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！
men of common mould will single out a man； who is a man；＇15＇ they feel；
and competent to be their benefactor； one from whom they hope to reap
rich blessings。 His name lives upon their lips in praise。 As they gaze at him；
each one among them sees in him a private treasure。 Spontaneously they
yield him passage in the streets。 They rise from their seats to do him
honour； out of love not fear； they crown him for his public＇16＇ virtue's
sake and benefactions。 They shower gifts upon him of their own free
choice。 These same are they who； if my definition holds； may well be said
to render honour to their hero by such service； whilst he that is held
worthy of these services is truly honoured。 And for my part I can but offer
my congratulations to him。 〃God bless him；〃 say I； perceiving that so far
from being the butt of foul conspiracy； he is an object of anxiety to all； lest
evil should betide him； and so he pursues the even tenour of his days in
happiness exempt from fears and jealousy＇17＇ and risk。 But the current of
the tyrant's life runs differently。 Day and night； I do assure you； Simonides；
he lives like one condemned by the general verdict of mankind to die for
his iniquity。
＇14＇ Lit。 〃Honours would seem to be the outcome and expression of
conditions utterly remote from these； in fact their very opposites。〃
＇15＇ Cf。 Napoleon's accost of Goethe； 〃Vous etes un homme；〃 and 〃as
Goethe left the room； Napoleon repeated to Berthier and Daru； 'Voila
un homme！'〃 （〃The Life of Goethe；〃 Lewes； p。 500）。
＇16＇ Reading ｛koines｝； which ought to mean 〃common to them and
him〃； if with Cobet ｛koine｝； 〃in public crown him for his virtue's
sake； a benefactor。〃
＇17＇ Or； 〃without reproach。〃
Now when Simonides had listened to these reasonings to the end；＇18＇
he answered： How is it； Hiero； if to play the tyrant is a thing so
villainous；＇19＇ and that is your final judgment； how comes it you are not
32
… Page 33…
Hiero
quit of so monstrous an evil？ Neither you； nor； for that matter； any
monarch else I ever heard of； having once possessed the power； did ever of
his own free will divest himself of sovereignty。 How is that； Hiero？
＇18＇ Cf。 〃Econ。〃 xi。 1。
＇19＇ Or； 〃if to monarchise and play the despot。〃
For one simple reason （the tyrant answered）； and herein lies the
supreme misery of despotic power； it is not possible even to be quit of
it。＇20＇ How could the life of any single tyrant suffice to square the account？
How should he pay in full to the last farthing all the moneys of all whom
he has robbed？ with what chains laid upon him make requital to all those
he has thrust into felons' quarters？＇21＇ how proffer lives enough to die in
compensation of the dead men he has slain？ how die a thousand deaths？
＇20＇ Holden aptly cf。 Plut。 〃Sol。〃 14； ｛kalon men einai ten torannida
khorion； ouk ekhein de apobasin｝； 〃it was true a tyrrany was a very
fair spot； but it had no way down from it〃 （Clough； i。 p。 181）。
＇21＇ Or； 〃how undergo in his own person the imprisonments he has
inflicted？〃 Reading ｛antipaskhoi｝； or if ｛antiparaskhoi｝； transl。 〃how
could he replace in his own person the exact number of
imprisonments which he has inflicted on others？〃
Ah； no！ Simonides （he added）； if to hang one's self outright be ever
gainful to pour mortal soul； then； take my word for it； that is the tyrant's
remedy： there's none better suited＇22＇ to his case； since he alone of all
men is in this dilemma； that neither to keep nor lay aside his troubles
profits him。
＇22＇ Or； 〃nought more profitable to meet the case。〃 The author plays
on ｛lusitelei｝ according to his wont。
33
… Page 34…
Hiero
VIII
Here Simonides took up the thread of the discourse＇1＇ as follows： That
for the moment； Hiero； you should be out of heart regarding tyranny＇2＇ I
do not wonder； since you have a strong desire to be loved by human
beings； and you are persuaded that it is your office which balks the
realisation of your dream。
＇1＇ Al。 〃took up the speaker thus。〃
＇2＇ 〃In reference to despotic rule。〃
Now； however； I am no less certain I can prove to you that
government＇3＇ implies no obstacle to being loved； but rather holds the
advantage over private life so far。 And whilst investigating if this be really
so； let us not embarass the inquiry by asking whether in proportion to his
greater power the ruler is able to do kindness on a grander scale。 But put it
thus： Two human beings； the one in humble circumstances；＇4＇ the other a
despotic ruler； perform a common act； which of these twain will； under
like conditions；＇5＇ win the larger thanks？ I will begin with the most
trifling＇6＇ examples； and first a simple friendly salutation； 〃Good day；〃
〃Good evening；〃 dropped at sight of some one from the lips of here a ruler；
there a private citizen。 In such a case； whose salutation will sound the
pleasanter to him accosted？
＇3＇ ｛to arkhein｝。 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 passim。
＇4＇ 〃A private person。〃
＇5＇ Lit。 〃by like expenditure of power。〃
＇6＇ ｛arkhomai soi｝。 Lit。 〃I'll begin you with quite commonplace
examples。〃 Holden cf。 Shakesp。 〃Merry Wives；〃 i。 4。 97； 〃I'll do you
your master what good I can〃； 〃Much Ado；〃 ii。 3。 115； 〃She will sit
you。〃 For the distinction between ｛paradeigmaton｝ = examples and
｛upodeigmata｝ = suggestions see 〃Horsem。〃 ii。 2。
Or again；＇7＇ let us suppose that both should have occasion to
pronounce a panegyric。 Whose compliments will carry farther； in the way
of delectation； think you？ Or on occasion of a solemn sacrifice； suppose
they do a friend the honour of an invitation。＇8＇ In either case it is an
honour； but which will be regarded with the greater gratitude； the
34
… Page 35…
Hiero
monarch's or the lesser man's？
＇7＇ 〃Come now。〃
＇8＇ Cf。 〃Mem。〃 II。 iii。 11 as to 〃sacrifices as a means of social
enjoyment。〃 Dr。 Holden cf。 Aristot。 〃Nic。 Eth。〃 VIII。 ix。 160； 〃And
hence it is that these clan communites and hundreds solemnise
sacrifices； in connection with which they hold large gatherings； and
thereby not only pay honour to the gods； but also provide for
themselves holiday and amusement〃 （R。 Williams）。 Thuc。 ii。 38；
〃And we have not forgotten to provide for our weary spirits many
relaxations from toil； we have regular games and sacrifices
throughout the year〃 （Jowett）。 Plut。 〃Them。〃 v。； ｛kai gar philothuten
onta kai lampron en tais peri tous xenous dapanais 。 。 。｝ 〃For loving
to sacrifice often； and to be splendid in his entertainment of strangers；
he required a plentiful revenue〃 （Clough； i。 236）。 To which add
Theophr。 〃Char。〃 xv。 2； 〃The Shameless Man〃： ｛eita thusas tois
theois autos men deipnein par' etero； ta de krea apotithenai alsi pasas；
k。t。l。｝； 〃then when he has been sacrificing to the gods； he will put
away the salted remains； and will himself dine out〃 （Jebb）。
Or let a sick man be attended with a like solicitude by both。 It is plain；
the kind attentions of the mighty potentate＇9＇ arouse in the patient's heart
immense delight。＇10＇
＇9＇ 〃Their mightinesses；〃 or as we might say； 〃their serene
highnesses。〃 Cf。 Thuc。 ii。 65。
＇10＇ 〃The greatest jubilance。〃
Or