第 9 节
作者:你妹找1      更新:2021-02-20 17:35      字数:3695
  the evils which have since taken place。 For if Dionysios had
  restored to Dion his property or been reconciled with him on any
  terms; none of these things would have happened; so far as human
  foresight can foretell。 Dion would have easily been kept in check by
  my wishes and influence。 But now; rushing upon one another; they
  have caused universal disaster。
  Dion's aspiration however was the same that I should say my own or
  that of any other right…minded man ought to be。 With regard to his own
  power; his friends and his country the ideal of such a man would be to
  win the greatest power and honour by rendering the greatest
  services。 And this end is not attained if a man gets riches for
  himself; his supporters and his country; by forming plots and
  getting together conspirators; being all the while a poor creature;
  not master of himself; overcome by the cowardice which fears to
  fight against pleasures; nor is it attained if he goes on to kill
  the men of substance; whom he speaks of as the enemy; and to plunder
  their possessions; and invites his confederates and supporters to do
  the same; with the object that no one shall say that it is his
  fault; if he complains of being poor。 The same is true if anyone
  renders services of this kind to the State and receives honours from
  her for distributing by decrees the property of the few among the
  many…or if; being in charge the affairs of a great State which rules
  over many small ones; he unjustly appropriates to his own State the
  possessions of the small ones。 For neither a Dion nor any other man
  will; with his eyes open; make his way by steps like these to a
  power which will be fraught with destruction to himself and his
  descendants for all time; but he will advance towards constitutional
  government and the framing of the justest and best laws; reaching
  these ends without executions and murders even on the smallest scale。
  This course Dion actually followed; thinking it preferable to suffer
  iniquitous deeds rather than to do them; but; while taking precautions
  against them; he nevertheless; when he had reached the climax of
  victory over his enemies; took a false step and fell; a catastrophe
  not at all surprising。 For a man of piety; temperance and wisdom; when
  dealing with the impious; would not be entirely blind to the character
  of such men; but it would perhaps not be surprising if he suffered the
  catastrophe that might befall a good ship's captain; who would not
  be entirely unaware of the approach of a storm; but might be unaware
  of its extraordinary and startling violence; and might therefore be
  overwhelmed by its force。 The same thing caused Dion's downfall。 For
  he was not unaware that his assailants were thoroughly bad men; but he
  was unaware how high a pitch of infatuation and of general
  wickedness and greed they had reached。 This was the cause of his
  downfall; which has involved Sicily in countless sorrows。
  As to the steps which should be taken after the events which I
  have now related; my advice has been given pretty fully and may be
  regarded as finished; and if you ask my reasons for recounting the
  story of my second journey to Sicily; it seemed to me essential that
  an account of it must be given because of the strange and
  paradoxical character of the incidents。 If in this present account
  of them they appear to anyone more intelligible; and seem to anyone to
  show sufficient grounds in view of the circumstances; the present
  statement is adequate and not too lengthy。
  …THE END…
  。