第 13 节
作者:蝴蝶的出走      更新:2021-04-30 15:57      字数:7798
  shod; and had their feet swathed in felt and fleeces: in the midst of this; Socrates with his bare feet on the ice and in his ordinary dress marched better than the other soldiers who had shoes; and they looked daggers at him because he seemed to despise them。   I have told you one tale; and now I must tell you another; which is worth hearing; 'Of the doings and sufferings of the enduring man'; while he was on the expedition。 One morning he was thinking about something which he could not resolve; he would not give it up; but continued thinking from early dawn until noon…there he stood fixed in thought; and at noon attention was drawn to him; and the rumour ran through the wondering crowd that Socrates had been standing and thinking about something ever since the break of day。 At last; in the evening after supper; some Ionians out of curiosity (I should explain that this was not in winter but in summer); brought out their mats and slept in the open air that they might watch him and see whether he would stand all night。 There he stood until the following morning; and with the return of light he offered up a prayer to the sun; and went his way。 I will also tell; if you please…and indeed I am bound to tell of his courage in battle; for who but he saved my life? Now this was the engagement in which I received the prize of valour: for I was wounded and he would not leave me; but he rescued me and my arms; and he ought to have received the prize of valour which the generals wanted to confer on me partly on account of my rank; and I told them so; (this; again Socrates will not impeach or deny); but he was more eager than the generals that I and not he should have the prize。 There was another occasion on which his behaviour was very remarkable…in the flight of the army after the battle of Delium; where he served among the heavy…armed…I had a better opportunity of seeing him than at Potidaea; for I was myself on horseback; and therefore comparatively out of danger。 He and Laches were retreating; for the troops were in flight; and I met them and told them not to be discouraged; and promised to remain with them; and there you might see him; Aristophanes; as you describe; just as he is in the streets of Athens; stalking like a and rolling his eyes; calmly contemplating enemies as well as friends; and making very intelligible to anybody; even from a distance; that whoever attacked him would be likely to meet with a stout resistance; and in this way he and his companion escaped…for this is the sort of man who is never touched in war; those only are pursued who are running away headlong。 I particularly observed how superior he was to Laches in presence of mind。 Many are the marvels which I might narrate in praise of Socrates; most of his ways might perhaps be paralleled in another man; but his absolute unlikeness to any human being that is or ever has been is perfectly astonishing。 You may imagine Brasidas and others to have been like Achilles; or you may imagine Nestor and Antenor to have been like Perides; and the same may be said of other famous men; but of this strange being you will never be able to find any likeness; however remote; either among men who now are or who ever have been…other than that which I have already suggested of Silenus and the satyrs; and they represent in a figure not only himself; but his words。 For; although I forgot to mention this to you before; his words are like the images of Silenus which open; they are ridiculous when you first hear them; he clothes himself in language that is like the skin of the wanton satyr…for his talk is of pack…asses and smiths and cobblers and curriers; and he is always repeating the same things in the same words; so that any ignorant or inexperienced person might feel disposed to laugh at him; but he who opens the bust and sees what is within will find that they are the only words which have a meaning in them; and also the most divine; abounding in fair images of virtue; and of the widest comprehension; or rather extending to the whole duty of a good and honourable man。   This; friends; is my praise of Socrates。 I have added my blame of him for his ill…treatment of me; and he has ill…treated not only me; but Charmides the son of Glaucon; and Euthydemus the son of Diocles; and many others in the same way…beginning as their lover he has ended by making them pay their addresses to him。 Wherefore I say to you; Agathon; 〃Be no deceived by him; learn from me: and take warning; and do not be a fool and learn by experience; as the proverb says。〃   When Alcibiades had finished; there was a laugh at his outspokenness; for he seemed to be still in love with Socrates。 You are sober; Alcibiades; said Socrates; or you would never have gone so far about to hide the purpose of your satyr's praises; for all this long story is only an ingenious circumlocution; of which the point comes in by the way at the end; you want to get up a quarrel between me and Agathon; and your notion…is that I ought to love you and nobody else; and that you and you only ought to love Agathon。 But the plot of this Satyric or Silenic drama has been detected; and you must not allow him; Agathon; to set us at variance。   I believe you are right; said Agathon; and I am disposed to think that his intention in placing himself between you and me was only to divide us; but he shall gain nothing by that move; for I will go and lie on the couch next to you。   Yes; yes; replied Socrates; by all means come here and lie on the couch below me。   Alas; said Alcibiades; how I am fooled by this man; he is determined to get the better of me at every turn。 I do beseech you; allow Agathon to lie between us。   Certainly not; said Socrates; as you praised me; and I in turn ought to praise my neighbour on the right; he will be out of order in praising me again when he ought rather to be praised by me; and I must entreat you to consent to this; and not be jealous; for I have a great desire to praise the youth。   Hurrah! cried Agathon; I will rise instantly; that I may be praised by Socrates。   The usual way; said Alcibiades; where Socrates is; no one else has any chance with the fair; and now how readily has he invented a specious reason for attracting Agathon to himself。   Agathon arose in order that he might take his place on the couch by Socrates; when suddenly a band of revellers entered; and spoiled the order of the banquet。 Some one who was going out having left the door open; they had found their way in; and made themselves at home; great confusion ensued; and every one was compelled to drink large quantities of wine。 Aristodemus said that Eryximachus; Phaedrus; and others went away…he himself fell asleep; and as the nights were long took a good rest: he was awakened towards daybreak by a crowing of cocks; and when he awoke; the others were either asleep; or had gone away; there remained only Socrates; Aristophanes; and Agathon; who were drinking out of a large goblet which they passed round; and Socrates was discoursing to them。 Aristodemus was only half awake; and he did not hear the beginning of the discourse; the chief thing which he remembered was Socrates compelling the other two to acknowledge that the genius of comedy was the same with that of tragedy; and that the true artist in tragedy was an artist in comedy also。 To this they were constrained to assent; being drowsy; and not quite following the argument。 And first of all Aristophanes dropped off; then; when the day was already dawning; Agathon。 Socrates; having laid them to sleep; rose to depart; Aristodemus; as his manner was; following him。 At the Lyceum he took a bath; and passed the day as usual。 In the evening he retired to rest at his own home。
  …THE END… 。