the memorabilia-第17章
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＇1＇ Antisthenes； 〃cynicorum et stoicorum parens。〃 Cic。 〃de Or。〃 iii。
17； 〃ad Att。〃 xii。 38。 See below； III。 iii。 17； 〃Symp。〃 passim；
Diog。 Laert。 II。 v。； VI。 i。
Soc。 What say you； Antisthenes？have friends their values like
domestic slaves？ One of these latter may be worth perhaps two
minae；＇2＇ another only half a mina； a third five； and a fourth as much
as ten； while they do say that Nicias；＇3＇ the son of Niceratus； paid a
whole talent for a superintendent of his silver mines。 And so I
propound the question to myself as follows： 〃Have friends； like
slaves； their market values？〃
＇2＇ A mina = L4 circ。
＇3＇ For Nicias see Thuc。 vii。 77 foll。； 〃Revenues；〃 iv。 14； Plut。
〃Nic。〃 IV。 v。； Lys。 〃de bon。 Aristoph。〃 648。
Not a doubt of it （replied Antisthenes）。 At any rate； I know that I
would rather have such a one as my friend than be paid two minae； and
there is such another whose worth I would not estimate at half a mina；
and a third with whom I would not part for ten； and then again a
fourth whose friendship would be cheap if it cost me all the wealth
and pains in the world to purchase it。
Well then （continued Socrates）； if that be so； would it not be well if
every one were to examine himself： 〃What after all may I chance to be
worth to my friends？〃 Should he not try to become as dear as possible；
so that his friends will not care to give him up？ How often do I hear
the complaint： 〃My friend So…and…so has given me up〃； or 〃Such an one；
whom I looked upon as a friend； has sacrificed me for a mina。〃 And
every time I hear these remarks； the question arises in my mind： If
the vendor of a worthless slave is ready to part with him to a
purchaser for what he will fetchis there not at least a strong
temptation to part with a base friend when you have a chance of making
something on the exchange？ Good slaves； as far as I can see； are not
so knocked down to the hammer； no； nor good friends so lightly parted
with。
VI
Again； in reference to the test to be applied； if we would gauge the
qualifications of a friend worth the winning； the following remarks of
Socrates could not fail； I think； to prove instructive。＇1＇
＇1＇ Or； 〃Again； as to establishing a test of character； since a friend
worth having must be of a particular type； I cannot but think that
the following remarks would prove instructive。〃
Tell me （said Socrates； addressing Critobulus）； supposing we stood in
need of a good friend； how should we set about his discovery？ We must；
in the first place； I suppose； seek out one who is master of his
appetites； not under the dominion； that is； of his belly； not addicted
to the wine…cup or to lechery or sleep or idleness； since no one
enslaved to such tyrants could hope to do his duty either by himself
or by his friends； could he？
Certainly not （Critobulus answered）。
Soc。 Do you agree； then； that we must hold aloof from every one so
dominated？
Cri。 Most assuredly。
Well then （proceeded Socrates）； what shall we say of the spendthrift
who has lost his independence and is for ever begging of his
neighbours； if he gets anything out of them he cannot repay； but if he
fails to get anything； he hates you for not givingdo you not think
that this man too would prove but a disagreeable friend？
Cri。 Certainly。
Soc。 Then we must keep away from him too？
Cri。 That we must。
Soc。 Well！ and what of the man whose strength lies in monetary
transactions？＇2＇ His one craving is to amass money； and for that
reason he is an adept at driving a hard bargain＇3＇glad enough to
take in； but loath to pay out。
＇2＇ Or； 〃the money…lender？ He has a passion for big money…bags。〃
＇3＇ Or； 〃hard in all his dealings。〃
Cri。 In my opinion he will prove even a worse fellow than the last。
Soc。 Well！ and what of that other whose passion for money…making is so
absorbing that he has no leisure for anything else； save how he may
add to his gains？
Cri。 Hold aloof from him； say I； since there is no good to be got out
of him or his society。
Soc。 Well！ what of the quarrelsome and factious person＇4＇ whose main
object is to saddle his friends with a host of enemies？
＇4＇ 〃The partisan。〃
Cri。 For God's sake let us avoid him also。
Soc。 But now we will imagine a man exempt indeed from all the above
defectsa man who has no objection to receive kindnesses； but it
never enters into his head to do a kindness in return。
Cri。 There will be no good in him either。 But； Socrates； what kind of
man shall we endeavour to make our friend？ what is he like？
Soc。 I should say he must be just the converse of the above： he has
control over the pleasures of the body； he is kindly disposed；＇5＇
upright in all his dealings；＇6＇ very zealous is he not to be outdone
in kindness by his benefactors； if only his friends may derive some
profit from his acquaintance。
＇5＇ Reading ｛eunous｝； or if ｛euorkos｝； transl。 〃a man of his word。〃
＇6＇ Or； 〃easy to deal with。〃
Cri。 But how are we to test these qualities； Socrates； before
acquaintance？
Soc。 How do we test the merits of a sculptor？not by inferences drawn
from the talk of the artist merely。 No； we look to what he has already
achieved。 These former statues of his were nobly executed； and we
trust he will do equally well with the rest。
Cri。 You mean that if we find a man whose kindness to older friends is
established； we may take it as proved that he will treat his newer
friends as amiably？
Soc。 Why； certainly； if I see a man who has shown skill in the
handling of horses previously； I argue that he will handle others no
less skilfully again。
Cri。 Good！ and when we have discovered a man whose friendship is worth
having； how ought we to make him our friend？
Soc。 First we ought to ascertain the will of Heaven whether it be
advisable to make him our friend。
Cri。 Well！ and how are we to effect the capture of this friend of our
choice； whom the gods approve？ will you tell me that？
Not； in good sooth （replied Socrates）； by running him down like a
hare； nor by decoying him like a bird； or by force like a wild
boar。＇7＇ To capture a friend against his will is a toilsome business；
and to bind him in fetters like a slave by no means easy。 Those who
are so treated are apt to become foes instead of friends。＇8＇
＇7＇ Reading ｛kaproi｝； al。 ｛ekhthroi｝； 〃an enemy。〃
＇8＇ Or； 〃Hate rather than friendship is the outcome of these methods。〃
Cri。 But how convert them into friends？
Soc。 There are certain incantations； we are told； which those who know
them have only to utter； and they can make friends of whom they list；
and there are certain philtres also which those who have the secret of
them may administer to whom they like and win their love。
Cri。 From what source shall we learn them？
Soc。 You need not go farther than Homer to learn that which the Sirens
sang to Odysseus；＇9＇ the first words of which run； I think； as
follows：
Hither； come hither； thou famous man； Odysseus； great glory of the
Achaeans！
＇9＇ 〃Od。〃 xii。 184。
Cri。 And did the magic words of this spell serve for all men alike？
Had the Sirens only to utter this one incantation； and was every
listener constrained to stay？
Soc。 No； this was the incantation reserved for souls athirst for fame；
of virtue emulous。
Cri。 Which is as much as to say； we must suit the incantation to the
listener； so that when he hears the words he shall not think that the
enchanter is laughing at him in his sleeve。 I cannot certainly
conceive a method better calculated to excite hatred and repulsion
than to go to some one who knows that he is small and ugly and a
weakling； and to breathe in his ears the flattering tale that he is
beautiful and tall and stalwart。 But do you know any other love…
charms； Socrates？
Soc。 I cannot say that I do； but I have heard that Pericles＇10＇ was
skilled in not a few； which he poured into the ear of our city and won
her love。
＇10＇ See above； I。 ii。 40； 〃Symp。〃 viii。 39。
Cri。 And how did Themistocles＇11＇ win our city's love？
＇11＇ See below； III。 vi。 2； IV。 ii。 2。
Soc。 Ah； that was not by incantation at all。 What he did was to
encircle our city with an amulet of saving virtue。＇12＇
