the memorabilia(纪念品)-第4章
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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
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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
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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
which he owed himself。
＇12＇ Cf。 ＇Plat。＇ 〃Theag。〃 130 A。
＇13＇ See 〃Hell。〃 II。 iii。 36。
＇14＇ Cf。 Plut。 〃Ages。；〃 〃Alcib。〃
Such were the misadventures of these two。 Is the sequel extraordinary？
Inflated with the pride of ancestry；＇15＇ exalted by their wealth； puffed up
by power； sapped to the soul's core by a host of human tempters； separate
moreover for many a long day from Socrateswhat wonder that they
reached the full stature of arrogancy！ And for the offences of these two
Socrates is to be held responsible！ The accuser will have it so。 But for the
fact that in early days； when they were both young and of an age when
dereliction from good feeling and self… restraint might have been expected；
this same Socrates kept them modest and well…behaved； not one word of
praise is uttered by the accuser for all this。 That is not the measure of
justice elsewhere meted。 Would a master of the harp or flute； would a
teacher of any sort who has turned out proficient pupils； be held to account
because one of them goes away to another teacher and turns out to be a
failure？ Or what father； if he have a son who in the society of a certain
friend remains an honest lad； but falling into the company of some other
becomes a good…for…nothing； will that father straightway accuse the earlier
instructor？ Will not he rather； in proportion as the boy deteriorates in the
company of the latter； bestow more heartfelt praise upon the former？ What
father； himself sharing the society of his own children； is held to blame for
their transgressions； if only his own goodness be established？ Here would
have been a fair test to apply to Socrates： Was he guilty of any base
conduct himself？ If so let him be set down as a knave； but if； on the
contrary； he never faltered in sobriety from beginning to end； how in the
name of justice is he to be held to account for a baseness which was not in
him？
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＇15＇ Or； 〃became overweening in arrogance。〃 Cf。 〃Henry VIII。 II。 iv。
110〃： 〃But your heart is crammed with arrogancy； spleen； and pride。〃
I go further： if； short of being guilty of any wrong himself； he saw the
evil doings of others with appro
