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timaeu-第12部分

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mingled with irregularity; and smoothness is produced by the joint

effect of uniformity and density。

  The most important of the affections which concern the whole body

remains to be considered…that is; the cause of pleasure and pain in

the perceptions of which I have been speaking; and in all other things

which are perceived by sense through the parts of the body; and have

both pains and pleasures attendant on them。 Let us imagine the

causes of every affection; whether of sense or not; to be of the

following nature; remembering that we have already distinguished

between the nature which is easy and which is hard to move; for this

is the direction in which we must hunt the prey which we mean to take。

A body which is of a nature to be easily moved; on receiving an

impression however slight; spreads abroad the motion in a circle;

the parts communicating with each other; until at last; reaching the

principle of mind; they announce the quality of the agent。 But a

body of the opposite kind; being immobile; and not extending to the

surrounding region; merely receives the impression; and does not

stir any of the neighbouring parts; and since the parts do not

distribute the original impression to other parts; it has no effect of

motion on the whole animal; and therefore produces no effect on the

patient。 This is true of the bones and hair and other more earthy

parts of the human body; whereas what was said above relates mainly to

sight and hearing; because they have in them the greatest amount of

fire and air。 Now we must conceive of pleasure and pain in this way。

An impression produced in us contrary to nature and violent; if

sudden; is painful; and; again; the sudden return to nature is

pleasant; but a gentle and gradual return is imperceptible and vice

versa。 On the other hand the impression of sense which is most

easily produced is most readily felt; but is not accompanied by

Pleasure or pain; such; for example; are the affections of the

sight; which; as we said above; is a body naturally uniting with our

body in the day…time; for cuttings and burnings and other

affections which happen to the sight do not give pain; nor is there

pleasure when the sight returns to its natural state; but the

sensations are dearest and strongest according to the manner in

which the eye is affected by the object; and itself strikes and

touches it; there is no violence either in the contraction or dilation

of the eye。 But bodies formed of larger particles yield to the agent

only with a struggle; and then they impart their motions to the

whole and cause pleasure and pain…pain when alienated from their

natural conditions; and pleasure when restored to them。 Things which

experience gradual withdrawings and emptyings of their nature; and

great and sudden replenishments; fail to perceive the emptying; but

are sensible of the replenishment; and so they occasion no pain; but

the greatest pleasure; to the mortal part of the soul; as is

manifest in the case of perfumes。 But things which are changed all of

a sudden; and only gradually and with difficulty return to their own

nature; have effects in every way opposite to the former; as is

evident in the case of burnings and cuttings of the body。

  Thus have we discussed the general affections of the whole body; and

the names of the agents which produce them。 And now I will endeavour

to speak of the affections of particular parts; and the causes and

agents of them; as far as I am able。 In the first place let us set

forth what was omitted when we were speaking of juices; concerning the

affections peculiar to the tongue。 These too; like most of the other

affections; appear to be caused by certain contractions and dilations;

but they have besides more of roughness and smoothness than is found

in other affections; for whenever earthy particles enter into the

small veins which are the testing of the tongue; reaching to the

heart; and fall upon the moist; delicate portions of flesh…when; as

they are dissolved; they contract and dry up the little veins; they

are astringent if they are rougher; but if not so rough; then only

harsh。 Those of them which are of an abstergent nature; and purge

the whole surface of the tongue; if they do it in excess; and so

encroach as to consume some part of the flesh itself; like potash

and soda; are all termed bitter。 But the particles which are deficient

in the alkaline quality; and which cleanse only moderately; are called

salt; and having no bitterness or roughness; are regarded as rather

agreeable than otherwise。 Bodies which share in and are made smooth by

the heat of the mouth; and which are inflamed; and again in turn

inflame that which heats them; and which are so light that they are

carried upwards to the sensations of the head; and cut all that

comes in their way; by reason of these qualities in them; are all

termed pungent。 But when these same particles; refined by

putrefaction; enter into the narrow veins; and are duly proportioned

to the particles of earth and air which are there; they set them

whirling about one another; and while they are in a whirl cause them

to dash against and enter into one another; and so form hollows

surrounding the particles that enter…which watery vessels of air

(for a film of moisture; sometimes earthy; sometimes pure; is spread

around the air) are hollow spheres of water; and those of them which

are pure; are transparent; and are called bubbles; while those

composed of the earthy liquid; which is in a state of general

agitation and effervescence; are said to boil or ferment…of all

these affections the cause is termed acid。 And there is the opposite

affection arising from an opposite cause; when the mass of entering

particles; immersed in the moisture of the mouth; is congenial to

the tongue; and smooths and oils over the roughness; and relaxes the

parts which are unnaturally contracted; and contracts the parts

which are relaxed; and disposes them all according to their

nature…that sort of remedy of violent affections is pleasant and

agreeable to every man; and has the name sweet。 But enough of this。

  The faculty of smell does not admit of differences of kind; for

all smells are of a half formed nature; and no element is so

proportioned as to have any smell。 The veins about the nose are too

narrow to admit earth and water; and too wide to detain fire and

air; and for this reason no one ever perceives the smell of any of

them; but smells always proceed from bodies that are damp; or

putrefying; or liquefying; or evaporating; and are perceptible only in

the intermediate state; when water is changing into air and air into

water; and all of them are either vapor or mist。 That which is passing

out of air into water is mist; and that which is passing from water

into air is vapour; and hence all smells are thinner than water and

thicker than air。 The proof of this is; that when there is any

obstruction to the respiration; and a man draws in his breath by

force; then no smell filters through; but the air without the smell

alone penetrates。 Wherefore the varieties of smell have no name; and

they have not many; or definite and simple kinds; but they are

distinguished only painful and pleasant; the one sort irritating and

disturbing the whole cavity which is situated between the head and the

navel; the other having a soothing influence; and restoring this

same region to an agreeable and natural condition。

  In considering the third kind of sense; hearing; we must speak of

the causes in which it originates。 We may in general assume sound to

be a blow which passes through the ears; and is transmitted by means

of the air; the brain; and the blood; to the soul; and that hearing is

the vibration of this blow; which begins in the head and ends in the

region of the liver。 The sound which moves swiftly is acute; and the

sound which moves slowly is grave; and that which is regular is

equable and smooth; and the reverse is harsh。 A great body of sound is

loud; and a small body of sound the reverse。 Respecting the

harmonies of sound I must hereafter speak。

  There is a fourth class of sensible things; having many intricate

varieties; which must now be distinguished。 They are called by the

general name of colours; and are a flame which emanates from every

sort of body; and has particles corresponding to the sense of sight。 I

have spoken already; in what has preceded; of the causes which

generate sight; and in this place it will be natural and suitable to

give a rational theory of colours。

  Of the particles coming from other bodies which fall upon the sight;

some are smaller and some are larger; and some are equal to the

parts of the sight itself。 Those which are equal are imperceptible;

and we call them transparent。 The larger produce contraction; the

smaller dilation; in the sight; exercising a power akin to that of hot

and cold bodies on the flesh; or of astringent bodies on the tongue;

or of those heating bodies which we termed pungent。 White and black

are similar effects of contraction and dilation in another sphere; and

for this reason have a different appearance。 Wherefore; we ought to

term white that which dilates the visual ray; and the opposite of this

is black。 There is also a swifter motion of a different sort of fire

which strikes and dilates the ray of sight until it reaches the

eyes; forcing a way through their passages and melting them; and

eliciting from them a union of fire and water which we call tears;

being itself an opposite fire which comes to them from an opposite

direction…the inner fire flashes forth like lightning; and the outer

finds a way in and is extinguished in the moisture; and all sorts of

colours are generated by the mixture。 This affection is termed

dazzling; and the object which produces it is called bright and

flashing。 There is another sort of fire which is intermediate; and

which reaches and mingles with the moisture of the eye without

flashing; and in this; the fire mingling with the ray of the moisture;

produces a colour like blood; to which we give t
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