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the economist-第2部分
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; it may be; civil accomplishments; which; however; they refuse to exercise; for the very reason; as I take it; that they have no masters over them。
'18' 〃Eupatrids。〃
Soc。 No masters over them! but how can that be if; in spite of their prayers for prosperity and their desire to do what will bring them good; they are still so sorely hindered in the exercise of their wills by those that lord it over them?
Crit。 And who; pray; are these lords that rule them and yet remain unseen?
Soc。 Nay; not unseen; on the contrary; they are very visible。 And what is more; they are the basest of the base; as you can hardly fail to note; if at least you believe idleness and effeminacy and reckless negligence to be baseness。 Then; too; there are other treacherous beldames giving themselves out to be innocent pleasures; to wit; dicings and profitless associations among men。'19' These in the fulness of time appear in all their nakedness even to them that are deceived; showing themselves that they are after all but pains tricked out and decked with pleasures。 These are they who have the dominion over those you speak of and quite hinder them from every good and useful work。
'19' Or; 〃frivolous society。〃
Crit。 But there are others; Socrates; who are not hindered by these indolenceson the contrary; they have the most ardent disposition to exert themselves; and by every means to increase their revenues; but in spite of all; they wear out their substance and are involved in endless difficulties。'20'
'20' Or; 〃become involved for want of means。〃
Soc。 Yes; for they too are slaves; and harsh enough are their taskmasters; slaves are they to luxury and lechery; intemperance and the wine…cup along with many a fond and ruinous ambition。 These passions so cruelly belord it over the poor soul whom they have got under their thrall; that so long as he is in the heyday of health and strong to labour; they compel him to fetch and carry and lay at their feet the fruit of his toils; and to spend it on their own heart's lusts; but as soon as he is seen to be incapable of further labour through old age; they leave him to his gray hairs and misery; and turn to seize on other victims。'21' Ah! Critobulus; against these must we wage ceaseless war; for very freedom's sake; no less than if they were armed warriors endeavouring to make us their slaves。 Nay; foemen in war; it must be granted; especially when of fair and noble type; have many times ere now proved benefactors to those they have enslaved。 By dint of chastening; they have forced the vanquished to become better men and to lead more tranquil lives in future。'22' But these despotic queens never cease to plague and torment their victims in body and soul and substance until their sway is ended。
'21' 〃To use others as their slaves。〃
'22' Lit。 〃Enemies for the matter of that; when; being beautiful and good; they chance to have enslaved some other; have ere now in many an instance chastened and compelled the vanquished to be better and to live more easily for the rest of time。〃
II
The conersation was resumed by Critobulus; and on this wise。 He said: I think I take your meaning fully; Socrates; about these matters; and for myself; examining my heart; I am further satisfied; I have sufficient continence and self…command in those respects。 So that if you will only advise me on what I am to do to improve my estate; I flatter myself I shall not be hindered by those despotic dames; as you call them。 Come; do not hesitate; only tender me what good advice you can; and trust me I will follow it。 But perhaps; Socrates; you have already passed sentence on uswe are rich enough already; and not in need of any further wealth?
Soc。 It is to myself rather; if I may be included in your plural 〃we;〃 that I should apply the remark。 I am not in need of any further wealth; if you like。 I am rich enough already; to be sure。 But you; Critobulus; I look upon as singularly poor; and at times; upon my soul; I feel a downright compassion for you。
At this view of the case; Critobulus fell to laughing outright; retorting: And pray; Socrates; what in the name of fortune do you suppose our respective properties would fetch in the market; yours and mine?
If I could find a good purchaser (he answered); I suppose the whole of my effects; including the house in which I live; might very fairly realise five minae'1' (say twenty guineas)。 Yours; I am positively certain; would fetch at the lowest more than a hundred times that sum。
'1' 5 x L4:1:3。 See Boeckh; 〃P。 E。 A。〃 'Bk。 i。 ch。 xx。'; p。 109 f。 (Eng。 ed。)
Crit。 And with this estimate of our respective fortunes; can you still maintain that you have no need of further wealth; but it is I who am to be pitied for my poverty?
Soc。 Yes; for my property is amply sufficient to meet my wants; whereas you; considering the parade you are fenced about with; and the reputation you must needs live up to; would be barely well off; I take it; if what you have already were multiplied by three。
Pray; how may that be? Critobulus asked。
Why; first and foremost (Socrates explained); I see you are called upon to offer many costly sacrifices; failing which; I take it; neither gods nor men would tolerate you; and; in the next place; you are bound to welcome numerous foreigners as guests; and to entertain them handsomely; thirdly; you must feast your fellow…citizens and ply them with all sorts of kindness; or else be cut adrift from your supporters。'2' Furthermore; I perceive that even at present the state enjoins upon you various large contributions; such as the rearing of studs;'3' the training of choruses; the superintendence of gymnastic schools; or consular duties;'4' as patron of resident aliens; and so forth; while in the event of war you will; I am aware; have further obligations laid upon you in the shape of pay'5' to carry on the triearchy; ship money; and war taxes'6' so onerous; you will find difficulty in supporting them。 Remissness in respect of any of these charges will be visited upon you by the good citizens of Athens no less strictly than if they caught you stealing their own property。 But worse than all; I see you fondling the notion that you are rich。 Without a thought or care how to increase your revenue; your fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love;'7' as if you had some special license to amuse yourselef。 。 。 。 That is why I pity and compassionate you; fearing lest some irremediable mischief overtake you; and you find yourself in desperate straits。 As for me; if I ever stood in need of anything; I am sure you know I have friends who would assist me。 They would make some trifling contributiontrifling to themselves; I meanand deluge my humble living with a flood of plenty。 But your friends; albeit far better off than yourself; considering your respective styles of living; persist in looking to you for assistance。
'2' See Dr。 Holden ad loc。; Boeckh 'Bk。 iii。 ch。 xxiii。'; p。 465 f。
'3' Cf。 Lycurg。 〃c。 Leocr。〃 139。
'4' Al。 〃presidential duties。〃
'5' {trierarkhias 'misthous'}。 The commentators in general 〃suspect〃 {misthous}。 See Boeckh; 〃P。 E。 A。〃 p。 579。
'6' See Boeckh; p。 470 f。; 〃Revenues;〃 iii。 9; iv。 40。
'7' Or; 〃to childish matters;〃 〃frivolous affairs〃; but for the full import of the phrase {paidikois pragmasi} see 〃Ages。〃 viii。 2。
Then Critobulus: I cannot gainsay what you have spoken; Socrates; it is indeed high time that you were constituted my patronus; or I shall become in very truth a pitiable object。
To which appeal Socrates made answer: Why; you yourself must surely be astonished at the part you are now playing。 Just now; when I said that I was rich; you laughed at me as if I had no idea what riches were; and you were not happy till you had cross…examined me and forced me to confess that I do not possess the hundredth part of what you have; and now you are imploring me to be your patron; and to stint no pains to save you from becoming absolutely and in very truth a pauper。'8'
'8' Or; 〃literally beggared。〃
Crit。 Yes; Socrates; for I see that you are skilled in one lucrative operation at all eventsthe art of creating a surplus。 I hope; therefore; that a man who can make so much out of so little will not have the slightest difficulty in creating an ample surplus out of an abundance。
Soc。 But do not you recollect how just now in the discussion you would hardly let me utter a syllable'9' while you laid down the law: if a man did not know how to handle horses; horses were not wealth to him at any rate; nor land; nor sheep; nor money; nor anything else; if he did not know how to use them? And yet these are the very sources of revenue from which incomes are derived; and how do you expect me to know the use of any of them who never possessed a single one of them since I was born?
'9' Cf。 Aristoph。 〃Clouds;〃 945; 〃Plut。〃 17; Dem。 353; and Holden ad loc。
Crit。 Yes; but we agreed that; however little a man may be blest with wealth himself; a science of economy exists; and that being so; what hinders you from being its professor?
Soc。 Nothing; to be sure;'10' except what would hinder a man from knowing how to play the flute; supposing he had never had a flute of his own and no one had supplied the defect by lending him one to practise on: which is just my case with regard to economy;'11' seeing I never myself possessed the instrument of the science which is wealth; so as to go through the pupil stage; nor hitherto has any one proposed to hand me over his to manage。 You; in fact; are the first person to make so generous an offer。 You will bear in mind; I hope; that a learner of the harp is apt to break and spoil the instrument; it is therefore probable; if I take in hand to learn the art of economy on your estate; I shall ruin it outright。
'10' Lit。 〃The very thing; God help me! which would hinder 。 。 。〃
'11' Lit。 〃the art of administering an estate。〃
Critobulus retorted: I see; Socrates; you are doing your very best to escape an irksome task: you would rather not; if you can help it; stretch out so much as your little finger to help me to bear my necessary burthens more easily。
Soc。 No; upon my word; I am not trying to escape: on the contrary; I shall be ready; as far as I can; to exp
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