the memorabilia(纪念品)-第14章
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being caught； be mutilated。〃
＇9＇ Or； 〃leap headlong into the jaws of danger。〃
＇10＇ ｛kakodaimonontos｝。
Ar。 So it strikes me。
Soc。 And does it not strike you as a sign of strange indifference that；
whereas the greater number of the indispensable affairs of men； as for
instance； those of war and agriculture； and more than half the rest； need to
be conducted under the broad canopy of heaven；＇11＇ yet the majority of
men are quite untrained to wrestle with cold and heat？
＇11＇ Or； 〃in the open air。〃
Aristippus again assented。
Soc。 And do you not agree that he who is destined to rule must train
himself to bear these things lightly？
Ar。 Most certainly。
Soc。 And whilst we rank those who are self…disciplined in all these
matters among persons fit to rule； we are bound to place those incapable of
such conduct in the category of persons without any pretension
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whatsoever to be rulers？
Ar。 I assent。
Soc。 Well； then； since you know the rank peculiar to either section of
mankind； did it ever strike you to consider to which of the two you are
best entitled to belong？
Yes I have （replied Aristippus）。 I do not dream for a moment of
ranking myself in the class of those who wish to rule。 In fact； considering
how serious a business it is to cater for one's own private needs； I look
upon it as the mark of a fool not to be content with that； but to further
saddle oneself with the duty of providing the rest of the community with
whatever they may be pleased to want。 That； at the cost of much personal
enjoyment； a man should put himself at the head of a state； and then； if he
fail to carry through every jot and tittle of that state's desire； be held to
criminal account； does seem to me the very extravagance of folly。 Why；
bless me！ states claim to treat their rulers precisely as I treat my domestic
slaves。 I expect my attendants to furnish me with an abundance of
necessaries； but not to lay a finger on one of them themselves。 So these
states regard it as the duty of a ruler to provide them with all the good
things imaginable； but to keep his own hands off them all the while。＇12＇
So then； for my part； if anybody desires to have a heap of pother
himself；＇13＇ and be a nuisance to the rest of the world； I will educate him
in the manner suggested； and he shall take his place among those who are
fit to rule； but for myself； I beg to be enrolled amongst those who wish to
spend their days as easily and pleasantly as possible。
＇12＇ Or； 〃but he must have no finger in the pie himself。〃
＇13＇ See Kuhner ad loc。
Soc。 Shall we then at this point turn and inquire which of the two are
likely to lead the pleasanter life； the rulers or the ruled？
Ar。 By all means let us do so。
Soc。 To begin then with the nations and races known to ourselves。＇14＇
In Asia the Persians are the rulers； while the Syrians； Phrygians； Lydians
are ruled； and in Europe we find the Scythians ruling； and the Maeotians
being ruled。 In Africa＇15＇ the Carthaginians are rulers； the Libyans ruled。
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Which of these two sets respectively leads the happier life； in your opinion？
Or； to come nearer homeyou are yourself a Hellenewhich among
Hellenes enjoy the happier existence； think you； the dominant or the
subject states？
＇14＇ Or； 〃the outer world； the non…Hellenic races and nationalities of
which we have any knowledge。〃
＇15＇ Lit。 〃Libya。〃
Nay；＇16＇ I would have you to understand （exclaimed Aristippus） that I
am just as far from placing myself in the ranks of slavery； there is； I take it；
a middle path between the two which it is my ambition to tread； avoiding
rule and slavery alike； it lies through freedomthe high road which leads
to happiness。
＇16＇ Or； 〃Pardon me interrupting you； Socrates； but I have not the
slightest intention of placing myself。〃 See W。 L。 Newman； op。 cit。 i。
306。
Soc。 True； if only your path could avoid human beings； as it avoids
rule and slavery； there would be something in what you say。 But being
placed as you are amidst human beings； if you purpose neither to rule nor
to be ruled； and do not mean to dance attendance； if you can help it； on
those who rule； you must surely see that the stronger have an art to seat the
weaker on the stool of repentance＇17＇ both in public and in private； and to
treat them as slaves。 I daresay you have not failed to note this common
case： a set of people has sown and planted； whereupon in comes another
set and cuts their corn and fells their fruit…trees； and in every way lays
siege to them because； though weaker； they refuse to pay them proper
court； till at length they are persuaded to accept slavery rather than war
against their betters。 And in private life also； you will bear me out； the
brave and powerful are known to reduce the helpless and cowardly to
bondage； and to make no small profit out of their victims。
＇17＇ See 〃Symp。〃 iii。 11； 〃Cyrop。〃 II。 ii。 14； Plat。 〃Ion；〃 535 E； L。
Dindorf ad loc。
Ar。 Yes； but I must tell you I have a simple remedy against all such
misadventures。 I do not confine myself to any single civil community。 I
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roam the wide world a foreigner。
Soc。 Well； now； that is a masterly stroke； upon my word！＇18＇ Of
course； ever since the decease of Sinis； and Sciron； and Procrustes；＇19＇
foreign travellers have had an easy time of it。 But still； if I bethink me；
even in these modern days the members of free communities do pass laws
in their respective countries for self… protection against wrong…doing。 Over
and above their personal connections； they provide themselves with a host
of friends； they gird their cities about with walls and battlements； they
collect armaments to ward off evil…doers； and to make security doubly sure；
they furnish themselves with allies from foreign states。 In spite of all
which defensive machinery these same free citizens do occasionally fall
victims to injustice。 But you； who are without any of these aids； you； who
pass half your days on the high roads where iniquity is rife；＇20＇ you； who；
into whatever city you enter； are less than the least of its free members；
and moreover are just the sort of person whom any one bent on mischief
would single out for attackyet you； with your foreigner's passport； are to
be exempt from injury？ So you flatter yourself。 And why？ Will the state
authorities cause proclamation to be made on your behalf： 〃The person of
this man Aristippus is secure； let his going out and his coming in be free
from danger〃？ Is that the ground of your confidence？ or do you rather rest
secure in the consciousness that you would prove such a slave as no
master would care to keep？ For who would car
