第 40 节
作者:      更新:2021-02-18 23:31      字数:9322
  (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
  144
  … Page 145…
  The Memorabilia
  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 am on the high road to the acquisition
  of wisdom。〃 But the latter; perceiving him to be pleased with the praise;
  continued。
  Soc。 And what is it in which you desire to excel; Euthydemus; that you
  collect books?
  And when Euthydemus was silent; considering what answer he should
  make; Socrates added: Possibly you want to be a great doctor? Why; the
  prescriptions'17' of the Pharmacopoeia would form a pretty large library
  by themselves。
  '17' {suggrammata}; 〃medical treatises。〃 See Aristot。 〃Eth。〃 x。 9; 21。
  No; indeed; not I! (answered Euthydemus)。
  Soc。 Then do you wish to be an architect? That too implies a man of
  well…stored wit and judgment。'18'
  '18'    Or;  〃To   be   that  implies   a  considerable     store   of  well…packed
  wisdom。〃
  I have no such ambition (he replied)。
  145
  … Page 146…
  The Memorabilia
  Soc。 Well; do you wish to be a mathematician; like Theodorus?'19'
  '19'   Of   Cyrene   (cf。   Plat。   〃Theaet。〃)   taught   Plato。   Diog。   Laert。   ii。   8;
  19。
  Euth。 No; nor yet a mathematician。
  Soc。   Then   do   you   wish   to   be   an   astronomer?'20'   or   (as   the   youth
  signified dissent) possibly a rhapsodist?'21' (he asked); for I am told you
  have the entire works of Homer in your possession。'22'
  '20' Cf。 below; IV。 vii。 4。
  '21' See 〃Symp。〃 iii。 6; Plat。 〃Ion。〃
  '22' See Jowett; 〃Plato;〃 i。 229; Grote; 〃Plato;〃 i。 455。
  Nay; God forbid! not I! (ejaculated the youth)。 Rhapsodists have a very
  exact    acquaintance      with   epic   poetry;   I  know;    of  course;   but   they   are
  empty…pated creatures enough themselves。'23'
  '23'   Or;   〃are   simply   perfect   in   the   art   of   reciting   epic   poetry;   but
  are apt to be the veriest simpletons themselves。〃
  At last Socrates said: Can it be; Euthydemus; that you are an aspirant
  to    that    excellence      through      which     men     become       statesmen      and
  administrators fit to rule and apt to benefit'24' the rest of the world and
  themselves?
  '24'    Or;   〃statesmen;   and   economists;   and   rules;   and   benefactors   of
  the rest of the world and themselves。〃
  Yes (replied he); that is the excellence I desirebeyond measure。
  Upon my word (said Socrates); then you have indeed selected as the
  object of your ambition the noblest of virtues and the greatest of the arts;
  for this is the property of kings; and is entitled 〃royal〃; but (he continued)
  have    you    considered     whether    it  is  possible   to  excel    in  these   matters
  without being just and upright?'25'
  '25'    Just;  {dikaios}     =  upright;    righteous。    Justice;   {dikaiosune}      =
  social     uprightness     =   righteousness;      N。T。    To   quote     a  friend:    〃The
  Greek {dikaios} combines the active dealing out of justice with                          the
  self…reflective   idea   of   preserving   justice   in   our   conduct;          which   is
  what we mean by 'upright。'〃
  Euth。 Certainly I have; and I say that without justice and uprightness it
  146
  … Page 147…
  The Memorabilia
  is impossible to be a good citizen。
  No doubt (replied Socrates) you have accomplished that initial step?
  Euth。 Well; Socrates; I think I could hold my own against all comers as
  an upright man。
  And     have   upright    men    (continued     Socrates)    their   distinctive   and
  appropriate works like those of carpenters or shoe…makers?
  Euth。 To be sure they have。
  Soc。 And just as the carpenter is able to exhibit his works and products;
  the righteous man should be able to expound and set forth his; should he
  not?
  I see (replied Euthydemus) you are afraid I cannot expound the works
  of   righteousness!      Why;    bless  me!    of  course   I  can;   and   the  works    of
  unrighteousness   into   the   bargain;   since   there   are   not   a   few   of   that   sort
  within reach of eye and ear every day。
  Shall we then (proceeded Socrates) write the letter R on this side;'26'
  and on that side the letter W; and then anything that appears to us to be the
  product   of   righteousness   we   will   place   to   the   R   account;   and   anything
  which     appears    to  be   the  product    of  wrong…doing       and   iniquity   to  the
  account of W?
  '26' The   letter   R   (to   stand   for   Right;   Righteous;   Upright;   Just)。  The
  letter W (to stand for Wrong; Unrighteous; Unjust)。
  By all means do so (he answered); if you think that it assists matters。
  Accordingly       Socrates    drew    the  letters;  as   he  had    suggested;    and
  continued。
  Soc。 Lying exists among men; does it not?
  Euth。 Certainly。
  To which side of the account then shall we place it? (he asked)。
  Euth。 Clearly on the side of wrong and injustice。
  Soc。 Deceit too is not uncommon?
  Euth。 By no means。
  Soc。 To which side shall we place deceit?
  Euth。 Deceit clearly on the side of wrong。
  Soc。 Well; and chicanery'27' or mischief of any sort?