for their energies;  when
  you come to see how useful they can be; you will grow quite fond of them;
  and they; when they perceive that they can please you; will cling to their
  benefactor   warmly。   Thus;   with   the   memory   of   former   kindnesses   made
  sweeter; you will increase the grace which flows from kindnesses tenfold;
  you will in consequence be knit in closer bonds of love and domesticity。 If;
  indeed; they were called upon to do any shameful work; let them choose
  death rather than that; but now they know; it would seem; the very arts and
  accomplishments which are regarded as the loveliest and the most suitable
  for women; and the things which we know; any of us; are just those which
  we can best perform; that is to say; with ease and expedition; it is a joy to
  do   them;   and   the   result   is   beautiful。'9'   Do   not   hesitate;   then;   to   initiate
  your friends in what will bring advantage to them and you alike; probably
  they will gladly respond to your summons。
  '9' Or; 〃with ease; rapidity; pleasure and effect。〃
  Well; upon my word (Aristarchus answered); I like so well what you
  say;   Socrates;   that   though   hitherto   I   have   not   been   disposed   to   borrow;
  knowing that when I had spent what I got I should not be in a condition to
  repay; I think I can now bring myself to do so in order to raise a fund for
  these works。
  Thereupon   a   capital   was   provided;   wools   were   purchased;   the   good
  man's relatives set to work; and even whilst they breakfasted they worked;
  and on and on till work was ended and they supped。 Smiles took the place
  of frowns; they no longer looked askance with suspicion; but full into each
  other's eyes with happiness。 They loved their kinsman for his kindness to
  them。 He became attached to them as helpmates; and the end of it all was;
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  he   came   to   Socrates   and   told   him   with   delight   how   matters   fared;   〃and
  now;〃 he added; 〃they tax me with being the only drone in the house; who
  sit and eat the bread of idleness。〃
  To which Socrates: Why do not you tell them the fable of the dog?'10'
  Once on a time; so goes the story; when beasts could speak; the sheep said
  to her master; 〃What a marvel is this; master; that to us; your own sheep;
  who   provide   you   with   fleeces   and   lambs   and   cheese;   you   give   nothing;
  save   only   what   we   may   nibble   off   earth's   bosom;   but   with   this   dog   of
  yours; who provides you with nothing of the sort; you share the very meat
  out    of  your    mouth。〃    When     the   dog   heard    these   words;    he   answered
  promptly; 〃Ay; in good sooth; for is it not I who keep you safe and sound;
  you sheep; so that you are not stolen by man nor harried by wolves; since;
  if   I   did not keep   watch  over   you;  you   would not   be   able so   much   as   to
  graze afield; fearing to be destroyed。〃 And so; says the tale; the sheep had
  to admit that the dog was rightly preferred to themselves in honour。 And so
  do you tell your flock yonder that like the dog in the fable you are their
  guardian and overseer; and it is thanks to you that they are protected from
  evil   and   evildoers;   so   that   they   work   their   work   and   live   their   lives   in
  blissful security。
  '10'   See   Joseph   Jacobs;   〃The   Fables   of   Aesop;〃   vol。   i。   p。   26   foll。;
  for 〃a complete list of the Fables given in Greek literature up to                        the
  fall   of   Greek     independence。〃       Cf。    Hesiod;    〃Works      and    Days;〃     202
  foll。; Archilochus; 89 (60); Bergk; Herod。 i。 141; Aesch。                       〃Myrmid。〃
  fr。 123; Aristot。 〃Rhet。〃 II。 xx。
  VIII
  At another time chancing upon an old friend whom he had not seen for
  a long while; he greeted him thus。
  Soc。 What quarter of the world do you hail from; Eutherus?
  The other answered: From abroad; just before the close of the war; but
  at present from the city itself。'1' You see; since we have been denuded of
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  our   possessions   across   the   frontier;'2'   and   my   father   left   me   nothing   in
  Attica; I must needs bide at home; and provide myself with the necessaries
  of life by  means of bodily toil; which seems preferable to begging from
  another; especially as I have no security on which to raise a loan。
  '1' Lit。 〃from here。〃 The conversation perhaps takes place in Piraeus
  404 B。C。
  '2' Or; 〃colonial possession。〃 Cf。 〃Symp。〃 iv。 31。
  Soc。 And how long do you expect your body to be equal to providing
  the necessaries of life for hire?
  Euth。 Goodness knows; Socratesnot for long。
  Soc。    And    when    you   find   yourself    an  old   man;    expenses     will  not
  diminish; and yet no one will care to pay you for the labour of your hands。
  Euth。 That is true。
  Soc。 Would it not be better then to apply yourself at once to such work
  as will stand you in good stead when you are oldthat is; address yourself
  to some large proprietor who needs an assistant in managing his estate?'3'
  By superintending his works; helping to get in his crops; and guarding his
  property in general; you will be a benefit to the estate and be benefited in
  return。
  '3' Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 iii。 48。
  I could not endure the yoke of slavery; Socrates! (he exclaimed)。
  Soc。 And yet the heads of departments in a state are not regarded as
  adopting   the   badge   of   slavery  because   they  manage   the   public   property;
  but as having attained a higher degree of freedom rather。
  Euth。 In a word; Socrates; the idea of being held to account to another
  is not at all to my taste。
  Soc。 And yet; Eutherus; it would be hard to find a work which did not
  involve   some   liability   to   account;   in   fact   it   is   difficult   to   do   anything
  without some mistake or other; and no less difficult; if you should succe