the memorabilia-第14章

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＇20＇　〃As　archon；〃　or　〃raised　to　rule。〃

＇21＇　Lit。　〃the　beautiful　and　good。〃

＇22＇　Or；　〃the　best；　though　few；　are　better　worth　your　benefiting　than
　　　　the　many　base。〃

So　keep　a　good　heart；　Critobulus；　only　try　to　become　good　yourself；
and　when　you　have　attained；　set　to　your　hand　to　capture　the　beautiful
and　good。　Perhaps　I　may　be　able　to　give　you　some　help　in　this　quest；
being　myself　an　adept　in　Love's　lore。＇23＇　No　matter　who　it　is　for　whom
my　heart　is　aflame；　in　an　instant　my　whole　soul　is　eager　to　leap
forth。　With　vehemence　I　speed　to　the　mark。　I；　who　love；　demand　to　be
loved　again；　this　desire　in　me　must　be　met　by　counter　desire　in　him；
this　thirst　for　his　society　by　thirst　reciprocal　for　mine。　And　these
will　be　your　needs　also；　I　foresee；　whenever　you　are　seized　with
longing　to　contract　a　friendship。　Do　not　hide　from　me；　therefore；　whom
you　would　choose　as　a　friend；　since；　owing　to　the　pains　I　take　to
please　him　who　pleases　me；　I　am　not　altogether　unversed；　I　fancy；　in
the　art　of　catching　men。＇24＇

＇23＇　〃An　authority　in　matters　of　love。〃　Cf。　Plat。　〃Symp。〃　177　D；　Xen。
　　　　〃Symp。〃　viii。　2。

＇24＇　See　below；　III。　xi。　7；　cf。　Plat。　〃Soph。〃　222；　N。　T。　Matt。　iv。　19；
　　　　｛alieis　anthropon｝。

Critobulus　replied：　Why；　these　are　the　very　lessons　of　instruction；
Socrates；　for　which　I　have　been　long　athirst；　and　the　more
particularly　if　this　same　love's　lore　will　enable　me　to　capture　those
who　are　good　of　soul　and　those　who　are　beautiful　of　person。

Soc。　Nay；　now　I　warn　you；　Critobulus；　it　is　not　within　the　province　of
my　science　to　make　the　beautiful　endure　him　who　would　lay　hands　upon
them。　And　that　is　why　men　fled　from　Scylla；　I　am　persuaded；　because
she　laid　hands　upon　them；　but　the　Sirens　were　differentthey　laid
hands　on　nobody；　but　sat　afar　off　and　chanted　their　spells　in　the　ears
of　all；　and　therefore；　it　is　said；　all　men　endured　to　listen；　and　were
charmed。

Cri。　I　promise　I　will　not　lay　violent　hands　on　any；　therefore；　if　you
have　any　good　device　for　winning　friends；　instruct　your　pupil。

Soc。　And　if　there　is　to　be　no　laying　on　of　the　hands；　there　must　be　no
application　either　of　the　lips；　is　it　agreed？

Cri。　No；　nor　application　of　the　lips　to　any　onenot　beautiful。

Soc。　See　now！　you　cannot　open　your　mouth　without　some　luckless
utterence。　Beauty　suffers　no　such　liberty；　however　eagerly　the　ugly
may　invite　it；　making　believe　some　quality　of　soul　must　rank　them　with
the　beautiful。

Cri。　Be　of　good　cheer　then；　let　the　compact　stand　thus：　〃Kisses　for
the　beautiful；　and　for　the　good　a　rain　of　kisses。〃　So　now　teach　us　the
art　of　catching　friends。

Soc。　Well　then；　when　you　wish　to　win　some　one's　affection；　you　will
allow　me　to　lodge　information　against　you　to　the　effect　that　you
admire　him　and　desire　to　be　his　friend？

Cri。　Lodge　the　indictment；　with　all　my　heart。　I　never　heard　of　any　one
who　hated　his　admirers。

Soc。　And　if　I　add　to　the　indictment　the　further　charge　that　through
your　admiration　you　are　kindly　disposed　towards　him；　you　will　not　feel
I　am　taking　away　your　character？

Cri。　Why；　no；　for　myself　I　know　a　kindly　feeling　springs　up　in　my
heart　towards　any　one　whom　I　conceive　to　be　kindly　disposed　to　me。

Soc。　All　this　I　shall　feel　empowered　to　say　about　you　to　those　whose
friendship　you　seek；　and　I　can　promise　further　help；　only　there　is　a
comprehensive　〃if〃　to　be　considered：　if　you　will　further　authorise　me
to　say　that　you　are　devoted　to　your　friends；　that　nothing　gives　you　so
much　joy　as　a　good　friend；　that　you　pride　yourself　no　less　on　the　fine
deeds　of　those　you　love　than　on　your　own；　and　on　their　good　things
equally　with　your　own；　that　you　never　weary　of　plotting　and　planning
to　procure　them　a　rich　harvest　of　the　same；　and　lastly；　that　you　have
discovered　a　man's　virtue　is　to　excel　his　friends　in　kindness　and　his
foes　in　hostility。　If　I　am　authorised　thus　to　report　of　you；　I　think
you　will　find　me　a　serviceable　fellow…hunter　in　the　quest　of　friends；
which　is　the　conquest　of　the　good。

Cri。　Why　this　appeal　to　me？as　if　you　had　not　free　permission　to　say
exactly　what　you　like　about　me。

Soc。　No；　that　I　deny；　on　the　authority　of　Aspasia。＇25＇　I　have　it　from
her　own　lips。　〃Good　matchmakers；〃　she　said　tome；　〃were　clever　hands　at
cementing　alliances　between　people；　provided　the　good　qualities　they
vouched　for　were　truthfully　reported；　but　when　it　came　to　their
telling　lies；　for　her　part　she　could　not　compliment　them。＇26＇　Their
poor　deluded　dupes　ended　by　hating　each　other　and　the　go…betweens　as
well。〃　Now　I　myself　am　so　fully　persuaded　of　the　truth　of　this　that　I
feel　it　is　not　in　my　power　to　say　aught　in　your　praise　which　I　cannot
say　with　truth。

＇25＇　Aspasia；　daughter　of　Axiochus；　of　Miletus。　See　〃Econ。〃　iii。　14；
　　　　Plat。　〃Menex。〃　235　E；　Aesch。　Socrat。　ap。　Cic。　〃de　Invent。〃　I。
　　　　xxxi。　51。　See　Grote；　〃H。　G。〃　vi。　132　foll。；　Cobet；　〃Pros。　Xen。〃

＇26＇　Reading　｛ouk　ethelein　epainein｝；　or　if　｛ouk　ophelein　epainousas｝
　　　　with　Kuhner　transl。　〃Good　matchmakers；　she　told　me；　have　to
　　　　consult　truth　when　reporting　favourably　of　any　one：　then　indeed
　　　　they　are　terribly　clever　at　bringing　people　together：　whereas
　　　　false　flatterers　do　no　good；　their　dupes；〃　etc。

Cri。　Really；　Socrates；　you　are　a　wonderfully　good　friend　to　mein　so
far　as　I　have　any　merit　which　will　entitle　me　to　win　a　friend；　you
will　lend　me　a　helping　hand；　it　seems；　otherwise　you　would　rather　not
forge　any　petty　fiction　for　my　benefit。

Soc。　But　tell　me；　how　shall　I　assist　you　best；　think　you？　By　praising
you　falsely　or　by　persuading　you　to　try　to　be　a　good　man？　Or　if　it　is
not　plain　to　you　thus；　look　at　the　matter　by　the　light　of　some
examples。　I　wish　to　introduce　you　to　a　shipowner；　or　to　make　him　your
friend：　I　begin　by　singing　your　praises　to　him　falsely　thus；　〃You　will
find　him　a　good　pilot〃；　he　catches　at　the　phrase；　and　entrusts　his
ship　to　you；　who　have　no　notion　of　guiding　a　vessel。　What　can　you
expect　but　to　make　shipwreck　of　the　craft　and　yourself　together？　or
suppose　by　similar　false　assertions　I　can　persuade　the　state　at　large
to　entrust　her　destinies　to　you〃a　man　with　a　fine　genius　for
command；〃　I　say；　〃a　practised　lawyer；〃　〃a　politician　born；〃　and　so
forth。　The　odds　are；　the　state　and　you　may　come　to　grief　through　you。
Or　to　take　an　instance　from　everyday　life。　By　my　falsehoods　I　persuade
some　private　person　to　entrust　his　affairs　to　you　as　〃a　really　careful
and　business…like　person　with　a　head　for　economy。〃　When　put　to　the
test　would　not　your　administration　prove　ruinous；　and　the　figure　you
cut　ridiculous？　No；　my　dear　friend；　there　is　but　one　road；　the
shortest；　safest；　best；　and　it　is　simply　this：　In　whatsoever　you
desire　to　be　deemed　good；　endeavour　to　be　good。　For　of　all　the　virtues
namable　among　men；　consider；　and　you　will　find　there　is　not　one　but
may　be　increased　by　learning　and　practice。　For　my　part　then；
Critobulus；　these　are　the　principles　on　which　we　ought　to　go　a…
hunting；　but　if　you　take　a　different　view；　I　am　all　attention；　please
instruct　me。

Then　Critobulus：　Nay；　Socrates；　I　should　be　ashamed　to　gainsay　what
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。

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　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。　〃stat