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！
said： Protagoras； I have a wretched memory； and when any one makes a
long speech to me I never remember what he is talking about。 As
then； if I had been deaf； and you were going to converse with me；
you would have had to raise your voice； so now； having such a bad
memory； I will ask you to cut your answers shorter； if you would
take me with you。
What do you mean？ he said： how am I to shorten my answers？ shall I
make them too short？
Certainly not； I said。
But short enough？
Yes； I said。
Shall I answer what appears to me to be short enough； or what
appears to you to be short enough？
I have heard； I said； that you can speak and teach others to speak
about the same things at such length that words never seemed to
fail； or with such brevity that no one could use fewer of them。 Please
therefore； if you talk with me； to adopt the latter or more
compendious method。
Socrates； he replied； many a battle of words have I fought； and if I
had followed the method of disputation which my adversaries desired；
as you want me to do； I should have been no better than another； and
the name of Protagoras would have been nowhere。
I saw that he was not satisfied with his previous answers； and
that he would not play the part of answerer any more if he could help；
and I considered that there was no call upon me to continue the
conversation； so I said： Protagoras； I do not wish to force the
conversation upon you if you had rather not； but when you are
willing to argue with me in such a way that I can follow you； then I
will argue with you。 Now you； as is said of you by others and as you
say of yourself； are able to have discussions in shorter forms of
speech as well as in longer； for you are a master of wisdom； but I
cannot manage these long speeches： I only wish that I could。 You； on
the other hand； who are capable of either； ought to speak shorter as I
beg you； and then we might converse。 But I see that you are
disinclined； and as I have an engagement which will prevent my staying
to hear you at greater length （for I have to be in another place）； I
will depart； although I should have liked to have heard you。
Thus I spoke； and was rising from my seat； when Callias seized me by
the right hand； and in his left hand caught hold of this old cloak
of mine。 He said： We cannot let you go； Socrates； for if you leave
us there will be an end of our discussions： I must therefore beg you
to remain； as there is nothing in the world that I should like
better than to hear you and Protagoras discourse。 Do not deny the
company this pleasure。
Now I had got up； and was in the act of departure。 Son of
Hipponicus； I replied； I have always admired； and do now heartily
applaud and love your philosophical spirit； and I would gladly
comply with your request； if I could。 But the truth is that I
cannot。 And what you ask is as great an impossibility to me； as if you
bade me run a race with Crison of Himera； when in his prime； or with
some one of the long or day course runners。 To such a request I should
reply that I would fain ask the same of my own legs； but they refuse
to comply。 And therefore if you want to see Crison and me in the
same stadium； you must bid him slacken his speed to mine； for I cannot
run quickly； and he can run slowly。 And in like manner if you want
to hear me and Protagoras discoursing； you must ask him to shorten his
answers； and keep to the point； as he did at first； if not； how can
there be any discussion？ For discussion is one thing； and making an
oration is quite another； in my humble opinion。
But you see； Socrates； said Callias； that Protagoras may fairly
claim to speak in his own way； just as you claim to speak in yours。
Here Alcibiades interposed； and said： That； Callias； is not a true
statement of the case。 For our friend Socrates admits that he cannot
make a speech…in this he yields the palm to Protagoras： but I should
be greatly surprised if he yielded to any living man in the power of
holding and apprehending an argument。 Now if Protagoras will make a
similar admission； and confess that he is inferior to Socrates in
argumentative skill； that is enough for Socrates； but if he claims a
superiority in argument as well； let him ask and answer…not； when a
question is asked； slipping away from the point； and instead of
answering； making a speech at such length that most of his hearers
forget the question at issue （not that Socrates is likely to
forget…I will be bound for that； although he may pretend in fun that
he has a bad memory）。 And Socrates appears to me to be more in the
right than Protagoras； that is my view； and every man ought to say
what he thinks。
When Alcibiades had done speaking； some one…Critias； I
believe…went on to say： O Prodicus and Hippias； Callias appears to
me to be a partisan of Protagoras： and this led Alcibiades； who
loves opposition； to take the other side。 But we should not be
partisans either of Socrates or of Protagoras； let us rather unite
in entreating both of them not to break up the discussion。
Prodicus added： That； Critias； seems to me to be well said； for
those who are present at such discussions ought to be impartial
hearers of both the speakers； remembering； however； that
impartiality is not the same as equality； for both sides should be
impartially heard； and yet an equal meed should not be assigned to
both of them； but to the wiser a higher meed should be given； and a
lower to the less wise。 And I as well as Critias would beg you；
Protagoras and Socrates； to grant our request； which is； that you will
argue with one another and not wrangle； for friends argue with friends
out of goodwill； but only adversaries and enemies wrangle。 And then
our meeting will be delightful； for in this way you； who are the
speakers； will be most likely to win esteem； and not praise only；
among us who are your audience； for esteem is a sincere conviction
of the hearers' souls； but praise is often an insincere expression
of men uttering falsehoods contrary to their conviction。 And thus we
who are the hearers will be gratified and not pleased； for
gratification is of the mind when receiving wisdom and knowledge；
but pleasure is of the body when eating or experiencing some other
bodily delight。 Thus spoke Prodicus； and many of the company applauded
his words。
Hippias the sage spoke next。 He said： All of you who are here
present I reckon to be kinsmen and friends and fellow…citizens； by
nature and not by law； for by nature like is akin to like； whereas law
is the tyrant of mankind； and often compels us to do many things which
are against nature。 How great would be the disgrace then； if we； who
know the nature of things； and are the wisest of the Hellenes； and
as such are met together in this city； which is the metropolis of
wisdom； and in the greatest and most glorious house of this city；
should have nothing to show worthy of this height of dignity； but
should only quarrel with one another like the meanest of mankind I
pray and advise you； Protagoras； and you； Socrates； to agree upon a
compromise。 Let us be your peacemakers。 And do not you； Socrates；
aim at this precise and extreme brevity in discourse； if Protagoras
objects； but loosen and let go the reins of speech； that your words
may be grander and more becoming to you。 Neither do you； Protagoras；
go forth on the gale with every sail set out of sight of land into
an ocean of words； but let there be a mean observed by both of you。 Do
as I say。 And let me also persuade you to choose an arbiter or
overseer or president； he will keep watch over your words and will
prescribe their proper length。
This proposal was received by the company with universal approval；
Callias said that he would not let me off； and they begged me to
choose an arbiter。 But I said that to choose an umpire of discourse
would be unseemly； for if the person chosen was inferior； then the
inferior or worse ought not to preside over the better； or if he was
equal； neither would that be well； for he who is our equal will do
as we do； and what will be the use of choosing him？ And if you say；
〃Let us have a better then；〃…to that I answer that you cannot have any
one who is wiser than Protagoras。 And if you choose another who is not
really better； and whom you only say is better； to put another over
him as though he were an inferior person would be an unworthy
reflection on him； not that； as far as I am concerned； any
reflection is of much consequence to me。 Let me tell you then what I
will do in order that the conversation and discussion may go on as you
desire。 If Protagoras is not disposed to answer； let him ask and I
will answer； a