第10章

Exactly—— Evenso，asImaintain，neitherwenorourguardians，whomwehavetoeducate，caneverbecomemusicaluntilweandtheyknowtheessentialforms，inalltheircombinations，andcanrecognisethemandtheirimageswherevertheyarefound，notslightingthemeitherinsmallthingsorgreat，butbelievingthemalltobewithinthesphereofoneartandstudy。 Mostassuredly。 Andwhenabeautifulsoulharmoniseswithabeautifulform，andthetwoarecastinonemould，thatwillbethefairestofsightstohimwhohasaneyetoseeit？ Thefairestindeed。 Andthefairestisalsotheloveliest？ Thatmaybeassumed。 Andthemanwhohasthespiritofharmonywillbemostinlovewiththeloveliest；buthewillnotlovehimwhoisofaninharmonioussoul？ Thatistrue，hereplied，ifthedeficiencybeinhissoul；butiftherebeanymerelybodilydefectinanotherhewillbepatientofit，andwillloveallthesame。 Iperceive，Isaid，thatyouhaveorhavehadexperiencesofthissort，andIagree。Butletmeaskyouanotherquestion：Hasexcessofpleasureanyaffinitytotemperance？ Howcanthatbe？hereplied；pleasuredeprivesamanoftheuseofhisfacultiesquiteasmuchaspain。 Oranyaffinitytovirtueingeneral？ Nonewhatever。 Anyaffinitytowantonnessandintemperance？ Yes，thegreatest。 Andisthereanygreaterorkeenerpleasurethanthatofsensuallove？ No，noramadder。 Whereastrueloveisaloveofbeautyandorder——temperateandharmonious？ Quitetrue，hesaid。 Thennointemperanceormadnessshouldbeallowedtoapproachtruelove？ Certainlynot。 Thenmadorintemperatepleasuremustneverbeallowedtocomeneartheloverandhisbeloved；neitherofthemcanhaveanypartinitiftheirloveisoftherightsort？ No，indeed，Socrates，itmustnevercomenearthem。 ThenIsupposethatinthecitywhichwearefoundingyouwouldmakealawtotheeffectthatafriendshouldusenootherfamiliaritytohislovethanafatherwouldusetohisson，andthenonlyforanoblepurpose，andhemustfirsthavetheother’sconsent；andthisruleistolimithiminallhisintercourse，andheisnevertobeseengoingfurther，or，ifheexceeds，heistobedeemedguiltyofcoarsenessandbadtaste。 Iquiteagree，hesaid。 Thusmuchofmusic，whichmakesafairending；forwhatshouldbetheendofmusicifnottheloveofbeauty？ Iagree，hesaid。 Aftermusiccomesgymnastic，inwhichouryoutharenexttobetrained。 Certainly。 Gymnasticaswellasmusicshouldbegininearlyyears；thetraininginitshouldbecarefulandshouldcontinuethroughlife。Nowmybeliefis，——andthisisamatteruponwhichIshouldliketohaveyouropinioninconfirmationofmyown，butmyownbeliefis，——notthatthegoodbodybyanybodilyexcellenceimprovesthesoul，but，onthecontrary，thatthegoodsoul，byherownexcellence，improvesthebodyasfarasthismaybepossible。Whatdoyousay？ Yes，Iagree。 Then，tothemindwhenadequatelytrained，weshallberightinhandingoverthemoreparticularcareofthebody；andinordertoavoidprolixitywewillnowonlygivethegeneraloutlinesofthesubject。 Verygood。 Thattheymustabstainfromintoxicationhasbeenalreadyremarkedbyus；forofallpersonsaguardianshouldbethelasttogetdrunkandnotknowwhereintheworldheis。 Yes，hesaid；thataguardianshouldrequireanotherguardiantotakecareofhimisridiculousindeed。 Butnext，whatshallwesayoftheirfood；forthemenareintrainingforthegreatcontestofall——aretheynot？ Yes，hesaid。 Andwillthehabitofbodyofourordinaryathletesbesuitedtothem？ Whynot？ Iamafraid，Isaid，thatahabitofbodysuchastheyhaveisbutasleepysortofthing，andratherperiloustohealth。Doyounotobservethattheseathletessleepawaytheirlives，andareliabletomostdangerousillnessesiftheydepart，ineversoslightadegree，fromtheircustomaryregimen？ Yes，Ido。 Then，Isaid，afinersortoftrainingwillberequiredforourwarriorathletes，whoaretobelikewakefuldogs，andtoseeandhearwiththeutmostkeenness；amidthemanychangesofwaterandalsooffood，ofsummerheatandwintercold，whichtheywillhavetoendurewhenonacampaign，theymustnotbeliabletobreakdowninhealth。 Thatismyview。 Thereallyexcellentgymnasticistwinsisterofthatsimplemusicwhichwewerejustnowdescribing。 Howso？ Why，Iconceivethatthereisagymnasticwhich，likeourmusic，issimpleandgood；andespeciallythemilitarygymnastic。 Whatdoyoumean？ MymeaningmaybelearnedfromHomer；he，youknow，feedshisheroesattheirfeasts，whentheyarecampaigning，onsoldiers’fare；theyhavenofish，althoughtheyareontheshoresoftheHellespont，andtheyarenotallowedboiledmeatsbutonlyroast，whichisthefoodmostconvenientforsoldiers，requiringonlythattheyshouldlightafire，andnotinvolvingthetroubleofcarryingaboutpotsandpans。 True。 AndIcanhardlybemistakeninsayingthatsweetsaucesarenowherementionedinHomer。Inproscribingthem，however，heisnotsingular；allprofessionalathletesarewellawarethatamanwhoistobeingoodconditionshouldtakenothingofthekind。 Yes，hesaid；andknowingthis，theyarequiterightinnottakingthem。 ThenyouwouldnotapproveofSyracusandinners，andtherefinementsofSiciliancookery？ Ithinknot。 Nor，ifamanistobeincondition，wouldyouallowhimtohaveaCorinthiangirlashisfairfriend？ Certainlynot。 Neitherwouldyouapproveofthedelicacies，astheyarethought，ofAthenianconfectionery？ Certainlynot。 Allsuchfeedingandlivingmayberightlycomparedbyustomelodyandsongcomposedinthepanharmonicstyle，andinalltherhythms。Exactly。 Therecomplexityengenderedlicense，andheredisease；whereassimplicityinmusicwastheparentoftemperanceinthesoul；andsimplicityingymnasticofhealthinthebody。 Mosttrue，hesaid。 ButwhenintemperanceanddiseasemultiplyinaState，hallsofjusticeandmedicinearealwaysbeingopened；andtheartsofthedoctorandthelawyergivethemselvesairs，findinghowkeenistheinterestwhichnotonlytheslavesbutthefreemenofacitytakeaboutthem。 Ofcourse。 Andyetwhatgreaterproofcantherebeofabadanddisgracefulstateofeducationthanthis，thatnotonlyartisansandthemeanersortofpeopleneedtheskilloffirst—ratephysiciansandjudges，butalsothosewhowouldprofesstohavehadaliberaleducation？Isitnotdisgraceful，andagreatsignofwantofgood—breeding，thatamanshouldhavetogoabroadforhislawandphysicbecausehehasnoneofhisownathome，andmustthereforesurrenderhimselfintothehandsofothermenwhomhemakeslordsandjudgesoverhim？ Ofallthings，hesaid，themostdisgraceful。 Wouldyousay’most，’Ireplied，whenyouconsiderthatthereisafurtherstageoftheevilinwhichamanisnotonlyalife—longlitigant，passingallhisdaysinthecourts，eitherasplaintiffordefendant，butisactuallyledbyhisbadtastetopridehimselfonhislitigiousness；heimaginesthatheisamasterindishonesty；abletotakeeverycrookedturn，andwriggleintoandoutofeveryhole，bendinglikeawithyandgettingoutofthewayofjustice：andallforwhat？——inordertogainsmallpointsnotworthmentioning，henotknowingthatsotoorderhislifeastobeabletodowithoutanappingjudgeisafarhigherandnoblersortofthing。Isnotthatstillmoredisgraceful？ Yes，hesaid，thatisstillmoredisgraceful。 Well，Isaid，andtorequirethehelpofmedicine，notwhenawoundhastobecured，oronoccasionofanepidemic，butjustbecause，byindolenceandahabitoflifesuchaswehavebeendescribing，menfillthemselveswithwatersandwinds，asiftheirbodieswereamarsh，compellingtheingenioussonsofAsclepiustofindmorenamesfordiseases，suchasflatulenceandcatarrh；isnotthis，too，adisgrace？ Yes，hesaid，theydocertainlygiveverystrangeandnewfanglednamestodiseases。 Yes，Isaid，andIdonotbelievethattherewereanysuchdiseasesinthedaysofAsclepius；andthisIinferfromthecircumstancethattheheroEurypylus，afterhehasbeenwoundedinHomer，drinksapossetofPramnianwinewellbesprinkledwithbarley—mealandgratedcheese，whicharecertainlyinflammatory，andyetthesonsofAsclepiuswhowereattheTrojanwardonotblamethedamselwhogiveshimthedrink，orrebukePatroclus，whoistreatinghiscase。 Well，hesaid，thatwassurelyanextraordinarydrinktobegiventoapersoninhiscondition。 Notsoextraordinary，Ireplied，ifyoubearinmindthatinformerdays，asiscommonlysaid，beforethetimeofHerodicus，theguildofAsclepiusdidnotpractiseourpresentsystemofmedicine，whichmaybesaidtoeducatediseases。ButHerodicus，beingatrainer，andhimselfofasicklyconstitution，byacombinationoftraininganddoctoringfoundoutawayoftorturingfirstandchieflyhimself，andsecondlytherestoftheworld。 Howwasthat？hesaid。 Bytheinventionoflingeringdeath；forhehadamortaldiseasewhichheperpetuallytended，andasrecoverywasoutofthequestion，hepassedhisentirelifeasavaletudinarian；hecoulddonothingbutattenduponhimself，andhewasinconstanttormentwheneverhedepartedinanythingfromhisusualregimen，andsodyinghard，bythehelpofsciencehestruggledontooldage。 Ararerewardofhisskill！ Yes，Isaid；arewardwhichamanmightfairlyexpectwhoneverunderstoodthat，ifAsclepiusdidnotinstructhisdescendantsinvaletudinarianarts，theomissionarose，notfromignoranceorinexperienceofsuchabranchofmedicine，butbecauseheknewthatinallwell—orderedstateseveryindividualhasanoccupationtowhichhemustattend，andhasthereforenoleisuretospendincontinuallybeingill。Thisweremarkinthecaseoftheartisan，but，ludicrouslyenough，donotapplythesameruletopeopleoftherichersort。 Howdoyoumean？hesaid。 Imeanthis：Whenacarpenterisillheasksthephysicianforaroughandreadycure；anemeticorapurgeoracauteryortheknife，——thesearehisremedies。Andifsomeoneprescribesforhimacourseofdietetics，andtellshimthathemustswatheandswaddlehishead，andallthatsortofthing，herepliesatoncethathehasnotimetobeill，andthatheseesnogoodinalifewhichisspentinnursinghisdiseasetotheneglectofhiscustomaryemployment；andthereforebiddinggood—byetothissortofphysician，heresumeshisordinaryhabits，andeithergetswellandlivesanddoeshisbusiness，or，ifhisconstitutionfalls，hediesandhasnomoretrouble。 Yes，hesaid，andamaninhisconditionoflifeoughttousetheartofmedicinethusfaronly。 Hashenot，Isaid，anoccupation；andwhatprofitwouldtherebeinhislifeifheweredeprivedofhisoccupation？ Quitetrue，hesaid。 Butwiththerichmanthisisotherwise；ofhimwedonotsaythathehasanyspeciallyappointedworkwhichhemustperform，ifhewouldlive。 Heisgenerallysupposedtohavenothingtodo。 ThenyouneverheardofthesayingofPhocylides，thatassoonasamanhasalivelihoodheshouldpractisevirtue？ Nay，hesaid，Ithinkthathehadbetterbeginsomewhatsooner。 Letusnothaveadisputewithhimaboutthis，Isaid；butratheraskourselves：Isthepracticeofvirtueobligatoryontherichman，orcanhelivewithoutit？Andifobligatoryonhim，thenletusraiseafurtherquestion，whetherthisdietingofdisorderswhichisanimpedimenttotheapplicationofthemindtincarpenteringandthemechanicalarts，doesnotequallystandinthewayofthesentimentofPhocylides？ Ofthat，hereplied，therecanbenodoubt；suchexcessivecareofthebody，whencarriedbeyondtherulesofgymnastic，ismostinimicaltothepracticeofvirtue。 Yes，indeed，Ireplied，andequallyincompatiblewiththemanagementofahouse，anarmy，oranofficeofstate；and，whatismostimportantofall，irreconcilablewithanykindofstudyorthoughtorself—reflection——thereisaconstantsuspicionthatheadacheandgiddinessaretobeascribedtophilosophy，andhenceallpractisingormakingtrialofvirtueinthehighersenseisabsolutelystopped； foramanisalwaysfancyingthatheisbeingmadeill，andisinconstantanxietyaboutthestateofhisbody。 Yes，likelyenough。 AndthereforeourpoliticAsclepiusmaybesupposedtohaveexhibitedthepowerofhisartonlytopersonswho，beinggenerallyofhealthyconstitutionandhabitsoflife，hadadefiniteailment； suchasthesehecuredbypurgesandoperations，andbadethemliveasusual，hereinconsultingtheinterestsoftheState；butbodieswhichdiseasehadpenetratedthroughandthroughhewouldnothaveattemptedtocurebygradualprocessesofevacuationandinfusion： hedidnotwanttolengthenoutgood—for—nothinglives，ortohaveweakfathersbegettingweakersons；——ifamanwasnotabletoliveintheordinarywayhehadnobusinesstocurehim；forsuchacurewouldhavebeenofnouseeithertohimself，ortotheState。 Then，hesaid，youregardAsclepiusasastatesman。 Clearly；andhischaracterisfurtherillustratedbyhissons。 NotethattheywereheroesinthedaysofoldandpractisedthemedicinesofwhichIamspeakingatthesiegeofTroy：Youwillrememberhow，whenPandaruswoundedMenelaus，theySuckedthebloodoutofthewound，andsprinkledsoothingremedies，buttheyneverprescribedwhatthepatientwasafterwardstoeatordrinkinthecaseofMenelaus，anymorethaninthecaseofEurypylus； theremedies，astheyconceived，wereenoughtohealanymanwhobeforehewaswoundedwashealthyandregularinhabits；andeventhoughhedidhappentodrinkapossetofPramnianwine，hemightgetwellallthesame。Buttheywouldhavenothingtodowithunhealthyandintemperatesubjects，whoseliveswereofnouseeithertothemselvesorothers；theartofmedicinewasnotdesignedfortheirgood，andthoughtheywereasrichasMidas，thesonsofAsclepiuswouldhavedeclinedtoattendthem。 Theywereveryacutepersons，thosesonsofAsclepius。 Naturallyso，Ireplied。Nevertheless，thetragediansandPindardisobeyingourbehests，althoughtheyacknowledgethatAsclepiuswasthesonofApollo，sayalsothathewasbribedintohealingarichmanwhowasatthepointofdeath，andforthisreasonhewasstruckbylightning。Butwe，inaccordancewiththeprinciplealreadyaffirmedbyus，willnotbelievethemwhentheytellusboth；——ifhewasthesonofagod，wemaintainthathdwasnotavaricious；or，ifhewasavaricioushewasnotthesonofagod。 Allthat，Socrates，isexcellent；butIshouldliketoputaquestiontoyou：OughttherenottobegoodphysiciansinaState，andarenotthebestthosewhohavetreatedthegreatestnumberofconstitutionsgoodandbad？andarenotthebestjudgesinlikemannerthosewhoareacquaintedwithallsortsofmoralnatures？ Yes，Isaid，Itoowouldhavegoodjudgesandgoodphysicians。ButdoyouknowwhomIthinkgood？ Willyoutellme？ Iwill，ifIcan。Letmehowevernotethatinthesamequestionyoujointwothingswhicharenotthesame。 Howso？heasked。 Why，Isaid，youjoinphysiciansandjudges。Nowthemostskilfulphysiciansarethosewho，fromtheiryouthupwards，havecombinedwiththeknowledgeoftheirartthegreatestexperienceofdisease；theyhadbetternotberobustinhealth，andshouldhavehadallmannerofdiseasesintheirownpersons。Forthebody，asIconceive，isnottheinstrumentwithwhichtheycurethebody；inthatcasewecouldnotallowthemevertobeortohavebeensickly；buttheycurethebodywiththemind，andthemindwhichhasbecomeandissickcancurenothing。 Thatisverytrue，hesaid。 Butwiththejudgeitisotherwise；sincehegovernsmindbymind； heoughtnotthereforetohavebeentrainedamongviciousminds，andtohaveassociatedwiththemfromyouthupwards，andtohavegonethroughthewholecalendarofcrime，onlyinorderthathemayquicklyinferthecrimesofothersashemighttheirbodilydiseasesfromhisownself—consciousness；thehonourablemindwhichistoformahealthyjudgmentshouldhavehadnoexperienceorcontaminationofevilhabitswhenyoung。Andthisisthereasonwhyinyouthgoodmenoftenappeartobesimple，andareeasilypractiseduponbythedishonest，becausetheyhavenoexamplesofwhatevilisintheirownsouls。 Yes，hesaid，theyarefartooapttobedeceived。 Therefore，Isaid，thejudgeshouldnotbeyoung；heshouldhavelearnedtoknowevil，notfromhisownsoul，butfromlateandlongobservationofthenatureofevilinothers：knowledgeshouldbehisguide，notpersonalexperience。 Yes，hesaid，thatistheidealofajudge。 Yes，Ireplied，andhewillbeagoodman（whichismyanswertoyourquestion）；forheisgoodwhohasagoodsoul。Butthecunningandsuspiciousnatureofwhichwespoke，——hewhohascommittedmanycrimes，andfancieshimselftobeamasterinwickedness，whenheisamongsthisfellows，iswonderfulintheprecautionswhichhetakes，becausehejudgesofthembyhimself：butwhenhegetsintothecompanyofmenofvirtue，whohavetheexperienceofage，heappearstobeafoolagain，owingtohisunseasonablesuspicions；hecannotrecogniseanhonestman，becausehehasnopatternofhonestyinhimself；atthesametime，asthebadaremorenumerousthanthegood，andhemeetswiththemoftener，hethinkshimself，andisbyothersthoughttobe，ratherwisethanfoolish。 Mosttrue，hesaid。 Thenthegoodandwisejudgewhomweareseekingisnotthisman，buttheother；forvicecannotknowvirtuetoo，butavirtuousnature，educatedbytime，willacquireaknowledgebothofvirtueandvice： thevirtuous，andnotthevicious，manhaswisdom——inmyopinion。 Andinminealso。 Thisisthesortofmedicine，andthisisthesortoflaw，whichyousanctioninyourState。Theywillministertobetternatures，givinghealthbothofsoulandofbody；butthosewhoarediseasedintheirbodiestheywillleavetodie，andthecorruptandincurablesoulstheywillputanendtothemselves。 ThatisclearlythebestthingbothforthepatientsandfortheState。 Andthusouryouth，havingbeeneducatedonlyinthatsimplemusicwhich，aswesaid，inspirestemperance，willbereluctanttogotolaw。 Clearly。 Andthemusician，who，keepingtothesametrack，iscontenttopractisethesimplegymnastic，willhavenothingtodowithmedicineunlessinsomeextremecase。 ThatIquitebelieve。 Theveryexercisesandtollswhichheundergoesareintendedtostimulatethespiritedelementofhisnature，andnottoincreasehisstrength；hewillnot，likecommonathletes，useexerciseandregimentodevelophismuscles。 Veryright，hesaid。 Neitherarethetwoartsofmusicandgymnasticreallydesigned，asisoftensupposed，theoneforthetrainingofthesoul，theotherfirthetrainingofthebody。 Whatthenistherealobjectofthem？ Ibelieve，Isaid，thattheteachersofbothhaveinviewchieflytheimprovementofthesoul。 Howcanthatbe？heasked。 Didyouneverobserve，Isaid，theeffectontheminditselfofexclusivedevotiontogymnastic，ortheoppositeeffectofanexclusivedevotiontomusic？ Inwhatwayshown？hesaid。 Theoneproducingatemperofhardnessandferocity，theotherofsoftnessandeffeminacy，Ireplied。 Yes，hesaid，Iamquiteawarethatthemereathletebecomestoomuchofasavage，andthatthemeremusicianismeltedandsoftenedbeyondwhatisgoodforhim。 Yetsurely，Isaid，thisferocityonlycomesfromspirit，which，ifrightlyeducated，wouldgivecourage，but，iftoomuchintensified，isliabletobecomehardandbrutal。 ThatIquitethink。 Ontheotherhandthephilosopherwillhavethequalityofgentleness。Andthisalso，whentoomuchindulged，willturntosoftness，but，ifeducatedrightly，willbegentleandmoderate。 True。 Andinouropiniontheguardiansoughttohaveboththesequalities？ Assuredly。 Andbothshouldbeinharmony？ Beyondquestion。 Andtheharmonioussoulisbothtemperateandcourageous？ Yes。 Andtheinharmoniousiscowardlyandboorish？ Verytrue。 And，whenamanallowsmusictoplayuponhimandtopourintohissoulthroughthefunnelofhisearsthosesweetandsoftandmelancholyairsofwhichwewerejustnowspeaking，andhiswholelifeispassedinwarblingandthedelightsofsong；inthefirststageoftheprocessthepassionorspiritwhichisinhimistemperedlikeiron，andmadeuseful，insteadofbrittleanduseless。But，ifhecarriesonthesofteningandsoothingprocess，inthenextstagehebeginstomeltandwaste，untilhehaswastedawayhisspiritandcutoutthesinewsofhissoul；andhebecomesafeeblewarrior。 Verytrue。 Iftheelementofspiritisnaturallyweakinhimthechangeisspeedilyaccomplished，butifhehaveagooddeal，thenthepowerofmusicweakeningthespiritrendershimexcitable；——ontheleastprovocationheflamesupatonce，andisspeedilyextinguished； insteadofhavingspirithegrowsirritableandpassionateandisquiteimpracticable。 Exactly。