the memorabilia(纪念品)-第24章
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you have said； if I did； it would neither be a noble statement nor a
true。＇27＇
＇27＇ ｛kala 。 。 。 alethe｝。
VII
He had two ways of dealing with the difficulties of his friends： where
ignorance was the cause； he tried to meet the trouble by a dose of common
sense； or where want and poverty were to blame； by lessoning them that
they should assist one another according to their ability； and here I may
mention certain incidents which occurred within my own knowledge。 How；
for instance； he chanced upon Aristarchus wearing the look of one who
suffered from a fit of the 〃sullens；〃 and thus accosted him。
Soc。 You seem to have some trouble on your mind； Aristarchus； if so；
you should share it with your friends。 Perhaps together we might lighten
the weight of it a little。
Aristarchus answered： Yes； Socrates； I am in sore straits indeed。 Ever
since the party strife declared itself in the city；＇1＇ what with the rush of
people to Piraeus； and the wholesale banishments； I have been fairly at the
mercy of my poor deserted female relatives。 Sisters； nieces； cousins； they
have all come flocking to me for protection。 I have fourteen free…born
souls； I tell you； under my single roof； and how are we to live？ We can get
nothing out of the soilthat is in the hands of the enemy； nothing from my
house property； for there is scarcely a living soul left in the city； my
furniture？ no one will buy it； money？ there is none to be borrowedyou
would have a better chance to find it by looking for it on the road than to
borrow it from a banker。 Yes； Socrates； to stand by and see one's relatives
die of hunger is hard indeed； and yet to feed so many at such a pinch
impossible。
＇1＇ i。e。 circa 404…403 B。C。 See 〃Hell。〃 II。 iv。
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After he listened to the story； Socrates asked： How comes it that
Ceramon；＇2＇ with so many mouths to feed； not only contrives to furnish
himself and them with the necessaries of life； but to realise a handsome
surplus； whilst you being in like plight＇3＇ are afraid you will one and all
perish of starvation for want of the necessaries of life？
＇2＇ An employer of labour； apparently； on a grand scale。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃with your large family to feed。〃 L。 Dindorf would like to
read ｛su de oligous｝； 〃you with your small family。〃
Ar。 Why； bless your soul； do you not see he has only slaves and I have
free…born souls to feed？
Soc。 And which should you say were the better human beings； the
free… born members of your household or Ceramon's slaves？
Ar。 The free souls under my roof without a doubt。
Soc。 Is it not a shame； then； that he with his baser folk to back him
should be in easy circumstances； while you and your far superior
household are in difficulties？
Ar。 To be sure it is； when he has only a set of handicraftsmen to feed；
and I my liberally…educated household。
Soc。 What is a handicraftsman？ Does not the term apply to all who can
make any sort of useful product or commodity？
Ar。 Certainly。
Soc。 Barley meal is a useful product； is it not？
Ar。 Pre…eminently so。
Soc。 And loaves of bread？
Ar。 No less。
Soc。 Well； and what do you say to cloaks for men and for women
tunics； mantles； vests？＇4＇
＇4＇ For these articles of dress see Becker's 〃Charicles；〃 Exc。 i。 to
Sc。 xi。 〃Dress。〃
Ar。 Yes； they are all highly useful commodities。
Soc。 Then your household do not know how to make any of these？
Ar。 On the contrary； I believe they can make them all。
Soc。 Then you are not aware that by means of the manufacture of one
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of these alonehis barley meal storeNausicydes＇5＇ not only maintains
himself and his domestics； but many pigs and cattle besides； and realises
such large profits that he frequently contributes to the state
benevolences；＇6＇ while there is Cyrebus； again； who； out of a bread
factory； more than maintains the whole of his establishment； and lives in
the lap of luxury； and Demeas of Collytus gets a livelihood out of a cloak
business； and Menon as a mantua…maker； and so； again； more than half the
Megarians＇7＇ by the making of vests。
＇5＇ Nausicydes。 Cobet； 〃Pros。 Xen。〃 cf。 Aristoph。 〃Eccles。〃 426。
＇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 cl
