第 44 节
作者:      更新:2021-02-18 23:31      字数:9308
  accomplish many of our needs?'7'
  '7'   e。g。   for   temple   orientation   see   Dr。   Penrose   quoted   by   Norman
  Lockyer; 〃Nature;〃 August 31。 1893。
  It is so (he answered)。
  Soc。 And let us not forget that the moon herself not only makes clear
  to us the quarters of the night; but of the month also?
  Certainly (he answered)。
  Soc。 And   what   of   this:   that   whereas   we   need   nutriment;   this   too   the
  heavenly powers yield us? Out of earth's bosom they cause good to spring
  up'8' for our benefit; and   for our benefit provide   appropriate seasons   to
  furnish us in turn not only with the many and diverse objects of need; but
  with the sources also of our joy and gladness?'9'
  '8' Cf。 Plat。 〃Laws;〃 747 D。
  '9' Or; 〃pleasure。〃
  Yes (he answered earerly); these things bear token truly to a love for
  man。'10'
  '10' Cf。 Plat。 〃Laws;〃 713 D; 〃Symp。〃 189 D。 〃These things are signs
  of a beneficient regard for man。〃
  Soc。   Well;   and   what   of   another   priceless   gift;   that   of   water;   which
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  conspires with earth and the seasons to give both birth and increase to all
  things   useful   to   us;   nay;   which   helps   to   nurture   our   very   selves;   and
  commingling        with    all  that  feeds   us;  renders    it  more    digestible;   more
  wholesome; and more pleasant to the taste; and mark you in proportion to
  the abundance of our need the superabundance of its supply。 What say you
  concerning such a boon?
  Euth。 In this again I see a sign of providential care。
  Soc。 And then the fact that the same heavenly power has provided us
  with   fire'11'our   assistant   against   cold;   our   auxiliary   in   darkness;   our
  fellow…workman in every art and every instrument which for the sake of
  its utility mortal man may invent or furnish himself withal。 What of this;
  since; to put it compendiously; there is nothing serviceable to the life of
  man worth speaking of but owes its fabrication to fire?'12'
  '11'   Lit。   〃and   then   the   fact   that   they   made   provision   for   us   of   even
  fire〃;    the   credit   of   this  boon;     according     to   Hesiod;     being    due   to
  Prometheus。
  '12' Or; 〃no life…aiding appliance worthy of the name。〃
  Euth。 Yes; a transcendent instance of benevolent design。'13'
  '13'   Or;   〃Yes;   that   may   be   called   an   extreme   instance   of   the   divine
  'philanthropy。'〃 Cf。 Cic。 〃de N。 D。〃 ii。 62。
  Soc。 Again;   consider   the   motions   of   the   Sun;'14'   how   when   he   has
  turned him about in winter'15' he again draws nigh to us; ripening some
  fruits; and causing others whose time is past to dry up; how when he has
  fulfilled his work he comes no closer; but turns away as if in fear to scorch
  us to our hurt unduly; and again; when he has reached a point where if he
  should prolong his reatreat we should plainly be frozen to death with cold;
  note   how   he   turns   him   about   and   resumes   his   approach;   traversing   that
  region of the heavens where he may shed his genial influence best upon
  us。
  '14'     A   single    MS。     inserts    a   passage     {to   de    kai   era    。  。  。
  'Anekphraston}。
  '15' i。e。 as we say; 〃after the winter solstice。〃
  Yes; upon my word (he answered); these occurrences bear the impress
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  of being so ordered for the sake of man。
  Soc。 And then; again; it being manifest that we could not endure either
  scorching heat or freezing cold if they came suddenly upon us; note how
  gradually the sun approaches; and how gradually recedes; so that we fail to
  notice how we come at last to either extreme。'16'
  '16' Or; 〃note the gradual approach and gradual recession of the sun…
  god;      so   gradual      that   we     reach     either    extreme      in   a    manner
  imperceptibly; and before we are aware of its severity。〃
  For   my   part   (he   replied);   the   question   forces   itself   upon   my   mind;
  whether the gods have any other occupation save only to minister to man;
  and I am only hindered from saying so; because the rest of animals would
  seem to share these benefits along with man。
  Soc。 Why; to be sure; and is it not plain that these animals themselves
  are born and bred for the sake of man? At any rate; no living creature save
  man derives so many of his enjoyments from sheep and goats; horses and
  cattle    and   asses;  and    other   animals。    He   is  more    dependent;     I  should
  suppose; on these than even on plants and vegetables。 At any rate; equally
  with   these   latter   they   serve   him   as   means   of   subsistence   or   articles   of
  commerce;   indeed;   a   large   portion   of   the   human   family   do   not   use   the
  products of the soil as food at all; but live on the milk and cheese and flesh
  of their flocks and herds; whilst all men everywhere tame and domesticate
  the   more   useful   kinds   of   animals;   and   turn   them   to   account   as   fellow…
  workers in war and for other purposes。
  Yes; I cannot but agree with what you say (he answered); when I see
  that animals so much stronger than man become so subservient to his hand
  that he can use them as he lists。
  Soc。 And as we reflect on the infinite beauty and utility and the variety
  of nature; what are we to say of the fact that man has been endowed with
  sensibilities which correspond with this diversity; whereby we take our fill
  of every blessing;'17' or; again; this implanted faculty of reasoning; which
  enables us   to   draw   inferences   concerning   the  things   which   we  perceive;
  and by aid of memory to understand how each set of things may be turned
  to our good; and to devise countless contrivances with a view to enjoying
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  the   good   and   repelling   the   evil;   or   lastly;   when   we   consider   the   faculty
  bestowed   upon   us   of   interpretative   speech;   by   which   we   are   enabled   to
  instruct one another; and to participate in all the blessings fore…named: to
  form      societies;    to   establish     laws;    and    to   enter    upon     a   civilised
  existence'18'what are we to think?
  '17' Or; 〃Again; when we consider how many beautiful objects there
  are         serviceable to man; and yet how unlike they are to one another;
  the    fact   that   man    has    been    endowed      with    senses    adapted     to   each
  class of things; and so has access to a world of happiness。〃
  '18' Cf。 Aristot。 〃Pol。〃 III。 ix。 5。
  Euth。 Yes; Socrates; decidely it would appear that the gods do manifest
  a great regard; nay; a tender care; towards mankind。
  Soc。    Well;    and   what    do   you   make    of   the  fact   that  where     we   are
  powerless   to   take   advantageous   forethought   for   our   future;   at   this   stage
  they    themselves      lend    us  their   co…operation;      imparting     to  the   inquirer
  through divination knowledge of events about to happen; and instructing
  him by what means they may best be turned to good account?
  Euth。    Ay;   and   you;    Socrates;    they   would     seem   to   treat  in  a  more
  friendly manner still than the rest of men; if; without waiting even to be
  inquired of   by  you;  they  show  you   by  signs   beforehand   what   you   must;
  and what you must not do。'19'
  '19'   See   above;   I。   iv。   14;   for   a   parallel   to   the   train   of   thought   on
  the    part   of   Aristodemus        〃the   little;〃  and    of   Euthydemus;        and    for
  Socrates' {daimonion}; see above; Grote; 〃Plato;〃 i。 400。
  Soc。 Yes; and you will discover for youself the truth of what I say; if;
  without waiting to behold the outward and visible forms'20' of the gods
  themselves;   you   will   be   content   to   behold   their   works;   and   with   these
  before   you;   to   worship   and   honour   the   Divine   authors   of   them。'21'   I
  would      have    you    reflect   that   the   very   gods    themselves       suggest    this
  teaching。'22' Not one of these but gives us freely of his blessings; yet they
  do not step from behind their veil in order to grant one single boon。'23'
  And pre…eminently He who orders and holds together the universe;'24' in
  which are all things beautiful and good;'25' who fashions and refashions it
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