第 29 节
作者:      更新:2021-02-18 23:31      字数:9306
  rather   your   object   is   to   teach   me   that   the   would…be   general   must   make
  such things his care。 I admit in any case all you say。
  Socrates proceeded: Has it ever caught your observation; Pericles; that
  a   high   mountain   barrier   stretches   like   a   bulwark   in   front   of   our   country
  down towards Boeotiacleft; moreover; by narrow and precipitous passes;
  the only avenues into the heart of Attica; which lies engirdled by a ring of
  natural fortresses?'31'
  '31' The mountains are Cithaeron and Parnes N。; and Cerata N。W。
  Per。 Certainly I have。
  Soc。 Well; and have you ever heard tell of the Mysians and Pisidians
  living within the territory of the great king;'32' who; inside their mountain
  fortresses; lightly armed; are able to rush down and inflict much injury on
  the king's territory by their raids; while preserving their own freedom?
  '32' For this illustration see 〃Anab。〃 III。 ii。 23; cf。 〃Econ。〃 iv。                  18;
  where Socrates ({XS}) refers to Cyrus's expedition and death。
  Per。 Yes; the circumstance is not new to me。
  And   do   you   not   think   (added   Socrates)   that   a   corps   of   young   able…
  bodied Athenians; accoutred with lighter arms;'33' and holding our natural
  mountain      rampart     in  possession;     would    prove    at  once    a  thorn   in  the
  enemy's   side offensively;  whilst   defensively  they  would   form  a   splendid
  bulwark to protect the country?
  '33' Cf。 the reforms of Iphicrates。
  To    which     Pericles:   I  think;    Socrates;    these   would     be   all  useful
  measures; decidedly。
  If;   then   (replied   Socrates);   these   suggestions   meet   your   approbation;
  try; O best of men; to realise themif you can carry out a portion of them;
  it will be an honour to yourself and a blessing to the state; while; if you
  fail in any point; there will be no damage done to the city nor discredit to
  yourself。
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  VI
  Glaucon;'1' the son of Ariston; had conceived such an ardour to gain
  the headship of the state that nothing could hinder him but he must deliver
  a course of public speeches;'2' though he had not yet reached the age of
  twenty。 His friends and relatives tried in vain to stop him making himself
  ridiculous and being dragged down from the bema。'3' Socrates; who took
  a   kindly   interest   in   the   youth   for   the   sake   of   Charmides'4'   the   son   of
  Glaucon;   and   of   Plato;   alone   succeeded   in   restraining   him。   It   happened
  thus。 He fell in with him; and first of all; to get him to listen; detained him
  by some such remarks as the following:'5'
  '1' Glaucon; Plato's brother。 Grote; 〃Plato;〃 i。 508。
  '2' 〃Harangue the People。〃
  '3' See Plat。 〃Protag。〃 319 C: 〃And if some person offers to give them
  advice who is not supposed by them to have any skill in the art                        'sc。
  of   politics';   even   though   he   be   good…looking;   and   rich;   and       noble;
  they will not listen to him; but laugh at him; and hoot                  him; until he is
  either clamoured down and retires of himself; or                    if he persists; he is
  dragged   away   or   put   out   by   the   constables   at      the   command   of   the
  prytanes〃 (Jowett)。 Cf。 Aristoph。 〃Knights;〃                  665; {kath eilkon auton
  oi prutaneis kai toxotai}。
  '4'   For   Charmides   (maternal   uncle   of   Plato   and   Glaucon;   cousin   of
  Critias) see ch。 vii。 below; Plato the philosopher; Glaucon's                     brother;
  see Cobet; 〃Pros。 Xen。〃 p。 28。
  '5'   Or;   〃and   in   the   first   instance   addressing   him   in   such   terms   he
  could     not   choose     but   hear;   detained    him。〃    See    above;    II。  vi。  11。
  Socrates applies his own theory。
  Ah; Glaucon (he exclaimed); so you have determined to become prime
  minister?'6'
  '6' {prostateuein}。
  Glauc。 Yes; Socrates; I have。
  Soc。 And what a noble aim! if aught human ever deserved to be called
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  noble; since if you succeed in your design; it follows; as the night the day;
  you will be able not only to gratify your every wish; but you will be in a
  position to benefit your friends; you will raise up your father's house; you
  will exalt your fatherland; you will become a name thrice famous in the
  city first;  and next in   Hellas;  and lastly even   among barbarians   perhaps;
  like Themistocles; but be it here or be it there; wherever you be; you will
  be the observed of all beholders。'7'
  '7' 〃The centre of attractionthe cynosure of neighbouring eyes。〃
  The heart of Glaucon swelled with pride as he drank in the words; and
  gladly he stayed to listen。
  Presently   Socrates   proceeded:   Then   this   is   clear;   Glaucon;   is   it   not?
  that you must needs benefit the city; since you desire to reap her honours?
  Glauc。 Undoubtedly。
  Then; by all that is sacred (Socrates continued); do not keep us in the
  dark; but tell us in what way do you propose first to benefit the state? what
  is your starting…point?'8' When Glaucon remained with sealed lips; as if
  he were now for the first time debating what this starting…point should be;
  Socrates continued: I presume; if you wished to improve a friend's estate;
  you would endeavour to do so by adding to its wealth; would you not? So
  here; maybe; you will try to add to the wealth of the state?
  '8'   Or;   〃tell  us  what    your   starting…point     will  be   in  the  path   of
  benefaction。〃
  Most decidedly (he answered)。
  Soc。 And we may take it the state will grow wealthier in proportion as
  her revenues increase?
  Glauc。 That seems probable; at any rate。
  Soc。 Then would you kindly tell us from what sources the revenues of
  the state are at present derived; and what is their present magnitude? No
  doubt you have gone carefully into the question; so that if any of these are
  failing you may make up the deficit; or if neglected for any reason; make
  some new provision。'9'
  '9' Or; 〃or if others have dropped out or been negligently overlooked;
  you may replace them。〃
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  Glauc。 Nay; to speak the truth; these are matters I have not thoroughly
  gone into。
  Never   mind   (he   said)   if   you   have   omitted   the   point;   but   you   might
  oblige us by running through the items or heads of expenditure。 Obviously
  you propose to remove all those which are superfluous?
  Glauc。 Well; no。 Upon my word I have not had time to look into that
  side of the matter either as yet。
  Soc。 Then we will postpone for the present the problem of making the
  state    wealthier;    obviously      without    knowing      the   outgoings      and   the
  incomings it would be impossible to deal with the matter seriously。
  But; Socrates (Glaucon remarked); it is possible to enrich the state out
  of the pockets of her enemies!
  Yes;   to   be   sure;   considerably   (answered   Socrates);   in   the   event   of
  getting   the   better   of   them;   but   in   the   event   of   being   worsted;   it   is   also
  possible to lose what we have got。
  A true observation (he replied)。
  And therefore (proceeded Socrates); before he makes up his mind with
  what enemy to go to war; a statesman should know the relative powers of
  his own city and the adversary's; so that; in case the superiority be on his
  own     side;  he   may    throw    the  weight    of   his  advice    into  the  scale   of
  undertaking war; but if the opposite he may plead in favour of exercising
  caution。
  You are right (he answered)。
  Soc。   Then   would   you   for   our   benefit   enumerate   the   land   and   naval
  forces first of Athens and then of our opponents?
  Glauc。 Pardon me。   I could not tell you   them off…hand   at a   moment's
  notice。
  Or (added Socrates); if you have got the figures on paper; you might
  produce them。 I cannot tell how anxious I am to hear your statement。
  Glauc。 No; I assure you; I have not got them even on paper yet。
  Soc。 Well then; we will defer tending advice on the topic of peace or
  war; in a maiden speech at any rate。'10' I can understand that; owing to
  the magnitude of the questions; in these early days of your ministry you
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