the memorabilia-第36章
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＇9＇ Or； 〃and to be honoured by mankind。〃
＇10＇ Or； 〃that without learning the distinction it was possible to
distinguish between；〃 etc。
II
Or to come to a third kindthe class of people who are persuaded that
they have received the best education； and are proud of their wisdom：
his manner of dealing with these I will now describe。
Euthydemus＇1＇ 〃the beautiful〃 had （Socrates was given to understand）
collected a large library； consisting of the most celebrated poets and
philosophers；＇2＇ by help of which he already believed himself to be
more than a match for his fellows in wisdom； and indeed might
presently expect to out…top them all in capacity of speech and
action。＇3＇ At first； as Socrates noted； the young man by reason of his
youth had not as yet set foot in the agora；＇4＇ but if he had anything
to transact； his habit was to seat himself in a saddler's shop hard
by。 Accordingly to this same saddler's shop Socrates betook himself
with some of those who were with him。 And first the question was
started by some one： 〃Was it through consorting with the wise；＇5＇ or
by his own unaided talent； that Themistocles came so to surpass his
fellow…citizens that when the services of a capable man were needed
the eyes of the whole community instinctively turned to him？〃
Socrates； with a view to stirring＇6＇ Euthydemus； answered： There was
certainly an ingenuous simplicity in the belief that superiority in
arts of comparatively little worth could only be attained by aid of
qualified teachers； but that the leadership of the state； the most
important concern of all； was destined to drop into the lap of
anybody； no matter whom； like an accidental windfall。＇7＇
＇1＇ Euthydemus； the son of Diocles perhaps。 See Plat。 〃Symp。〃 222 B；
and Jowet ad loc。； Cobet； 〃Prosop。 Xen。〃 s。n。； K。 Joel； op。 cit。
p。 372 foll。 For ｛ton kalon｝ cf。 〃Phaedr。〃 278 E； 〃Isocrates the
fair。〃 For the whole chapter cf。 Plat。 〃Alc。〃 i。； 〃Lys。〃 210 E。
See above； 〃Mem。〃 I。 ii。 29； Grote； 〃Plato；〃 i。 ch。 x。 passim。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃sophists。〃 See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 viii。 p。 480； note。 For
private libraries see Becker； 〃Char。〃 p。 272 foll。 （Eng。 tr。）
＇3＇ See 〃Hipparch；〃 i。 24； 〃Cyrop。〃 V。 v。 46。
＇4＇ See above； III。 vi。 1； Schneid。 cf。 Isocr。 〃Areop。〃 149 C。
＇5＇ Cf。 Soph。 fr。 12； ｛sophoi turannoi ton sophon xunousia｝。
＇6＇ L。 and S。 cf。 Plat。 〃Lys。〃 223 A； 〃Rep。〃 329 B： 〃Wishing to draw
him out。〃
＇7＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Alc。〃 i。 118 C： 〃And Pericles is said not to have got
his wisdom by the light of nature； but to have associated with
several of the philosophers〃 （Jowett）。
On a subsequent occasion； Euthydemus being present； though； as was
plain to see； somewhat disposed to withdraw from the friendly
concourse；＇8＇ as if he would choose anything rather than appear to
admire Socrates on the score of wisdom； the latter made the following
remarks。
＇8＇ ｛sunedrias｝； 〃the council。〃
Soc。 It is clear from his customary pursuits； is it not； sirs； that
when our friend Euthydemus here is of full age； and the state
propounds some question for solution； he will not abstain from
offering the benefit of his advice？ One can imagine the pretty
exordium to his parliamentary speeches which； in his anxiety not to be
thought to have learnt anything from anybody； he has ready for the
occasion。＇9＇ Clearly at the outset he will deliver himself thus： 〃Men
of Athens； I have never at any time learnt anything from anybody； nor；
if I have ever heard of any one as being an able statesman； well
versed in speech and capable of action； have I sought to come across
him individually。 I have not so much as been at pains to provide
muself with a teacher from amongst those who have knowledge；＇10＇ on
the contrary； I have persistently avoided； I will not say learning
from others； but the very faintest suspicion of so doing。 However；
anything that occurs to me by the light of nature I shall be glad to
place at your disposal。〃 。 。 。 How appropriate＇11＇ would such a
preface sound on the lips of any one seeking； say； the office of state
physician；＇12＇ would it not？ How advantageously he might begin an
address on this wise： 〃Men of Athens； I have never learnt the art of
healing by help of anybody； nor have I sought to provide myself with
any teacher among medical men。 Indeed； to put it briefly； I have been
ever on my guard not only against learning anything from the
profession； but against the very notion of having studied medicine at
all。 If； however； you will be so good as to confer on me this post； I
promise I will do my best to acquire skill by experimenting on your
persons。〃 Every one present laughed at the exordium （and there the
matter dropped）。
＇9＇ Or； 〃the pretty exordium 。 。 。 now in course of conposition。 He
must at all hazards avoid the suspicion of having picked up any
crumb of learning from anybody； how can he help therefore
beginning his speech thus？〃
＇10＇ Or； 〃scientific experts。〃
＇11＇ Al。 〃Just as if one seeking the office of state physician were to
begin with a like exordium。〃 ｛armoseie｝ = 〃it would be consistent
（with what has gone before）。〃
＇12＇ Schneider cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 iv。 720 A； 〃Gorg。〃 456 A； and for
〃the parish doctor；〃 〃Polit。〃 259 A； Arist。 〃Acharn。〃 1030。
Presently； when it became apparent that Euthydemus had got so far that
he was disposed to pay attention to what was said； though he was still
at pains not to utter a sound himself； as if he hoped by silence to
attach to himself some reputation for sagacity； Socrates； wishing to
cure him of that defect； proceeded。
Soc。 Is it not surprising that people anxious to learn to play the
harp or the flute； or to ride； or to become proficient in any like
accomplishment； are not content to work unremittingly in private by
themselves at whatever it is in which they desire to excel； but they
must sit at the feet of the best…esteemed teachers； doing all things
and enduring all things for the sake of following the judgment of
those teachers in everything； as though they themselves could not
otherwise become famous； whereas； among those who aspire to become
eminent politically as orators and statesmen；＇13＇ there are some who
cannot see why they should not be able to do all that politics demand；
at a moment's notice； by inspiration as it were； without any
preliminary pains or preparations whatever？ And yet it would appear
that the latter concerns must be more difficult of achievement than
the former； in proportion as there are more competitors in the field
but fewer who reach the goal of their ambition； which is as much as to
say that a more sustained effort of attention is needed on the part of
those who embark upon the sea of politics than is elsewhere called
for。
＇13＇ Or； more lit。 〃powerful in speech and action within the sphere of
politics。〃
Such were the topics on which Socrates was wont in the early days of
their association to dilate in the hearing of Euthydemus； but when the
philosopher perceived that the youth not only could tolerate the turns
of the discussion more readily but was now become a somewhat eager
listener； he went to the saddler's shop alone；＇14＇ and when Euthydemus
was seated by his side the following conversation took place。
＇14＇ The question arises： how far is the conversation historical or
imaginary？
Soc。 Pray tell me； Euthydemus； is it really true what people tell me；
that you have made a large collection of the writings of 〃the wise；〃
as they are called？＇15＇
＇15＇ Or； 〃have collected several works of our classical authors and
philosophers。〃
Euthydemus answered： Quite true； Socrates； and I mean to go on
collecting until I possess all the books I can possibly lay hold of。
Soc。 By Hera！ I admire you for wishing to possess treasures of wisdom
rather than of gold and silver； which shows that you do not believe
gold and silver to be the means of making men better； but that the
thoughts＇16＇ of the wise alone enrich with virtue their possessions。
＇16＇ Lit。 〃gnomes；〃 maxims； sententiae。 Cf。 Aristot。 〃Rhet。〃 ii。 21。
And Euthydemus was glad when he heard that saying； for； thought he to
himself； 〃In the eyes of Socrates I
