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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
108
… Page 109…
The Memorabilia
find； I venture to say； that in every sort of undertaking those who enjoy
repute and admiration belong to the class of those endowed with the
highest knowledge； whilst conversely the people of sinister reputation； the
mean and the contemptible； emanate from some depth of ignorance and
dulness。 If therefore what you thirst for is repute and admiration as a
statesman； try to make sure of one accomplishment： in other words； the
knowledge as far as in you lies of what you wish to do。＇15＇ If； indeed；
with this to distinguish you from the rest of the world you venture to
concern yourself with state affairs； it would not surprise me but that you
might reach the goal of your ambition easily。
＇14＇ Or； 〃to talk of things which he does not know； or to meddle with
them。〃
＇15＇ Or； 〃try as far as possible to achieve one thing； and that is to
know the business which you propose to carry out。〃
VII
Now Charmides；＇1＇ the son of Glaucon； was； as Socrates observed； a
man of mark and influence： a much more powerful person in fact than the
mass of those devoted to politics at that date； but at the same time he was a
man who shrank from approaching the people or busying himself with the
concerns of the state。 Accordingly Socrates addressed him thus：
＇1＇ See last chapter for his relationship to Glaucon （the younger） and
Plato； for a conception of his character； Plato's dialogue 〃Charmides〃；
〃Theag。〃 128 E； 〃Hell。〃 II。 iv。 19； 〃Symp。〃 iv。 31； Grote； 〃Plato；〃 i。
480。
Tell me； Charmides； supposing some one competent to win a victory in
the arena and to receive a crown；＇2＇ whereby he will gain honour himself
and make the land of his fathers more glorious in Hellas；＇3＇ were to refuse
to enter the listswhat kind of person should you set him down to be？
＇2＇ In some conquest （e。g。 of the Olympic games） where the prize is a
mere wreath。
109
… Page 110…
The Memorabilia
＇3＇ Cf。 Pindar passim。
Clearly an effeminate and cowardly fellow （he answered）。
Soc。 And what if another man； who had it in him； by devotion to
affairs of state； to exalt his city and win honour himself thereby； were to
shrink and hesitate and hang backwould he too not reasonably be
regarded as a coward？
Possibly （he answered）； but why do you address these questions to
me？
Because （replied Socrates） I think that you； who have this power； do
hesitate to devote yourself to matters which； as being a citizen； if for no
other reason； you are bound to take part in。＇4＇
＇4＇ Or add； 〃and cannot escape from。〃
Charm。 And wherein have you detected in me this power； that you pass
so severe a sentence upon me？
Soc。 I have detected it plainly enough in those gatherings＇5＇ in which
you meet the politicians of the day； when； as I observe； each time they
consult you on any point you have always good advice to offer； and when
they make a blunder you lay your finger on the weak point immediately。
＇5＇ See above； I。 v。 4； here possibly of political club conversation。
Charm。 To discuss and reason in private is one thing； Socrates； to
battle in the throng of the assembly is another。
Soc。 And yet a man who can count； counts every bit as well in a crowd
as when seated alone by himself； and it is the best performer on the harp in
private who carries off the palm of victory in public。
Charm。 But do you not see that modesty and timidity are feelings
implanted in man's nature？ and these are much more powerfully present to
us in a crowd than within the cirlce of our intimates。
Soc。 Yes； but what I am bent on teaching you is that while you feel no
such bashfulness and timidity before the wisest and strongest of men； you
are ashamed of opening your lips in the midst of weaklings and dullards。＇6＇
Is it the fullers among them of whom you stand in awe； or the cobblers； or
the carpenters； or the coppersmiths； or the merchants； or the farmers； or
the hucksters of the market…place exchanging their wares； and bethinking
110
… Page 111…
The Memorabilia
them how they are to buy this thing cheap； and to sell the other dearis it
before these you are ashamed； for these are the individual atoms out of
which the Public Assembly is composed？＇7＇ And what is the difference；
pray； between your behaviour and that of a man who； being the superior of
trained athletes； quails before a set of amateurs？ Is it not the case that you
who can argue so readily with the foremost statesmen in the city； some of
whom affect to look down upon youyou； with your vast superiority over
practised popular debatersare no sooner confronted with a set of folk
who never in their lives gave politics a thought； and into whose heads
certainly it never entered to look down upon youthan you are afraid to
open your lips in mortal terror of being laughed at？
＇6＇ Cf。 Cic。 〃Tusc。〃 v。 36； 104； Plat。 〃Gorg。〃 452 E； 454 B。
＇7＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Protag。〃 319 C。 See W。 L。 Newman； op。 cit。 i。 103。
Well； but you would admit （he answered） that sound argument does
frequently bring down the ridicule of the Popular Assembly。
Soc。 Which is equally true of the others。＇8＇ And that is just what
rouses my astonishment； that you who can cope so easily with these lordly
people （when guilty of ridicule） should persuade yourself that you cannot
stand up against a set of commoners。＇9＇ My good fellow； do not be
ignorant of yourself！＇10＇ do not fall into that commonest of errorstheirs
who rush off to investigate the concerns of the rest of the world； and have
no time to turn and examine themselves。 Yet that is a duty which you must
not in cowardly sort draw back from： rather must you brace ourself to give
good heed to your own self； and as to public affairs； if by any manner of
means they may be improved through you； do not neglect them。 Success in
the sphere of politics means that not only the mass of your fellow…citizens；
but your personal friends and you yourself last but not least； will profit by
your action。
＇8＇ ｛oi eteroi