the memorabilia(纪念品)-第18章
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Lamp。 Yes； for the simple reason that they know it is all talk on their
parts。 The inquisitor may cross…question； but he will not inflict a fine； the
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threatener may hurl his menaces； but he will do no mischiefthat is why
they take it all so easily。
Soc。 Then ought you to fly into a passion； who know well enough that；
whatever your mother says； she is so far from meaning you mischief that
she is actually wishing blessings to descend upon you beyond all others？
Or do you believe that your mother is really ill disposed towards you？
Lamp。 No； I do not think that。
Soc。 Then this mother； who is kindly disposed to you； and takes such
tender care of you when you are ill to make you well again； and to see that
you want for nothing which may help you； and； more than all； who is
perpetually pleading for blessings in your behalf and offering her vows to
Heaven＇5＇can you say of her that she is cross…grained and harsh？ For my
part； I think； if you cannot away with such a mother； you cannot away with
such blessings either。
＇5＇ Or； 〃paying vows。〃
But tell me （he proceeded）； do you owe service to any living being；
think you？ or are you prepared to stand alone？ Prepared not to please or
try to please a single soul？ to follow none？ To obey neither general nor
ruler of any sort？ Is that your attitude； or do you admit that you owe
allegience to somebody？
Lamp。 Yes； certainly I owe allegiance。
Soc。 May I take it that you are willing to please at any rate your
neighbour； so that he may kindle a fire for you in your need； may prove
himself a ready helpmate in good fortune； or if you chance on evil and are
stumbling； may friendlily stand by your side to aid？
Lamp。 I am willing。
Soc。 Well； and what of that other chance companionyour fellow…
traveller by land or sea？ what of any others； you may light upon？ is it
indifferent to you whether these be friends or not； or do you admit that the
goodwill of these is worth securing by some pains on your part？
Lamp。 I do。
Soc。 It stands thus then： you are prepared to pay attention to this； that；
and the other stranger； but to your mother who loves you more than all
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else； you are bound to render no service； no allegiance？ Do you not know
that whilst the state does not concern itself with ordinary ingratitude or
pass judicial sentence on it； whilst it overlooks the thanklessness of those
who fail to make return for kindly treatment； it reserves its pains and
penalties for the special case？ If a man render not the service and
allegiance due to his parents； on him the finger of the law is laid； his name
is struck off the roll； he is forbidden to hold the archonshipwhich is as
much as to say； 〃Sacrifices in behalf of the state offered by such a man
would be no offerings； being tainted with impiety； nor could aught else be
'well and justly' performed of which he is the doer。〃 Heaven help us！ If a
man fail to adorn the sepulchre of his dead parents the state takes
cognisance of the matter； and inquisition is made in the scrutiny of the
magistrates。＇6＇ And as for you； my son； if you are in your sober senses；
you will earnestly entreat your mother； lest the very gods take you to be an
ungrateful being； and on their side also refuse to do you good； and you
will beware of men also； lest they should perceive your neglect of your
parents； and with one consent hold you in dishonour；＇7＇ and so you find
yourself in a desert devoid of friends。 For if once the notion be entertained
that here is a man ungrateful to his parents； no one will believe that any
kindness shown you would be other than thrown away。
＇6＇ Lit。 〃the docimasia。〃 See Gow； 〃Companion；〃 xiv。
＇7＇ 〃Visiti with atimia。〃
III
At another time the differences between two brothers named
Chaerephon and Chaerecrates； both well known to him； had drawn his
attention； and on seeing the younger of the two he thus addresed him。
Soc。 Tell me； Chaerecrates； you are not； I take it； one of those strange
people who believe that goods are better and more precious than a
brother；＇1＇ and that too although the former are but senseless chattels
which need protection； the latter a sensitive and sensible being who can
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afford it； and what is more； he is himself alone； whilst as for them their
name is legion。 And here again is a marvellous thing： that a man should
count his brother a loss； because the goods of his brother are not his； but
he does not count his fellow…citizens loss； and yet their possessions are not
his； only it seems in their case he has wits to see that to dwell securely
with many and have enough is better than to own the whole wealth of a
community and to live in dangerous isolation； but this same doctrine as
applied to brothers they ignore。 Again； if a man have the means； he will
purchase domestic slaves； because he wants assistants in his work； he will
acquire friends； because he needs their support； but this brother of his
who cares about brothers？ It seems a friend may be discovered in an
ordinary citizen； but not in a blood relation who is also a brother。 And yet
it is a great vantage…ground towards friendship to have sprung from the
same loins and to have been suckled at the same breasts； since even among
beasts a certain natural craving； and sympathy springs up between
creatures reared together。＇2＇ Added to which； a man who has brothers
commands more respect from the rest of the world than the man who has
none； and who must fight his own battles。＇3＇
＇1＇ Cf。 〃Merchant of Venice；〃 II。 viii。 17： 〃Justice！ the law！ my
ducats； and my daughter！〃
＇2＇ Or； 〃a yearning after their foster…brothers manifests itself in
animals。〃 See 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 vii。 14 foll。 for a parallel to this
discussion。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃and is less liable to hostility。〃
Chaer。 I daresay； Socrates； where the differences are not profound；
reason would a man should bear with his brother； and not avoid him for
some mere trifle's sake； for a brother of the right sort is； as you say； a
blessing； but if he be the very antithesis of that； why should a man lay his
hand to achieve the impossible？
Soc。 Well now； tell me； is there nobody whom Chaerephon can please
any more than he can please yourself； or do some people find him
agreeable enough？
Chaer。 Nay； there you hit it。 That is just why I have a right to detest
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him。 He can be pleasing enough to others； but to me； whenever he appears
on the scene； he is not a blessingno！ but by every manner of mean
