the memorabilia-第20章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。 〃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 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 closer bonds of
love and domesticity。 If； indeed； they were called upon to do any
shameful work； let them choose death rather than that； but now they
know； it would seem； the very arts and accomplishments which are
regarded as the loveliest and the most suitable for women； and the
things which we know； any of us； are just those which we can best
perform； that is to say； with ease and expedition； it is a joy to do
them； and the result is beautiful。＇9＇ Do not hesitate； then； to
initiate your friends in what will bring advantage to them and you
alike； probably they will gladly respond to your summons。
＇9＇ Or； 〃with ease； rapidity； pleasure and effect。〃
Well； upon my word （Aristarchus answered）； I like so well what you
say； Socrates； that though hitherto I have not been disposed to
borrow； knowing that when I had spent what I got I should not be in a
condition to repay； I think I can now bring myself to do so in order
to raise a fund for these works。
Thereupon a capital was provided； wools were purchased； the good man's
relatives set to work； and even whilst they breakfasted they worked；
and on and on till work was ended and they supped。 Smiles took the
place of frowns； they no longer looked askance with suspicion； but
full into each other's eyes with happiness。 They loved their kinsman
for his kindness to them。 He became attached to them as helpmates； and
the end of it all was； he came to Socrates and told him with delight
how matters fared； 〃and now；〃 he added； 〃they tax me with being the
only drone in the house； who sit and eat the bread of idleness。〃
To which Socrates： Why do not you tell them the fable of the dog？＇10＇
Once on a time； so goes the story； when beasts could speak； the sheep
said to her master； 〃What a marvel is this； master； that to us； your
own sheep； who provide you with fleeces and lambs and cheese； you give
nothing； save only what we may nibble off earth's bosom； but with this
dog of yours； who provides you with nothing of the sort； you share the
very meat out of your mouth。〃 When the dog heard these words； he
answered promptly； 〃Ay； in good sooth； for is it not I who keep you
safe and sound； you sheep； so that you are not stolen by man nor
harried by wolves； since； if I did not keep watch over you； you would
not be able so much as to graze afield； fearing to be destroyed。〃 And
so； says the tale； the sheep had to admit that the dog was rightly
preferred to themselves in honour。 And so do you tell your flock
yonder that like the dog in the fable you are their guardian and
overseer； and it is thanks to you that they are protected from evil
and evildoers； so that they work their work and live their lives in
blissful security。
＇10＇ See Joseph Jacobs； 〃The Fables of Aesop；〃 vol。 i。 p。 26 foll。；
for 〃a complete list of the Fables given in Greek literature up to
the fall of Greek independence。〃 Cf。 Hesiod； 〃Works and Days；〃 202
foll。； Archilochus； 89 （60）； Bergk； Herod。 i。 141； Aesch。
〃Myrmid。〃 fr。 123； Aristot。 〃Rhet。〃 II。 xx。
VIII
At another time chancing upon an old friend whom he had not seen for a
long while； he greeted him thus。
Soc。 What quarter of the world do you hail from； Eutherus？
The other answered： From abroad； just before the close of the war； but
at present from the city itself。＇1＇ You see； since we have been
denuded of our possessions across the frontier；＇2＇ and my father left
me nothing in Attica； I must needs bide at home； and provide myself
with the necessarie
