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第5章

alcibiades i-第5章

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my recollection; you learned the arts of writing; of playing on the lyre;

and of wrestling; the flute you never would learn; this is the sum of your

accomplishments; unless there were some which you acquired in secret; and I

think that secrecy was hardly possible; as you could not have come out of

your door; either by day or night; without my seeing you。



ALCIBIADES:  Yes; that was the whole of my schooling。



SOCRATES:  And are you going to get up in the Athenian assembly; and give

them advice about writing?



ALCIBIADES:  No; indeed。



SOCRATES:  Or about the touch of the lyre?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly not。



SOCRATES:  And they are not in the habit of deliberating about wrestling;

in the assembly?



ALCIBIADES:  Hardly。



SOCRATES:  Then what are the deliberations in which you propose to advise

them?  Surely not about building?



ALCIBIADES:  No。



SOCRATES:  For the builder will advise better than you will about that?



ALCIBIADES:  He will。



SOCRATES:  Nor about divination?



ALCIBIADES:  No。



SOCRATES:  About that again the diviner will advise better than you will?



ALCIBIADES:  True。



SOCRATES:  Whether he be little or great; good or ill…looking; noble or

ignoblemakes no difference。



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly not。



SOCRATES:  A man is a good adviser about anything; not because he has

riches; but because he has knowledge?



ALCIBIADES:  Assuredly。



SOCRATES:  Whether their counsellor is rich or poor; is not a matter which

will make any difference to the Athenians when they are deliberating about

the health of the citizens; they only require that he should be a

physician。



ALCIBIADES:  Of course。



SOCRATES:  Then what will be the subject of deliberation about which you

will be justified in getting up and advising them?



ALCIBIADES:  About their own concerns; Socrates。



SOCRATES:  You mean about shipbuilding; for example; when the question is

what sort of ships they ought to build?



ALCIBIADES:  No; I should not advise them about that。



SOCRATES:  I suppose; because you do not understand shipbuilding:is that

the reason?



ALCIBIADES:  It is。



SOCRATES:  Then about what concerns of theirs will you advise them?



ALCIBIADES:  About war; Socrates; or about peace; or about any other

concerns of the state。



SOCRATES:  You mean; when they deliberate with whom they ought to make

peace; and with whom they ought to go to war; and in what manner?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And they ought to go to war with those against whom it is better

to go to war?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And when it is better?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly。



SOCRATES:  And for as long a time as is better?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  But suppose the Athenians to deliberate with whom they ought to

close in wrestling; and whom they should grasp by the hand; would you; or

the master of gymnastics; be a better adviser of them?



ALCIBIADES:  Clearly; the master of gymnastics。



SOCRATES:  And can you tell me on what grounds the master of gymnastics

would decide; with whom they ought or ought not to close; and when and how?

To take an instance:  Would he not say that they should wrestle with those

against whom it is best to wrestle?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And as much as is best?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly。



SOCRATES:  And at such times as are best?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  Again; you sometimes accompany the lyre with the song and dance?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  When it is well to do so?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And as much as is well?



ALCIBIADES:  Just so。



SOCRATES:  And as you speak of an excellence or art of the best in

wrestling; and of an excellence in playing the lyre; I wish you would tell

me what this latter is;the excellence of wrestling I call gymnastic; and

I want to know what you call the other。



ALCIBIADES:  I do not understand you。



SOCRATES:  Then try to do as I do; for the answer which I gave is

universally right; and when I say right; I mean according to rule。



ALCIBIADES:  Yes。



SOCRATES:  And was not the art of which I spoke gymnastic?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly。



SOCRATES:  And I called the excellence in wrestling gymnastic?



ALCIBIADES:  You did。



SOCRATES:  And I was right?



ALCIBIADES:  I think that you were。



SOCRATES:  Well; now;for you should learn to argue prettilylet me ask

you in return to tell me; first; what is that art of which playing and

singing; and stepping properly in the dance; are parts;what is the name

of the whole?  I think that by this time you must be able to tell。



ALCIBIADES:  Indeed I cannot。



SOCRATES:  Then let me put the matter in another way:  what do you call the

Goddesses who are the patronesses of art?



ALCIBIADES:  The Muses do you mean; Socrates?



SOCRATES:  Yes; I do; and what is the name of the art which is called after

them?



ALCIBIADES:  I suppose that you mean music。



SOCRATES:  Yes; that is my meaning; and what is the excellence of the art

of music; as I told you truly that the excellence of wrestling was

gymnasticwhat is the excellence of musicto be what?



ALCIBIADES:  To be musical; I suppose。



SOCRATES:  Very good; and now please to tell me what is the excellence of

war and peace; as the more musical was the more excellent; or the more

gymnastical was the more excellent; tell me; what name do you give to the

more excellent in war and peace?



ALCIBIADES:  But I really cannot tell you。



SOCRATES:  But if you were offering advice to another and said to himThis

food is better than that; at this time and in this quantity; and he said to

youWhat do you mean; Alcibiades; by the word 'better'? you would have no

difficulty in replying that you meant 'more wholesome;' although you do not

profess to be a physician:  and when the subject is one of which you

profess to have knowledge; and about which you are ready to get up and

advise as if you knew; are you not ashamed; when you are asked; not to be

able to answer the question?  Is it not disgraceful?



ALCIBIADES:  Very。



SOCRATES:  Well; then; consider and try to explain what is the meaning of

'better;' in the matter of making peace and going to war with those against

whom you ought to go to war?  To what does the word refer?



ALCIBIADES:  I am thinking; and I cannot tell。



SOCRATES:  But you surely know what are the charges which we bring against

one another; when we arrive at the point of making war; and what name we

give them?



ALCIBIADES:  Yes; certainly; we say that deceit or violence has been

employed; or that we have been defrauded。



SOCRATES:  And how does this happen?  Will you tell me how?  For there may

be a difference in the manner。



ALCIBIADES:  Do you mean by 'how;' Socrates; whether we suffered these

things justly or unjustly?



SOCRATES:  Exactly。



ALCIBIADES:  There can be no greater difference than between just and

unjust。



SOCRATES:  And would you advise the Athenians to go to war with the just or

with the unjust?



ALCIBIADES:  That is an awkward question; for certainly; even if a person

did intend to go to war with the just; he would not admit that they were

just。



SOCRATES:  He would not go to war; because it would be unlawful?



ALCIBIADES:  Neither lawful nor honourable。



SOCRATES:  Then you; too; would address them on principles of justice?



ALCIBIADES:  Certainly。



SOCRATES:  What; then; is justice but that better; of which I spoke; in

going to war or not going to war with those against whom we ought or ought

not; and when we ought or ought not to go to war?



ALCIBIADES:  Clearly。



SOCRATES:  But how is this; friend Alcibiades?  Have you forgotten that you

do not know this; or have you been to the schoolmaster without my

knowledge; and h

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