the economist-第8部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


＇　And　since　He　imposed　on　woman　the　guardianship　of　the　things　imported　from　without；　God；　in　His　wisdom；　perceiving　that　a　fearful　spirit　was　no　detriment　to　guardianship；＇25＇　endowed　the　woman　with　a　larger　measure　of　timidity　than　He　bestowed　on　man。　Knowing　further　that　he　to　whom　the　outdoor　works　belonged　would　need　to　defend　them　against　malign　attack；　He　endowed　the　man　in　turn　with　a　larger　share　of　courage。

＇24＇　｛edasato｝；　〃Cyrop。〃　IV。　ii。　43。

＇25＇　Cf。　〃Hipparch；〃　vii。　7；　Aristot。　〃Pol。〃　iii。　2；　〃Oecon。〃　iii。

〃And　seeing　that　both　alike　feel　the　need　of　giving　and　receiving；　He　set　down　memory　and　carefulness　between　them　for　their　common　use；＇26＇　so　that　you　would　find　it　hard　to　determine　which　of　the　two；　the　male　or　the　female；　has　the　larger　share　of　these。　So；　too；　God　set　down　between　them　for　their　common　use　the　gift　of　self…control；　where　needed；　adding　only　to　that　one　of　the　twain；　whether　man　or　woman；　which　should　prove　the　better；　the　power　to　be　rewarded　with　a　larger　share　of　this　perfection。　And　for　the　very　reason　that　their　natures　are　not　alike　adapted　to　like　ends；　they　stand　in　greater　need　of　one　another；　and　the　married　couple　is　made　more　useful　to　itself；　the　one　fulfilling　what　the　other　lacks。＇27＇

＇26＇　Or；　〃He　bestowed　memory　and　carefulness　as　the　common　heritage　of　　　　　both。〃

＇27＇　Or；　〃the　pair　discovers　the　advantage　of　duality；　the　one　being　　　　　strong　wherein　the　other　is　defective。〃

〃Now；　being　well　aware　of　this；　my　wife；〃　I　added；　〃and　knowing　well　what　things　are　laid　upon　us　twain　by　God　Himself；　must　we　not　strive　to　perform；　each　in　the　best　way　possible；　our　respective　duties？　Law；　too；　gives　her　consentlaw　and　the　usage　of　mankind；　by　sanctioning　the　wedlock　of　man　and　wife；　and　just　as　God　ordained　them　to　be　partners　in　their　children；　so　the　law　establishes　their　common　ownership　of　house　and　estate。　Custom；　moreover；　proclaims　as　beautiful　those　excellences　of　man　and　woman　with　which　God　gifted　them　at　birth。＇28＇　Thus　for　a　woman　to　bide　tranquilly　at　home　rather　than　roam　aborad　is　no　dishonour；　but　for　a　man　to　remain　indoors；　instead　of　devoting　himself　to　outdoor　pursuits；　is　a　thing　discreditable。　But　if　a　man　does　things　contrary　to　the　nature　given　him　by　God；　the　chances　are；＇29＇　such　insubordination　escapes　not　the　eye　of　Heaven：　he　pays　the　penalty；　whether　of　neglecting　his　own　works；　or　of　performing　those　appropriate　to　woman。〃＇30＇

＇28＇　Or；　〃with　approving　fingers　stamps　as　noble　those　diverse　　　　　faculties；　those　superiorities　in　either　sex　which　God　created　in　　　　　them。　Thus　for　the　womean　to　remain　indoors　is　nobler　than　to　gad　　　　　about　abroad。〃　｛ta　kala　。　。　。；　kallion　。　。　。　aiskhion　。　。　。｝　　　　　These　words；　wich　their　significant　Hellenic　connotation；　suffer　　　　　cruelly　in　translation。

＇29＇　Or；　〃maybe　in　some　respect　this　violation　of　the　order　of　things；　　　　　this　lack　of　discpline　on　his　part。〃　Cf。　〃Cyrop。〃　VII。　ii。　6。

＇30＇　Or；　〃the　works　of　his　wife。〃　For　the　sentiment　cf。　Soph。　〃Oed。　　　　　Col。〃　337　foll。；　Herod。　ii。　35。

I　added：　〃Just　such　works；　if　I　mistake　not；　that　same　queen…bee　we　spoke　of　labours　hard　to　perform；　like　yours；　my　wife；　enjoined　upon　her　by　God　Himself。〃

〃And　what　sort　of　works　are　these？〃　she　asked；　〃what　has　the　queen…bee　to　do　that　she　seems　so　like　myself；　or　I　like　her　in　what　I　have　to　do？〃

〃Why；〃　I　answered；　〃she　too　stays　in　the　hive　and　suffers　not　the　other　bees　to　idle。　Those　whose　duty　it　is　to　work　outside　she　sends　forth　to　their　labours；　and　all　that　each　of　them　brings　in；　she　notes　and　receives　and　stores　against　the　day　of　need；　but　when　the　season　for　use　has　come；　she　distributes　a　just　share　to　each。　Again；　it　is　she　who　presides　over　the　fabric　of　choicely…woven　cells　within。　She　looks　to　it　that　warp　and　woof　are　wrought　with　speed　and　beauty。　Under　her　guardian　eye　the　brood　of　young＇31＇　is　nursed　and　reared；　but　when　the　days　of　rearing　are　past　and　the　young　bees　are　ripe　for　work；　she　sends　them　out　as　colonists　with　one　of　the　seed　royal＇32＇　to　be　their　leader。〃

＇31＇　Or；　〃the　growing　progeny　is　reared　to　maturity。〃

＇32＇　Or；　〃royal　lineage；〃　reading　｛ton　epigonon｝　（emend。　H。　Estienne）；　　　　　or　if　the　vulg。　｛ton　epomenon｝；　〃with　some　leader　of　the　host〃　　　　　（lit。　of　his　followers）。　So　Breitenbach。

〃Shall　I　then　have　to　do　these　things？〃　asked　my　wife。

〃Yes；〃　I　answered；　〃you　will　need　in　the　same　way　to　stay　indoors；　despatching　to　their　toils　without　those　of　your　domestics　whose　work　lies　there。　Over　those　whose　appointed　tasks　are　wrought　indoors；　it　will　be　your　duty　to　preside；　yours　to　receive　the　stuffs　brought　in；　yours　to　apportion　part　for　daily　use；　and　yours　to　make　provision　for　the　rest；　to　guard　and　garner　it　so　that　the　outgoings　destined　for　a　year　may　not　be　expended　in　a　month。　It　will　be　your　duty；　when　the　wools　are　introduced；　to　see　that　clothing　is　made　for　those　who　need；　your　duty　also　to　see　that　the　dried　corn　is　rendered　fit　and　serviceable　for　food。

〃There　is　just　one　of　all　these　occupations　which　devolve　upon　you；〃　I　added；　〃you　may　not　find　so　altogether　pleasing。　Should　any　one　of　our　household　fall　sick；　it　will　be　your　care　to　see　and　tend　them　to　the　recovery　of　their　health。〃

〃Nay；〃　she　answered；　〃that　will　be　my　pleasantest　of　tasks；　if　careful　nursing　may　touch　the　springs　of　gratitude　and　leave　them　friendlier　than　before。〃

And　I　（continued　Ischomachus）　was　struck　with　admiration　at　her　answer；　and　replied：　〃Think　you；　my　wife；　it　is　through　some　such　traits　of　forethought　seen　in　their　mistress…leader　that　the　hearts　of　bees　are　won；　and　they　are　so　loyally　affectioned　towards　her　that；　if　ever　she　abandon　her　hive；　not　one　of　them　will　dream　of　being　left　behind；＇33＇　but　one　and　all　must　follow　her。〃

＇33＇　Al。　〃will　suffer　her　to　be　forsaken。〃

And　my　wife　made　answer　to　me：　〃It　would　much　astonish　me　（said　she）　did　not　these　leader's　works；　you　speak　of；　point　to　you　rather　than　myself。　Methinks　mine　would　be　a　pretty＇34＇　guardianship　and　distribution　of　things　indoors　without　your　provident　care　to　see　that　the　importations　from　without　were　duly　made。〃

＇34＇　Or；　〃ridiculous。〃

〃Just　so；〃　I　answered；　〃and　mine　would　be　a　pretty＇35＇　importation　if　there　were　no　one　to　guard　what　I　imported。　Do　you　not　see；〃　I　added；　〃how　pitiful　is　the　case　of　those　unfortunates　who　pour　water　in　their　sieves　for　ever；　as　the　story　goes；＇36＇　and　labour　but　in　vain？〃

＇35＇　〃As　laughable　an　importation。〃

＇36＇　Or；　〃how　pitiful　their　case；　condemned；　as　the　saying　goes；　to　　　　　pour　water　into　a　sieve。〃　Lit。　〃filling　a　bucket　bored　with　　　　　holes。〃　Cf。　Aristot。　〃Oec。〃　i。　6；　and　for　the　Danaids；　see　Ovid。　　　　　〃Met。〃　iv。　462；　Hor。　〃Carm。〃　iii。　11。　25；　Lucr。　iii。　937；　Plaut。　　　　　〃Pseud。〃　369。　Cp。　Coleridge：

　　Work　without　hope　draws　nectar　in　a　sieve；　　　And　hope　without　an　object　cannot　live。

〃Pitiful　enough；　poor　souls；〃　she　answered；　〃if　that　is　what　they　do。〃

〃But　there　are　other　cares；　you　know；　and　occupations；〃　I　answered；　〃which　are　yours　by　right；　and　these　you　will　find　agreeable。　This；　for　instance；　to　take　some　maiden　who　knows　naught　of　carding　wool　and　to　make　her　proficient　in　the　art；　doubling　her　usefulness；　or　to　receive　another　quite　ignorant　of　housekeeping　or　of　service；　and　to　render　her　skilful；　loyal；　serviceable；　till　she　is　worth　her　weight　in　gold；　or　again；　when　occasion　serves；　you　have　it　in　your　power　to　requite　by　kindness　the　well…behaved　whose　presence　is　a　blessing　to　your　house；　or　maybe　to　chasten　the　bad　character；　should　such　an　one　appear。　But　the　greatest　joy　of　all　will　be　to　prove　yourself　my　better；　to　make　me　your　faithful　follower；　knowing　no　dread　lest　as　the　years　advance　you　should　decline　in　honour　in　your　household；　but　rather　trusting　that；　though　your　hair　turn　gray；　yet；　in　proportion　as　you　come　to　be　a　better　helpmate　to　myself　and　to　the　children；　a　better　guardian　of　our　home；　so　will　your　honour　increase　throughout　the　household　as　mistress；　wife；　and　mother；　daily　more　dearly　prized。　Since；〃　I　added；　〃it　is　not　through　excellence　of　outward　form；＇37＇　but　by　reason　of　the　lustre　of　virtues　shed　forth　upon　the　life　of　man；　that　increase　is　given　to　things　beautiful　and　good。〃＇38＇

＇37＇　〃By　reason　of　the　flower　on　the　damask　cheek。〃

＇38＇　Al。　〃For　growth　is　added　to　things　'beautiful　and　good；'　not　　　　　through　the　bloom　of　youth　but　virtuous　perfections；　an　increase　　　　　coextensive　with　the　life　of　man。〃　See　Breit。　ad　loc。

That；　Socrates；　or　something　like　that；　as　far　as　I　may　trust　my　memory；　records　the　earliest　conversation　which　I　held　with　her。



VIII

And　did　you　happen　to　observe；　Ischomachus　（I　asked）；　whether；　as　the　result　of　what　was　said；　your　wife　was　stirred　at　all　to　greater　carefulness？

Yes；　certainly　（Ischomachus　answered）；　and　I　remember　how　piqued　she　was　at　one　time　and　how　deeply　she　blushed；　when　I　chanced　to　ask　her　for　something　which　had　been　brought　into　the　house；　and　she　could　not　give　it　me。　So　I；　when　I　saw　her　annoyance；　fell　to　consoling　her。　〃Do　not　be　at　all　disheartened；　my　wife；　that　you　cannot　give　me　what　I　ask　for。　It　is　plain　poverty；＇1＇　no　doubt；　to　need　a　thing　and　not　to　have　the　use　of　it。　But　as　wants　go；　to　look　for　something　which　I　cannot　lay　my　hands　upon　is　a　less　painful　form　of　indigence　than　never　to　dream　of　looking　because　I　know　full　well　that　the　thing　exists　not。　Anyhow；　you　are　not　to　blame　for　this；〃　I　added；　〃mine　the　fault　was　who　handed　over　to　your　care　the　things　without　assigning　them　their　places。　Had　I　done　so；　you　would　have　known　not　only　where　to　put　but　where　to　find　them。＇2＇　After　all；　my　wife；　there　is　nothing　in　human　life　so　serviceable；　nought　so　beautiful　as　order。＇3＇

＇1＇　〃Vetus　proverbium；〃　Cic。　ap。　Columellam；　xii。　2；　3；　Nobbe；　236；　　　　　fr。　6。

＇2＇　Lit。　〃so　that　you　might　know　not　only　where　to　put；〃　etc。

＇3＇　Or；　〃order　and　arrangement。〃　So　Cic。　ap。　Col。　xii。　2；　4；　　　　　〃dispositione　atque　ordine。〃

〃For　instance；　what　is　a　chorus？a　band　composed　of　human　beings；　who　dance　and　sing；　but　suppose　the　company　proceed　to　act　as　each　may　chanceconfusion　follows；　the　spectacle　has　lost　its　charm。　How　different　when　each　and　all　together　act　and　recite＇4＇　with　orderly　prec