Nor am I singular in thus reproaching the modern type of sophist (not the true philosopher, be it understood); it is a general reproach that the wisdom he professes10 consists in word-subtleties, not in ideas.8 Certainly it does not escape my notice that an orderly sequence of ideas adds beauty to the composition:9 I mean it will be easy to find fault with what is written incorrectly.10 Nevertheless, I warrant it is written in this fashion with an eye to rectitude, to make the reader wise and good, not more sophistical. For I would wish my writings not to seem but rather to be useful. I would have them stand the test of ages in their blamelessness.11
That is my point of view. The sophist has quite another — words with him are for the sake of deception11, writing for personal gain; to benefit any other living soul at all is quite beside his mark. There never was nor is there now a sage12 among them to whom the title “wise” could be applied13. No! the appellation14 “sophist” suffices for each and all, which among men of common sense12 sounds like a stigma15. My advice then is to mistrust the sonorous16 catch-words13 of the sophist, and not to despise the reasoned conclusions14 of the philosopher; for the sophist is a hunter after the rich and young, the philosopher is the common friend of all; he neither honours nor despises the fortunes of men.
Nor would I have you envy or imitate those either who recklessly pursue the path of self-aggrandisement,15 whether in private or in public life; but consider well16 that the best of men,17 the true nobility, are discovered by their virtues;18 they are a laborious17 upwards-striving race; whilst the base are in evil plight19 and are discovered by their demerits.20 Since in proportion as they rob the private citizen of his means and despoil18 the state21 they are less serviceable with a view to the public safety than any private citizen;22 and what can be worse or more disgraceful for purposes of war than the bodily form of people so incapable19 of toil20?23 Think of huntsmen by contrast, surrendering to the common weal person and property alike in perfect condition for service of the citizens. They have both a battle to wage certainly: only the one set are for attacking beasts; and the other their own friends.24 And naturally the assailant of his own friends does not win the general esteem;25 whilst the huntsman in attacking a wild beast may win renown21. If successful in his capture, he was won a victory over a hostile brood; or failing, in the first place, it is a feather in his cap that his attempt is made against enemies of the whole community; and secondly22, that it is not to the detriment23 of man nor for love of gain that the field is taken; and thirdly, as the outcome of the very attempt, the hunter is improved in many respects, and all the wiser: by what means we will explain. Were it not for the very excess of his pains, his well-reasoned devices, his manifold precautions, he would never capture the quarry24 at all; since the antagonists25 he deals with are doing battle for bare life and in their native haunts,26 and are consequently in great force. So that if he fails to overmatch the beasts by a zest26 for toil transcending27 theirs and plentiful28 intelligence, the huntsman’s labours are in vain.
I go back to my proposition then. Those self-seeking politicians, who want to feather their own nests,27 practise to win victories over their own side, but the sportsman confines himself to the common enemy. This training of theirs renders the one set more able to cope with the foreign foe29, the others far less able. The hunting of the one is carried on with self-restraint, of the others with effrontery30. The one can look down with contempt upon maliciousness31 and sordid32 love of gain, the other cannot. The very speech and intonation33 of the one has melody, of the other harshness. And with regard to things divine, the one set know no obstacle to their impiety34, the others are of all men the most pious35. Indeed ancient tales affirm28 that the very gods themselves take joy in this work29 as actors and spectators. So that,30 with due reflection on these things, the young who act upon my admonitions will be found, perchance, beloved of heaven and reverent36 of soul, checked by the thought that some one of the gods is eyeing their performance.
These are the youths who will prove a blessing37 to their parents, and not to their parents only but to the whole state; to every citizen alike and individual friend.
Nay38, what has sex to do with it? It is not only men enamoured of the chase that have become heroes, but among women there are also to whom our lady Artemis has granted a like boon39 — Atalanta, and Procris, and many another huntress fair.
The End
点击收听单词发音
1 profess | |
v.声称,冒称,以...为业,正式接受入教,表明信仰 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 frivolous | |
adj.轻薄的;轻率的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 pall | |
v.覆盖,使平淡无味;n.柩衣,棺罩;棺材;帷幕 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 inflict | |
vt.(on)把…强加给,使遭受,使承担 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 wholesome | |
adj.适合;卫生的;有益健康的;显示身心健康的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 vestige | |
n.痕迹,遗迹,残余 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 subtlety | |
n.微妙,敏锐,精巧;微妙之处,细微的区别 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 worthy | |
adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 professes | |
声称( profess的第三人称单数 ); 宣称; 公开表明; 信奉 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 deception | |
n.欺骗,欺诈;骗局,诡计 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 sage | |
n.圣人,哲人;adj.贤明的,明智的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 appellation | |
n.名称,称呼 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 stigma | |
n.耻辱,污名;(花的)柱头 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 sonorous | |
adj.响亮的,回响的;adv.圆润低沉地;感人地;n.感人,堂皇 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 laborious | |
adj.吃力的,努力的,不流畅 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 despoil | |
v.夺取,抢夺 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 incapable | |
adj.无能力的,不能做某事的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 toil | |
vi.辛劳工作,艰难地行动;n.苦工,难事 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 renown | |
n.声誉,名望 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 secondly | |
adv.第二,其次 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 detriment | |
n.损害;损害物,造成损害的根源 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 quarry | |
n.采石场;v.采石;费力地找 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 antagonists | |
对立[对抗] 者,对手,敌手( antagonist的名词复数 ); 对抗肌; 对抗药 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 zest | |
n.乐趣;滋味,风味;兴趣 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 transcending | |
超出或超越(经验、信念、描写能力等)的范围( transcend的现在分词 ); 优于或胜过… | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 plentiful | |
adj.富裕的,丰富的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 foe | |
n.敌人,仇敌 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 effrontery | |
n.厚颜无耻 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 maliciousness | |
[法] 恶意 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 sordid | |
adj.肮脏的,不干净的,卑鄙的,暗淡的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 intonation | |
n.语调,声调;发声 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 impiety | |
n.不敬;不孝 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 pious | |
adj.虔诚的;道貌岸然的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 reverent | |
adj.恭敬的,虔诚的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 blessing | |
n.祈神赐福;祷告;祝福,祝愿 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 nay | |
adv.不;n.反对票,投反对票者 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 boon | |
n.恩赐,恩物,恩惠 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |