the memorabilia-第25章
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over our enemies。
＇2＇ 〃Strategos。〃
Pericles replied： I devoutly wish your words might be fulfilled； but
how this happy result is to be obtained； I am at a loss to discover。
Shall we （Socrates continued）； shall we balance the arguments for and
against； and consider to what extent the possibility does exist？
Pray let us do so （he answered）。
Soc。 Well then； you know that in point of numbers the Athenians are
not inferior to the Boeotians？
Per。 Yes； I am aware of that。
Soc。 And do you think the Boeotians could furnish a better pick of
fine healthy men than the Athenians？
Per。 I think we should very well hold our own in that respect。
Soc。 And which of the two would you take to be the more united people
the friendlier among themselves？
Per。 The Athenians； I should say； for so many sections of the
Boeotians； resenting the selfish policy＇3＇ of Thebes； are ill disposed
to that power； but at Athens I see nothing of the sort。
＇3＇ 〃The self…aggrandisement。〃
Soc。 But perhaps you will say that there is no people more jealous of
honour or haughtier in spirit。＇4＇ And these feelings are no weak spurs
to quicken even a dull spirit to hazard all for glory's sake and
fatherland。
＇4＇ Reading ｛megalophronestatoi｝； after Cobet。 See 〃Hipparch；〃 vii。 3；
or if as vulg。 ｛philophronestatoi｝； transl。 〃more affable。〃
Per。 Nor is there much fault to find with Athenians in these respects。
Soc。 And if we turn to consider the fair deeds of ancestry；＇5＇ to no
people besides ourselves belongs so rich a heritage of stimulating
memories； whereby so many of us are stirred to pursue virtue with
devotion and to show ourselves in our turn also men of valour like our
sires。
＇5＇ See Wesley's anthem； Eccles。 xliv。 1； 〃Let us now praise famous
men and our fathers that begat us。〃
Per。 All that you say； Socrates； is most true； but do you observe that
ever since the disaster of the thousand under Tolmides at Lebadeia；
coupled with that under Hippocrates at Delium；＇6＇ the prestige of
Athens by comparison with the Boeotians has been lowered； whilst the
spirit of Thebes as against Athens had been correspondingly exalted；
so that those Boeotians who in old days did not venture to give battle
to the Athenians even in their own territory unless they had the
Lacedaemonians and the rest of the Peloponnesians to help them； do
nowadays threaten to make an incursion into Attica single…handed； and
the Athenians； who formerly； if they had to deal with the Boeotians＇7＇
only； made havoc of their territory； are now afraid the Boeotians may
some day harry Attica。
＇6＇ Lebadeia； 447 B。C。； Delium； 424 B。C。 For Tolmides and Hippocrates
see Thuc。 i。 113； iv。 100 foll。； Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 v。 471； vi。 533。
＇7＇ Reading ｛ote B。 monoi｝； al。 ｛ou monoi｝； 〃when the Boeotians were
not unaided。〃
To which Socrates： Yes； I perceive that this is so； but it seems to me
that the state was never more tractably disposed； never so ripe for a
really good leader； as to…day。 For if boldness be the parent of
carelessness； laxity； and insubordination； it is the part of fear to
make people more disposed to application； obedience； and good order。 A
proof of which you may discover in the behaviour of people on ship…
board。 It is in seasons of calm weather when there is nothing to fear
that disorder may be said to reign； but as soon as there is
apprehension of a storm； or an enemy in sight； the scene changes； not
only is each word of command obeyed； but there is a hush of silent
expectation； the mariners wait to catch the next signal like an
orchestra with eyes upon the leader。
Per。 But indeed； given that now is the opportunity to take obedience
at the flood； it is high time also to explain by what means we are to
rekindle in the hearts of our countrymen＇8＇ the old firesthe
passionate longing for antique valour； for the glory and the wellbeing
of the days of old。
＇8＇ Reading ｛anerasthenai｝； Schneider's emendation of the vulg。
｛aneristhenai｝。
Well （proceeded Socrates）； supposing we wished them to lay claim to
certain material wealth now held by others； we could not better
stimulate them to lay hands on the objects coveted than by showing
them that these were ancestral possessions＇9＇ to which they had a
natural right。 But since our object is that they should set their
hearts on virtuous pre…eminence； we must prove to them that such
headship combined with virtue is an old time…honoured heritage which
pertains to them beyond all others； and that if they strive earnestly
after it they will soon out…top the world。
＇9＇ Cf。 Solon in the matter of Salamis； Plut。 〃Sol。〃 8； Bergk。 〃Poet。
Lyr。 Gr。 Solon；〃 SALAMIS； i。 2； 3。
Por。 How are we to inculcate this lesson？
Soc。 I think by reminding them of a fact already registered in their
minds；＇10＇ that the oldest of our ancestors whose names are known to
us were also the bravest of heroes。
＇10＇ Or； 〃to which their ears are already opened。〃
Per。 I suppose you refer to that judgment of the gods which； for their
virtue's sake； Cecrops and his followers were called on to decide？＇11＇
＇11＇ See Apollodorus； iii。 14。
Soc。 Yes； I refer to that and to the birth and rearing of
Erectheus；＇12＇ and also to the war＇13＇ which in his days was waged to
stay the tide of invasion from the whole adjoining continent； and that
other war in the days of the Heraclidae＇14＇ against the men of
Peloponnese； and that series of battles fought in the days of
Theseus＇15＇in all which the virtuous pre…eminence of our ancestry
above the men of their own times was made manifest。 Or； if you please；
we may come down to things of a later date； which their descendants
and the heroes of days not so long anterior to our own wrought in the
struggle with the lords of Asia；＇16＇ nay of Europe also； as far as
Macedonia： a people possessing a power and means of attack far
exceeding any who had gone beforewho； moreover； had accomplished the
doughtiest deeds。 These things the men of Athens wrought partly
single…handed；＇17＇ and partly as sharers with the Peloponnesians in
laurels won by land and sea。 Heroes were these men also； far
outshining； as tradition tells us； the peoples of their time。
＇12＇ Cf。 〃Il。〃 ii。 547； ｛'Erekhtheos megaletoros k。t。l。｝
＇13＇ Cf。 Isoc。 〃Paneg。〃 19； who handles all the topics。
＇14＇ Commonly spoken of as 〃the Return。〃 See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 II。 ch。
xviii。
＇15＇ Against the Amazons and Thracians； cf。 Herod。 ix。 27； Plut。
〃Thes。〃 27。
＇16＇ The 〃Persian〃 wars； cf。 Thucyd。 I。 i。
＇17＇ He omits the Plataeans。
Per。 Yes； so runs the story of their heroism。
Soc。 Therefore it is that； amidst the many changes of inhabitants； and
the migrations which have； wave after wave； swept over Hellas； these
maintained themselves in their own land； unmoved； so that it was a
common thing for others to turn to them as to a court of appeal on
points of right； or to flee to Athens as a harbour of refuge from the
hand of the oppressor。＇18＇
＇18＇ Cf。 （Plat。） 〃Menex。〃； Isocr。 〃Paneg。〃
Then Pericles： And the wonder to me； Socrates； is how our city ever
came to decline。
Soc。 I think we are victims of our own success。 Like some athlete；＇19＇
whose facile preponderance in the arena has betrayed him into laxity
until he eventually succumbs to punier antagonists； so we Athenians；
in the plenitude of our superiority； have neglected ourselves and are
become degenerate。
＇19＇ Reading ｛athletai tines｝； or if ｛alloi tines｝； translate 〃any one
else。〃
Per。 What then ought we to do now to recover our former virtue？
Soc。 There need be no mystery about that； I think。 We can rediscover
the institutions of our forefathersapplying them to the regulation
of our lives with something of their precision； and not improbably
with like success； or we can imitate those who stand at the front of
affairs to…day；＇20＇ adapting to ourselves their rule of life； in which
case； if we live up to the standard of our models； we may hope at
least to rival their excellence； or； by a more conscientious adherence
to what they aim at； rise superior。
＇20＇ Sc。 the Lacedaemonians。 See W。 L。 Newman； op。 cit。 i。 396。
You would seem to suggest （he answ
