menexenus-第8章

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your　age；　and　take　care　of　you　both　publicly　and　privately　in　any　place　in

which　one　of　us　may　meet　one　of　you　who　are　the　parents　of　the　dead。　　And

the　care　of　you　which　the　city　shows；　you　know　yourselves；　for　she　has　made

provision　by　law　concerning　the　parents　and　children　of　those　who　die　in

war；　the　highest　authority　is　specially　entrusted　with　the　duty　of　watching

over　them　above　all　other　citizens；　and　they　will　see　that　your　fathers　and

mothers　have　no　wrong　done　to　them。　　The　city　herself　shares　in　the

education　of　the　children；　desiring　as　far　as　it　is　possible　that　their

orphanhood　may　not　be　felt　by　them；　while　they　are　children　she　is　a　parent

to　them；　and　when　they　have　arrived　at　man's　estate　she　sends　them　to　their

several　duties；　in　full　armour　clad；　and　bringing　freshly　to　their　minds

the　ways　of　their　fathers；　she　places　in　their　hands　the　instruments　of

their　fathers'　virtues；　for　the　sake　of　the　omen；　she　would　have　them　from

the　first　begin　to　rule　over　their　own　houses　arrayed　in　the　strength　and

arms　of　their　fathers。　　And　as　for　the　dead；　she　never　ceases　honouring

them；　celebrating　in　common　for　all　rites　which　become　the　property　of

each；　and　in　addition　to　this；　holding　gymnastic　and　equestrian　contests；

and　musical　festivals　of　every　sort。　　She　is　to　the　dead　in　the　place　of　a

son　and　heir；　and　to　their　sons　in　the　place　of　a　father；　and　to　their

parents　and　elder　kindred　in　the　place　of　a　guardianever　and　always

caring　for　them。　　Considering　this；　you　ought　to　bear　your　calamity　the

more　gently；　for　thus　you　will　be　most　endeared　to　the　dead　and　to　the

living；　and　your　sorrows　will　heal　and　be　healed。　　And　now　do　you　and　all；

having　lamented　the　dead　in　common　according　to　the　law；　go　your　ways。



You　have　heard；　Menexenus；　the　oration　of　Aspasia　the　Milesian。



MENEXENUS：　　Truly；　Socrates；　I　marvel　that　Aspasia；　who　is　only　a　woman；

should　be　able　to　compose　such　a　speech；　she　must　be　a　rare　one。



SOCRATES：　　Well；　if　you　are　incredulous；　you　may　come　with　me　and　hear　her。



MENEXENUS：　　I　have　often　met　Aspasia；　Socrates；　and　know　what　she　is　like。



SOCRATES：　　Well；　and　do　you　not　admire　her；　and　are　you　not　grateful　for

her　speech？



MENEXENUS：　　Yes；　Socrates；　I　am　very　grateful　to　her　or　to　him　who　told

you；　and　still　more　to　you　who　have　told　me。



SOCRATES：　　Very　good。　　But　you　must　take　care　not　to　tell　of　me；　and　then

at　some　future　time　I　will　repeat　to　you　many　other　excellent　political

speeches　of　hers。



MENEXENUS：　　Fear　not；　only　let　me　hear　them；　and　I　will　keep　the　secret。



SOCRATES：　　Then　I　will　keep　my　promise。








End