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！
seen best fitted to enchain the eyes and congregate vast masses。〃 For
other emendations see Holden； crit。 app。； Hartm。 op。 cit。 p。 258。
＇18＇ 〃Religious embassies〃； it。 〃Theories。〃 See Thuc。 vi。 16； 〃Mem。〃
IV。 viii。 2。
＇19＇ Lit。 〃not stronger than those present。〃
＇20＇ Or； 〃The dread oppresses him； he may be deprived of his empire
and yet be powerless。〃
＇21＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Rep。〃 ix。 579 B： 〃His soul is dainty and greedy； and
yet he only of all men is never allowed to go on a journey； or to see
things which other free men desire to see； but he lives in his hole like
a woman hidden in the house； and is jealous of any other citizen who
goes into foreign parts and sees things of interest〃 （Jowett）。
Perhaps you will retort： 〃Why should he trouble to go abroad to seek
for such things？ They are sure to come to him； although he stops at home。〃
Yes； Simonides； that is so far true； a small percentage of them no doubt
will； and this scant moiety will be sold at so high a price to the despotic
monarch； that the exhibitor of the merest trifle looks to receive from the
imperial pocket； within the briefest interval； ten times more than he can
hope to win from all the rest of mankind in a lifetime； and then he will be
off。＇22＇
＇22＇ Lit。 〃to get from the tyrant all in a moment many times more than
he will earn from all the rest of mankind in a whole lifetime； and
depart。〃
5
… Page 6…
Hiero
To which Simonides： Well； granted you have the worst of it in sights
and sightseeing； yet； you must admit you are large gainers through the
sense of hearing； you who are never stinted of that sweetest of all
sounds；＇23＇ the voice of praise； since all around you are for ever praising
everything you do and everything you say。 Whilst； conversely； to that most
harsh and grating of all sounds； the language of abuse； your ears are sealed；
since no one cares to speak evil against a monarch to his face。
＇23＇ Cf。 Cic。 〃pro Arch。〃 20； 〃Themistoclem illum dixisse aiunt cum
ex eo quaereretur； 'quod acroama aut cujus vocem libentissime
audiret'： 'ejus； a quo sua virtus optime praedicaretur。'〃
Then Hiero： And what pleasure do you suppose mere abstinence from
evil words implies； when it is an open secret that those silent persons are
cherishing all evil thoughts against the tyrant？＇24＇ What mirth； do you
imagine； is to be extracted from their panegyrics who are suspected of
bestowing praise out of mere flattery？
＇24＇ 〃One knows plainly that these dumb attendants stand there like
mutes； but harbour every evil thought against their autocratic lord。〃
Simonides made answer： Yes； I must indeed admit； I do concede to
you； that praise alone is sweetest which is breathed from lips of free men
absolutely free。 But； look you； here is a point： you will find it hard to
persuade another； that you despots； within the limits of those things
whereby we one and all sustain our bodies； in respect； that is； of meats and
drinks； have not a far wider range of pleasures。
Yes； Simonides （he answered）； and what is more； I know the
explanation of the common verdict。 The majority have come to the
conclusion that we monarchs eat and drink with greater pleasure than do
ordinary people； because they have got the notion； they themselves would
make a better dinner off the viands served at our tables than their own。
And doubtless some break in the monotony gives a fillip of pleasure。 And
that explains why folk in general look forward with pleasure to high days
and holy daysmankind at large； but not the despot； his well… stocked
table groaning from day to day under its weight of viands admits of no
state occasions。 So that； as far as this particular pleasure； to begin with；
goes； the pleasure of anticipation； the monarch is at disadvantage
6
… Page 7…
Hiero
compared with private people。
And in the next place （he continued）； I am sure your own experience
will bear me out so far： the more viands set before a man at table （beyond
what are sufficient）；＇25＇ the more quickly will satiety of eating overtake
him。 So that in actual duration of the pleasure； he with his many dishes has
less to boast of than the moderate liver。
＇25＇ ｛ta peritta ton ikanon｝。 These words Hartm。 op。 cit。 p。 254；
regards as an excrescence。
Yes； but good gracious！ surely （broke in Simonides）； during the actual
time；＇26＇ before the appetite is cloyed； the gastronomic pleasure derived
from the costlier bill of fare far exceeds that of the cheaper dinner…table。
＇26＇ Lit。 〃so long as the soul （i。e。 the appetite） accepts with
pleasure the viands〃； i。e。 there's an interval； at any rate； during which
〃such as my soul delights in〃 can still apply and for so long。
But； as a matter of plain logic （Hiero retorted）； should you not say； the
greater the pleasure a man feels in any business； the more enthusiastic his
devotion to it？
That is quite true （he answered）。
Hiero。 Then have you ever noticed that crowned heads display more
pleasure in attacking the bill of fare provided them； than private persons
theirs？
No； rather the reverse （the poet answered）； if anything； they show a
less degree of gusto；＇27＇ unless they are vastly libelled。
＇27＇ 〃No； not more pleasure； but exceptional fastidiousness； if what
people say is true。〃 ｛agleukesteron｝； said ap。 Suid。 to be a Sicilian
word = 〃more sourly。〃
Well （Hiero continued）； and all these wonderfully…made dishes which
are set before the tyrant； or nine…tenths of them； perhaps you have
observed； are combinations of things acid to the taste； or pungent； or
astringent； or akin to these？＇28＇
＇28＇ Lit。 〃and their congeners；〃 〃their analogues；〃 e。g。 〃curries；
pickles； bitters； peppery condiments。〃
To be sure they are （he answered）； unnatural viands； one and all； in my
opinion； most alien to ordinary palates。＇29＇
7
… Page 8…
Hiero
＇29＇ Or； 〃unsuited to man's taste；〃 〃'caviare to the general' I name
them。〃
Hiero。 In fact； these condiments can only be regarded as the
cravings＇30＇ of a stomach weakened by luxurious living； since I am quite
sure that keen appetites （and you； I fancy； know it well too） have not the
slightest need for all these delicate made things。
＇30＇ Cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 687 C； 〃Hipp。〃 ii。 44。 Lit。 〃can you in fact
regard these condiments as other than 。 。 。〃 See Holden ad loc。 （ed。
1888）； Hartm。 op。 cit。 p。 259； suggests ｛enthumemata｝； 〃inventions。〃
It is true； at any rate （observed Simonides）； about those costly
perfumes； with which your persons are anointed； that your neighbours
rather than yourselves extract enjoyment from them； just as the unpleasant
odour of some meats is not so obvious to the eater as to those who come in
contact with him。
Hiero。 Good； and on this principle we say of meats； that he who is
provided with all sorts on all occasions brings no appetite to any of them。
He rather to whom these things are rarities； that is the man who； when
some unfamiliar thing is put before him； will take his fill of it with
pleasure。＇31＇
＇31＇ ｛meta kharas｝。 Cf。 Aesch。 Fr。 237； ｛stomatos en prote khara｝； of
a hungry man； 〃Od。〃 xvii。 603。
It looks very much （interposed Simonides） as if the sole pleasure left
you to explain the vulgar ambition to wear a crown； must be that named
after Aphrodite。 For in this field it is your privilege to consort with
whatever fairest fair your eyes may light on。
Hier