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phaedrus-第2部分

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shown when their passion ceases; but to the non…lovers who are free



and not under any compulsion; no time of repentance ever comes; for



they confer their benefits according to the measure of their



ability; in the way which is most conducive to their own interest。



Then again; lovers consider how by reason of their love they have



neglected their own concerns and rendered service to others: and



when to these benefits conferred they add on the troubles which they



have endured; they think that they have long ago made to the beloved a



very ample return。 But the non…lover has no such tormenting



recollections; he has never neglected his affairs or quarrelled with



his relations; he has no troubles to add up or excuse to invent; and



being well rid of all these evils; why should he not freely do what



will gratify the beloved?



  If you say that the lover is more to be esteemed; because his love



is thought to be greater; for he is willing to say and do what is



hateful to other men; in order to please his beloved;…that; if true;



is only a proof that he will prefer any future love to his present;



and will injure his old love at the pleasure of the new。 And how; in a



matter of such infinite importance; can a man be right in trusting



himself to one who is afflicted with a malady which no experienced



person would attempt to cure; for the patient himself admits that he



is not in his right mind; and acknowledges that he is wrong in his



mind; but says that he is unable to control himself? And if he came to



his right mind; would he ever imagine that the desires were good which



he conceived when in his wrong mind? Once more; there are many more



non…lovers than lovers; and if you choose the best of the lovers;



you will not have many to choose from; but if from the non…lovers; the



choice will be larger; and you will be far more likely to find among



them a person who is worthy of your friendship。 If public opinion be



your dread; and you would avoid reproach; in all probability the



lover; who is always thinking that other men are as emulous of him



as he is of them; will boast to some one of his successes; and make



a show of them openly in the pride of his heart;…he wants others to



know that his labour has not been lost; but the non…lover is more



his own master; and is desirous of solid good; and not of the



opinion of mankind。 Again; the lover may be generally noted or seen



following the beloved (this is his regular occupation); and whenever



they are observed to exchange two words they are supposed to meet



about some affair of love either past or in contemplation; but when



non…lovers meet; no one asks the reason why; because people know



that talking to another is natural; whether friendship or mere



pleasure be the motive。



  Once more; if you fear the fickleness of friendship; consider that



in any other case a quarrel might be a mutual calamity; but now;



when you have given up what is most precious to you; you will be the



greater loser; and therefore; you will have more reason in being



afraid of the lover; for his vexations are many; and he is always



fancying that every one is leagued against him。 Wherefore also he



debars his beloved from society; he will not have you intimate with



the wealthy; lest they should exceed him in wealth; or with men of



education; lest they should be his superiors in understanding; and



he is equally afraid of anybody's influence who has any other



advantage over himself。 If he can persuade you to break with them; you



are left without friend in the world; or if; out of a regard to your



own interest; you have more sense than to comply with his desire;



you will have to quarrel with him。 But those who are non…lovers; and



whose success in love is the reward of their merit; will not be



jealous of the companions of their beloved; and will rather hate those



who refuse to be his associates; thinking that their favourite is



slighted by the latter and benefited by the former; for more love than



hatred may be expected to come to him out of his friendship with



others。 Many lovers too have loved the person of a youth before they



knew his character or his belongings; so that when their passion has



passed away; there is no knowing whether they will continue to be



his friends; whereas; in the case of non…lovers who were always



friends; the friendship is not lessened by the favours granted; but



the recollection of these remains with them; and is an earnest of good



things to come。



  Further; I say that you are likely to be improved by me; whereas the



lover will spoil you。 For they praise your words and actions in a



wrong way; partly; because they are afraid of offending you; and also;



their judgment is weakened by passion。 Such are the feats which love



exhibits; he makes things painful to the disappointed which give no



pain to others; he compels the successful lover to praise what ought



not to give him pleasure; and therefore the beloved is to be pitied



rather than envied。 But if you listen to me; in the first place; I; in



my intercourse with you; shall not merely regard present enjoyment;



but also future advantage; being not mastered by love; but my own



master; nor for small causes taking violent dislikes; but even when



the cause is great; slowly laying up little wrath…unintentional



offences I shall forgive; and intentional ones I shall try to prevent;



and these are the marks of a friendship which will last。



  Do you think that a lover only can be a firm friend? reflect:…if



this were true; we should set small value on sons; or fathers; or



mothers; nor should we ever have loyal friends; for our love of them



arises not from passion; but from other associations。 Further; if we



ought to shower favours on those who are the most eager suitors;…on



that principle; we ought always to do good; not to the most



virtuous; but to the most needy; for they are the persons who will



be most relieved; and will therefore be the most grateful; and when



you make a feast you should invite not your friend; but the beggar and



the empty soul; for they will love you; and attend you; and come about



your doors; and will be the best pleased; and the most grateful; and



will invoke many a blessing on your head。 Yet surely you ought not



to be granting favours to those who besiege you with prayer; but to



those who are best able to reward you; nor to the lover only; but to



those who are worthy of love; nor to those who will enjoy the bloom of



your youth; but to those who will share their possessions with you



in age; nor to those who; having succeeded; will glory in their



success to others; but to those who will be modest and tell no



tales; nor to those who care about you for a moment only; but to those



who will continue your friends through life; nor to those who; when



their passion is over; will pick a quarrel with you; but rather to



those who; when the charm of youth has left you; will show their own



virtue。 Remember what I have said; and consider yet this further



point: friends admonish the lover under the idea that his way of



life is bad; but no one of his kindred ever yet censured the



non…lover; or thought that he was ill…advised about his own interests。



  〃Perhaps you will ask me whether I propose that you should indulge



every non…lover。 To which I reply that not even the lover would advise



you to indulge all lovers; for the indiscriminate favour is less



esteemed by the rational recipient; and less easily hidden by him



who would escape the censure of the world。 Now love ought to be for



the advantage of both parties; and for the injury of neither。



  〃I believe that I have said enough; but if there is anything more



which you desire or which in your opinion needs to be supplied; ask



and I will answer。〃



  Now; Socrates; what do you think? Is not the discourse excellent;



more especially in the matter of the language?



  Soc。 Yes; quite admirable; the effect on me was ravishing。 And



this I owe to you; Phaedrus; for I observed you while reading to be in



an ecstasy; and thinking that you are more experienced in these



matters than I am; I followed your example; and; like you; my divine



darling; I became inspired with a phrenzy。



  Phaedr。 Indeed; you are pleased to be merry。



  Soc。 Do you mean that I am not in earnest?



  Phaedr。 Now don't talk in that way; Socrates; but let me have your



real opinion; I adjure you; by Zeus; the god of friendship; to tell me



whether you think that any Hellene could have said more or spoken



better on the same subject。



  Soc。 Well; but are you and I expected to praise the sentiments of



the author; or only the clearness; and roundness; and finish; and



tournure of the language? As to the first I willingly submit to your



better judgment; for I am not worthy to form an opinion; having only



attended to the rhetorical manner; and I was doubting whether this



could have been defended even by Lysias himself; I thought; though I



speak under correction; that he repeated himself two or three times;



either from want of words or from want of pains; and also; he appeared



to me ostentatiously to exult in showing how well he could say the



same thing in two or three ways。



  Phaedr。 Nonsense; Socrates; what you call repetition was the



especial merit of the speech; for he omitted no topic of which the



subject rightly allowed; and I do not think that any one could have



spoken better or more exhaustively。
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