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！
Phaedr。 That is grand：…but never mind where you beard the
discourse or from whom； let that be a mystery not to be divulged
even at my earnest desire。 Only； as you say； promise to make another
and better oration； equal in length and entirely new； on the same
subject； and I； like the nine Archons； will promise to set up a golden
image at Delphi； not only of myself； but of you； and as large as life。
Soc。 You are a dear golden ass if you suppose me to mean that Lysias
has altogether missed the mark； and that I can make a speech from
which all his arguments are to be excluded。 The worst of authors
will say something which is to the point。 Who； for example； could
speak on this thesis of yours without praising the discretion of the
non…lover and blaming the indiscretion of the lover？ These are the
commonplaces of the subject which must come in （for what else is there
to be said？） and must be allowed and excused； the only merit is in the
arrangement of them； for there can be none in the invention； but
when you leave the commonplaces； then there may be some originality。
Phaedr。 I admit that there is reason in what you say； and I too will
be reasonable； and will allow you to start with the premiss that the
lover is more disordered in his wits than the non…lover； if in what
remains you make a longer and better speech than Lysias； and use other
arguments； then I say again； that a statue you shall have of beaten
gold； and take your place by the colossal offerings of the Cypselids
at Olympia。
Soc。 How profoundly in earnest is the lover； because to tease him
I lay a finger upon his love！ And so； Phaedrus； you really imagine
that I am going to improve upon the ingenuity of Lysias？
Phaedr。 There I have you as you had me； and you must just speak
〃as you best can。〃 Do not let us exchange 〃tu quoque〃 as in a farce；
or compel me to say to you as you said to me； 〃I know Socrates as well
as I know myself； and he was wanting to； speak； but he gave himself
airs。〃 Rather I would have you consider that from this place we stir
not until you have unbosomed yourself of the speech； for here are we
all alone； and I am stronger； remember； and younger than you…Wherefore
perpend； and do not compel me to use violence。
Soc。 But； my sweet Phaedrus； how ridiculous it would be of me to
compete with Lysias in an extempore speech！ He is a master in his
art and I am an untaught man。
Phaedr。 You see how matters stand； and therefore let there be no
more pretences； for； indeed； I know the word that is irresistible。
Soc。 Then don't say it。
Phaedr。 Yes； but I will； and my word shall be an oath。 〃I say； or
rather swear〃…but what god will be witness of my oath？…〃By this
plane…tree I swear； that unless you repeat the discourse here in the
face of this very plane…tree； I will never tell you another； never let
you have word of another！〃
Soc。 Villain I am conquered； the poor lover of discourse has no more
to say。
Phaedr。 Then why are you still at your tricks？
Soc。 I am not going to play tricks now that you have taken the oath；
for I cannot allow myself to be starved。
Phaedr。 Proceed。
Soc。 Shall I tell you what I will do？
Phaedr。 What？
Soc。 I will veil my face and gallop through the discourse as fast as
I can； for if I see you I shall feel ashamed and not know what to say。
Phaedr。 Only go on and you may do anything else which you please。
Soc。 Come； O ye Muses； melodious； as ye are called； whether you have
received this name from the character of your strains； or because
the Melians are a musical race； help； O help me in the tale which my
good friend here desires me to rehearse； in order that his friend whom
he always deemed wise may seem to him to be wiser than ever。
Once upon a time there was a fair boy； or； more properly speaking； a
youth； he was very fair and had a great many lovers； and there was one
special cunning one； who had persuaded the youth that he did not
love him； but he really loved him all the same； and one day when he
was paying his addresses to him； he used this very argument…that he
ought to accept the non…lover rather than the lover； his words were as
follows：…
〃All good counsel begins in the same way； a man should know what
he is advising about； or his counsel will all come to nought。 But
people imagine that they know about the nature of things； when they
don't know about them； and； not having come to an understanding at
first because they think that they know； they end； as might be
expected； in contradicting one another and themselves。 Now you and I
must not be guilty of this fundamental error which we condemn in
others； but as our question is whether the lover or non…lover is to be
preferred； let us first of all agree in defining the nature and
power of love； and then； keeping our eyes upon the definition and to
this appealing； let us further enquire whether love brings advantage
or disadvantage。
〃Every one sees that love is a desire； and we know also that
non…lovers desire the beautiful and good。 Now in what way is the lover
to be distinguished from the non…lover？ Let us note that in every
one of us there are two guiding and ruling principles which lead us
whither they will； one is the natural desire of pleasure； the other is
an acquired opinion which aspires after the best； and these two are
sometimes in harmony and then again at war； and sometimes the one；
sometimes the other conquers。 When opinion by the help of reason leads
us to the best； the conquering principle is called temperance； but
when desire； which is devoid of reason； rules in us and drags us to
pleasure； that power of misrule is called excess。 Now excess has
many names； and many members； and many forms； and any of these forms
when very marked gives a name； neither honourable nor creditable； to
the bearer of the name。 The desire of eating； for example； which
gets the better of the higher reason and the other desires； is
called gluttony； and he who is possessed by it is called a glutton…I
the tyrannical desire of drink； which inclines the possessor of the
desire to drink； has a name which is only too obvious； and there can
be as little doubt by what name any other appetite of the same
family would be called；…it will be the name of that which happens to
be eluminant。 And now I think that you will perceive the drift of my
discourse； but as every spoken word is in a manner plainer than the
unspoken； I had better say further that the irrational desire which
overcomes the tendency of opinion towards right； and is led away to
the enjoyment of