the memorabilia-第15章
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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 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 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
hiswho 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 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 means the reverse。
Soc。 May it not happen that just as a horse is no gain to the inexpert
rider who essays to handle him； so in like manner； if a man tries to
deal with his brother after an ignorant fashion； this same brother
will kick？
Chaer。 But is it likely now？ How should I be ignorant of the art of
dealing with my brother if I know the art of repaying kind words and
good deeds in kind？ But a man who tries all he can to annoy me by word
and deed； I can neither bless nor benefit； and； what is more； I will
not try。
Soc。 Well now； that is a marvellous statement； Chaerecrates。 Your dog；
the serviceable guardian of your flocks； who will fawn and lick the
hand of your shepherd； when you come near him can only growl and show
his teeth。 Well； you take no notice of the dog's ill…temper； you try
to propitiate him by kindness； but your brother？ If your brother were
what he ought to be； he would be a great blessing to youthat you
admit； and； as you further confess； you know the secret of kind acts
and words； yet you will not set yourself to apply means to make him
your best of friends。
Chaer。 I am afraid； Socrates； that I have no wisdom or cunning to make
Chaerephon bear himself towards me as he should。
Soc。 Yet there is no need to apply any recondite or novel machinery。
Only bait your hook in the way best known to yourself； and you will
capture him； whereupon he will become your devoted friend。
Chaer。 If you are aware that I know some love…charm； Socrates； of
which I am the happy but unconscious possessor； pray make haste and
enlighten me。
Soc。 Answer me then。 Suppose you wanted to get some acquaintance to
invite you to dinner when he next keeps holy day；＇4＇ what steps would
you take？
＇4＇ 〃When he next does sacrifice〃； see 〃Hiero；〃 viii。 3。 Cf。 Theophr。
〃Char。〃 xv。 2； and Prof。 Jebb's note ad loc。
Chaer。 No doubt I should set him a good example by inviting him myself
on a like occasion。
Soc。 And if you wanted to induce some friend to look after your
affairs during your absence abroad； how would you achieve your
purpose？
Chaer。 No doubt I should present a precedent in undertaking to look
after his in like circumstances。
Soc。 And if you wished to get some foreign friend to take you under
his roof while visiting his country； what would you do？
Chaer。 No doubt I should begin by offering him the shelter of my own
roof when he came to Athens； in order to enlist his zeal in furthering
the objects of my visit； it is plain I should first show my readiness
to do as much for him in a like case。
Soc。 Why； it seems you are an adept after all in all the philtres
known to man； only you chose to conceal your knowledge all the while；
or is it that you shri
