the memorabilia-第3章
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think that those who cultivate wisdom and believe themselves able to
instruct their fellow…citizens as to their interests are least likely
to become partisans of violence。 They are too well aware that to
violence attach enmities and dangers； whereas results as good may be
obtained by persuasion safely and amicably。 For the victim of violence
hates with vindictiveness as one from whom something precious has been
stolen； while the willing subject of persuasion is ready to kiss the
hand which has done him a service。 Hence compulsion is not the method
of him who makes wisdom his study； but of him who wields power
untempered by reflection。 Once more： the man who ventures on violence
needs the support of many to fight his battles； while he whose
strength lies in persuasiveness triumphs single…handed； for he is
conscious of a cunning to compel consent unaided。 And what has such a
one to do with the spilling of blood？ since how ridiculous it were to
do men to death rather than turn to account the trusty service of the
living。
＇2＇ ｛o kategoros｝ = Polycrates possibly。 See M。 Schantz； op。 cit。；
〃Einleitun；〃 S。 6： 〃Die Anklagerede des Polykrates〃； Introduction；
p。 xxxii。 foll。
＇3＇ i。e。 staking the election of a magistrate on the colour of a bean。
See Aristot。 〃Ath。 Pol。〃 viii。 2； and Dr。 Sandys ad loc。
But； the accuser answers； the two men＇4＇ who wrought the greatest
evils to the state at any timeto wit； Critias and Alcibiadeswere
both companions of SocratesCritias the oligarch； and Alcibiades the
democrat。 Where would you find a more arrant thief； savage； and
murderer＇5＇ than the one？ where such a portent of insolence；
incontinence； and high…handedness as the other？ For my part； in so far
as these two wrought evil to the state； I have no desire to appear as
the apologist of either。 I confine myself to explaining what this
intimacy of theirs with Socrates really was。
＇4＇ See 〃Hell。〃 I。 and II。 passim。
＇5＇ Reading ｛kleptistatos te kai biaiotatos kai phonikotatos｝； or if
｛pleonektistatos te kai biaiotatis｝； translate 〃such a manner of
greed and violence as the one； of insolence； etc。； as the other？〃
See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 viii。 337。
Never were two more ambitious citizens seen at Athens。 Ambition was in
their blood。 If they were to have their will； all power was to be in
their hands； their fame was to eclipse all other。 Of Socrates they
knewfirst that he lived an absolutely independent life on the
scantiest means； next that he was self…disciplined to the last degree
in respect of pleasures； lastly that he was so formidable in debate
that there was no antagonist he could not twist round his little
finger。 Such being their views； and such the character of the pair；
which is the more probable： that they sought the society of Socrates
because they felt the fascination of his life； and were attracted by
the bearing of the man？ or because they thought； if only we are
leagued with him we shall become adepts in statecraft and unrivalled
in the arts of speech and action？ For my part I believe that if the
choice from Heaven had been given them to live such a life as they saw
Socrates living to its close； or to die； they would both have chosen
death。
Their acts are a conclusive witness to their characters。 They no
sooner felt themselves to be the masters of those they came in contact
with than they sprang aside from Socrates and plunged into that whirl
of politics but for which they might never have sought his society。
It may be objected： before giving his companions lessons in politics
Socrates had better have taught them sobriety。＇6＇ Without disputing
the principle； I would point out that a teacher cannot fail to
discover to his pupils his method of carrying out his own precepts；
and this along with argumentative encouragement。 Now I know that
Socrates disclosed himself to his companions as a beautiful and noble
being； who would reason and debate with them concerning virtue and
other human interests in the noblest manner。 And of these two I know
that as long as they were companions of Socrates even they were
temperate； not assuredly from fear of being fined or beaten by
Socrates； but because they were persuaded for the nonce of the
excellence of such conduct。
＇6＇ ｛sophrosune｝ = 〃sound…mindedness；〃 〃temperence。〃 See below； IV。
iii。 1。
Perhaps some self…styled philosophers＇7＇ may here answer： 〃Nay； the
man truly just can never become unjust； the temperate man can never
become intemperate； the man who has learnt any subject of knowledge
can never be as though he had learnt it not。〃 That； however； is not my
own conclusion。 It is with the workings of the soul as with those of
the body； want of exercise of the organ leads to inability of
function； here bodily； there spiritual； so that we can neither do the
things that we should nor abstain from the things we should not。 And
that is why fathers keep their sons； however temperate they may be；
out of the reach of wicked men； considering that if the society of the
good is a training in virtue so also is the society of the bad its
dissolution。
＇7＇ In reference to some such tenet as that of Antisthenes ap。 Diog。
Laert。 VI。 ix。 30； ｛areskei d' autois kai ten areten didakten
einai； katha phesin 'Antisthenes en to 'Rraklei kai anapobleton
uparkhein｝。 Cf。 Plat。 〃Protag。〃 340 D； 344 D。
To this the poet＇8＇ is a witness； who says：
〃From the noble thou shalt be instructed in nobleness； but； and if
thou minglest with the base thou wilt destroy what wisdom thou
hast now〃；
And he＇9＇ who says：
〃But the good man has his hour of baseness as well as his hour of
virtue〃
to whose testimony I would add my own。 For I see that it is impossible
to remember a long poem without practice and repetition； so is
forgetfulness of the words of instruction engendered in the heart that
has ceased to value them。 With the words of warning fades the
recollection of the very condition of mind in which the soul yearned
after holiness； and once forgetting this； what wonder that the man
should let slip also the memory of virtue itself！ Again I see that a
man who falls into habits of drunkenness or plunges headlong into
licentious love； loses his old power of practising the right and
abstaining from the wrong。 Many a man who has found frugality easy
whilst passion was cold； no sooner falls in love than he loses the
faculty at once； and in his prodigal expenditure of riches he will no
longer withhold his hand from gains which in former days were too base
to invite his touch。 Where then is the difficulty of supposing that a
man may be temperate to…day； and to…morrow the reverse； or that he who
once has had it in his power to act virtuously may not quite lose that
power？＇10＇ To myself； at all events； it seems that all beautiful and
noble things are the result of constant practice and training； and
pre…eminently the virtue of temperance； seeing that in one and the
same bodily frame pleasures are planted and spring up side by side
with the soul and keep whispering in her ear； 〃Have done with self…
restraint； make haste to gratify us and the body。〃＇11＇
＇8＇ Theognis； 35； 36。 See 〃Symp。〃 ii。 4； Plat。 〃Men。〃 95 D。
＇9＇ The author is unknown。 See Plat。 〃Protag。〃 l。c。
＇10＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 V。 i。 9 foll。； VI。 i。 41。
＇11＇ See my remarks； 〃Hellenica Essays；〃 p。 371 foll。
But to return to Critias and Alcibiades； I repeat that as long as they
lived with Socrates they were able by his support to dominate their
ignoble appetites；＇12＇ but being separated from him； Critias had to
fly to Thessaly；＇13＇ where he consorted with fellows better versed in
lawlessness than justice。 And Alcibiades fared no better。 His personal
beauty on the one hand incited bevies of fine ladies＇14＇ to hunt him
down as fair spoil； while on the other hand his influence in the state
and among the allies exposed him to the corruption of many an adept in
the arts of flattery； honoured by the democracy and stepping easily to
the front rank he behaved like an athlete who in the games of the
Palaestra is so assured of victory that he neglects his training； thus
he presently forgot the duty wh
