lycurgus-第7章
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Lacedaemonian children go about their stealing； that a youth； having
stolen a young fox and hid it under his coat； suffered it to tear
out his very bowels with its teeth and claws and died upon the
place； rather than let it be seen。 What is practised to this very
day in Lacedaemon is enough to gain credit to this story； for I myself
have seen several of the youths endure whipping to death at the foot
of the altar of Diana surnamed Orthia。
The Iren； or under…master； used to stay a little with them after
supper； and one of them he bade to sing a song； to another he put a
question which required an advised and deliberate answer； for example；
Who was the best man in the city？ What he thought of such an action of
such a man？ They used them thus early to pass a right judgment upon
persons and things； and to inform themselves of the abilities or
defects of their countrymen。 If they had not an answer ready to the
question； Who was a good or who an ill…reputed citizen； they were
looked upon as of a dull and careless disposition； and to have
little or no sense of virtue and honour； besides this； they were to
give a good reason for what they said； and in as few words and as
comprehensive as might be； he that failed of this； or answered not
to the purpose； had his thumb bit by the master。 Sometimes the Iren
did this in the presence of the old men and magistrates； that they
might see whether he punished them justly and in due measure or not；
and when he did amiss； they would not reprove him before the boys；
but； when they were gone； he was called to an account and underwent
correction； if he had run far into either of the extremes of
indulgence or severity。
Their lovers and favourers； too； had a share in the young boy's
honour or disgrace； and there goes a story that one of them was
fined by the magistrate； because the lad whom he loved cried out
effeminately as he was fighting。 And though this sort of love was so
approved among them； that the most virtuous matrons would make
professions of it to young girls； yet rivalry did not exist； and if
several men's fancies met in one person； it was rather the beginning
of an intimate friendship； whilst they all jointly conspired to render
the object of their effection as accomplished as possible。
They taught them； also； to speak with a natural and graceful
raillery； and to comprehend much matter of thought in few words。 For
Lycurgus； who ordered； as we saw； that a great piece of money should
be but of an inconsiderable value； on the contrary would allow no
discourse to be current which did not contain in few words a great
deal of useful and curious sense； children in Sparta； by a habit of
long silence； came to give just and sententious answers； for；
indeed； as loose and incontinent livers are seldom fathers of many
children； so loose and incontinent talkers seldom originate many
sensible words。 King Agis； when some Athenian laughed at their short
swords； and said that the jugglers on the stage swallowed them with
ease； answered him； 〃We find them long enough to reach our enemies
with；〃 and as their swords were short and sharp； so； it seems to me；
were their sayings。 They reach the point and arrest the attention of
the hearers better than any。 Lycurgus himself seems to have been short
and sententious； if we may trust the anecdotes of him； as appears by
his answer to one who by all means would set up a democracy in
Lacedaemon。 〃Begin； friend；〃 said he； 〃and set it up in your
family。〃 Another asked him why he allowed of such mean and trivial
sacrifices to the gods。 He replied； 〃That we may always have something
to offer to them。〃 Being asked what sort of martial exercises or
combats he approved of； he answered； 〃All sorts； except that in
which you stretch out your hands。〃 Similar answers； addressed to his
countrymen by letter； are ascribed to him； as； being consulted how
they might best oppose an invasion of their enemies； he returned
this answer； 〃By continuing poor； and not coveting each man to be
greater than his fellow。〃 Being consulted again whether it were
requisite to enclose the city with a wall； he sent them word； 〃The
city is well fortified which hath a wall of men instead of brick。〃 But
whether these letters are counterfeit or not is not easy to determine。
Of their dislike to talkativeness； the following apophthegms are
evidence。 King Leonidas said to one who held him in discourse upon
some useful matter； but not in due time and place； 〃Much to the
purpose； Sir； elsewhere。〃 King Charilaus； the nephew of Lycurgus；
being asked why his uncle had made so few laws； answered； 〃Men of
few words require but few laws。〃 When one； named Hecataeus the
sophist； because that； being invited to the public table； he had not
spoken one word all supper…time； Archidamidas answered in his
vindication； 〃He who knows how to speak； knows also when。〃
The sharp and yet not ungraceful retorts which I mentioned may be
instanced as follows。 Demaratus； being asked in a troublesome manner
by an importunate fellow； Who was the best man in Lacedaemon？ answered
at last； 〃He； Sir； that is the least like you。〃 Some； in company where
Agis was； much extolled the Eleans for their just and honourable
management of the Olympic games； 〃Indeed；〃 said Agis； 〃they are highly
to be commended if they can do justice one day in five years。〃
Theopompus answered a stranger who talked much of his affection to the
Lacedaemonians； and said that his countrymen called him Philolacon
（a lover of the Lacedaemonians）； that it had been more for his
honour if they had called him Philopolites （a lover of his own
countrymen）。 And Plistoanax； the son of Pausanias； when an orator of
Athens said the Lacedaemonians had no learning； told him； 〃You say
true； Sir； we alone of all the Greeks have learned none of your bad
qualities。〃 One asked Archidamidas what number there might be of the
Spartans； he answered： 〃Enough； Sir； to keep out wicked men。〃
We may see their character； too； in their very jests。 For they did
not throw them out at random； but the very wit of them was grounded
upon something or other worth thinking about。 For instance； one； being
asked to go hear a man who exactly counterfeited the voice of a
nightingale； answered； 〃Sir； I have heard the nightingale itself。〃
Another； having read the following inscription upon a tomb…
〃Seeking to quench a cruel tyranny；
They； at Selinus； did in battle die；〃
said； it served them right； for instead of trying to quench the
tyranny； they should have let it burn out。 A lad； being offered some
game…cocks that would die upon the spot； said that he cared not for
cocks that would die； but for such that would live and kill others。
Another； seeing people easing themselves on seats； said； 〃God forbid I
should sit where I could not get up to salute my elders。〃 In short；
their answers were so sententious and pertinent； that one said well
that intellectual much more truly than athletic exercise was the
Spartan characteristic。
Nor was their instruction in music and verse less carefully attended
to than their habits of grace and good…breeding in conversation。 And
their very songs had a life and spirit in them that inflamed and
possessed men's minds with an enthusiasm and ardour for action； the
style of them was plain and without affectation； the subject always
serious and moral； most usually； it was in praise of such men as had
died in defence of their country； or in derision of those that had
been cowards； the former they declared happy and glorified； the life
of the latter they described as most miserable and abject。 There
were also vaunts of what they would do； and boasts of what they had
done； varying with the various ages； as； for example； they had three
choirs in their solemn festivals； the first of the old men； the second
of the young men； and the last of the children； the old men began
thus：…
〃We once were young； and brave； and strong；〃
the young men answered them； singing：…
〃And we're so now； come on and try；〃
the children came last and said：…
〃But we'll be strongest by and by。〃
Indeed； if we will take the pains to consider the
