The Symposium E-Book

Xenophon

• Herausgeber: Phoemixx Classics Ebooks
• Kategorie: Poesie und Drama
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Seitenzahl: 114

Beschreibung

The Symposium Xenophon - Xenophon the Athenian was born 431 B.C. He was a pupil of Socrates. He marched with the Spartans, and was exiled from Athens. Sparta gave him land and property in Scillus, where he lived for many years before having to move once more, to settle in Corinth. He died in 354 B.C.The Symposium records the discussion of Socrates and company at a dinner given by Callias for the youth Autolycus. Dakyns believed that Plato knew of this work, and that it influenced him to some degree when he wrote his own "Symposium."Entertainment at the dinner is provided by the Syracusan and his three performers. Their feats of skill thrill the attendants and serve as points of conversation throughout the dialogue. Much of the discussion centers on what each guest is most proud of. All their answers are playful or paradoxical: Socrates, for one, prides himself on his knowledge of the art of match-making.Xenophon consciously and carefully chooses his characters in this dialogue. Those who attend the symposium (422 B.C.) are all gentlemen (kaloikagathoi) and are united by their status. Later, however, their disagreements will lead them to conflict. The contemporary readers of the Symposium would have been familiar with each characters history, and would have recognized the ironic circumstances of the dialogue.Socrates: The main character in the work. Socrates drives and controls the conversation at the symposium. He values the craft of match-making because a good match-maker can arrange suitable marriages and friendship between cities.Xenophon begins the dialogue by saying that he thinks the deeds of men not only in their serious times, but also in their playful times, are worth mentioning. He expresses his desire to explain the deeds on such a particular occasion, at which he himself was present (Xenophon's presence at the symposium is doubted, since he would have been too young to attend at the time).After they finished eating, an entertainer from Syracuse, who had been invited by Kallias, came with his entourage of performers including a girl good at flute playing, a girl who danced spectacularly, and a very pretty boy who played the cithara and danced 2.1). The flute player and the boy play their instruments together in a performance which pleases Socrates. He praises Kallias for the dinner and the entertainment which he provided. Kallias then suggests that the party should enjoy some perfumes, but Socrates refused, saying that men ought to smell of gymnastic exercise and the men with whom they associate. This leads to a discussion of the teachability of virtue (2.6), which Socrates suggests they drop because it is controversial. The dancing girl is about to perform with the flutist (2.7).

Leseprobe

Xenophon

The Symposium

PUBLISHER NOTES:

✓ VISIT OUR WEBSITE:

LyFreedom.com

I

For myself, (1) I hold to the opinion that not alone are the serious transactions of "good and noble men" (2) most memorable, but that words and deeds distinctive of their lighter moods may claim some record. (3) In proof of which contention, I will here describe a set of incidents within the scope of my experience. (4)

(1) See Aristid. ii. foll. (2) Or, "nature's noblemen." (3) Cf. Plut. "Ages." 29 (Clough, iv. 35): "And indeed if, as Xenophon     says, in conversation good men, even in their sports and at their     wine, let fall many sayings that are worth preserving." See Grote,     "Plato," ii. 228 foll. as to the sportive character of the work. (4) Or, "let me describe a scene which I was witness of." See Hug.     "Plat. Symp." p. xv. foll.

The occasion was a horse-race (5) at the great Panathenaic festival. (6) Callias, (7) the son of Hipponicus, being a friend and lover of the boy Autolycus, (8) had brought the lad, himself the winner of the pankration, (9) to see the spectacle.

(5) See "Hipparch," ii. 1. (6) "Held towards the end of July (Hecatombaeon) every year, and with     greater pomp every four years (the third of each Olympiad)."—Gow,     84, 129, n. (7) Callias. Cobet, "Pros. X." p. 67 foll.; Boeckh, "P. E. A." p. 481. (8) See Cobet, op. cit. p. 54; Plut. "Lysand." 15 (Clough, iii. 120);     Grote, "H. G." ix. 261. (9) 420 B.C., al. 421. The date is fixed by the "Autolycus" of     Eupolis. See Athen. v. 216. For the pankration, which comprised     wrestling and boxing, see Aristot. "Rhet." i. S. 14.

As soon as the horse race was over, (10) Callias proceeded to escort Autolycus and his father, Lycon, to his house in the Piraeus, being attended also by Niceratus. (11) But catching sight of Socrates along with certain others (Critobulus, (12) Hermogenes, Antisthenes, and Charmides), he bade an attendant conduct the party with Autolycus, whilst he himself approached the group, exclaiming:

(10) See A. Martin, op. cit. p. 265. (11) Niceratus. See Cobet, op. cit. 71; Boeckh, "P. E. A." 480; Plat.     "Lach." 200 C; "Hell." II. iii. 39; Lys. xviii.; Diod. xiv. 5. (12) Critobulus, Hermogenes, Antisthenes, Charmides. See "Mem."

A happy chance brings me across your path, just when I am about to entertain Autolycus and his father at a feast. The splendour of the entertainment shall be much enhanced, I need not tell you, if my hall (13) should happily be graced by worthies like yourselves, who have attained to purity of soul, (14) rather than by generals and cavalry commanders (15) and a crowd of place-hunters. (16)

(13) Or, "dining-room." See Becker, "Charicles," 265. (14) See Grote, "H. G." viii. 619 foll. Cf. Plat. "Rep." 527 D;     "Soph." 230 E. (15) Lit. Strategoi, Hipparchs. (16) Or, "petitioners for offices of state." Reading {spoudarkhiais}.

Whereat Socrates: When will you have done with your gibes, Callias? Why, because you have yourself spent sums of money on Protagoras, (17) and Gorgias, and Prodicus, and a host of others, to learn wisdom, must you pour contempt on us poor fellows, who are but self-taught tinkers (18) in philosophy compared with you?

(17) As to Protagoras of Abdera, Gorgias of Leontini, Prodicus of     Ceos, see Plat. "Prot." 314 C, "Rep." x. 600 C, "Apol." 19 E;     "Anab." II. vi. 17; "Mem." II. i. 21; "Encyc. Brit." "Sophists,"     H. Jackson. (18) Or, "hand-to-mouth cultivators of philosophy," "roturiers." Cf.     Plat. "Rep." 565 A: "A third class who work for themselves"; Thuc.     i. 141: "The Peloponnesians cultivate their own soil, and they     have no wealth either public or private." Cf. "Econ." v. 4.

Hitherto, no doubt (retorted Callias), although I had plenty of wise things to say, I have kept my wisdom to myself; but if only you will honour me with your company to-day, I promise to present myself in quite another light; you will see I am a person of no mean consideration after all. (19)

(19) Or, "I will prove to you that I am worthy of infinite respect."

Socrates and the others, while thanking Callias politely for the invitation, were not disposed at first to join the dinner party; but the annoyance of the other so to be put off was so obvious that in the end the party were persuaded to accompany their host.

After an interval devoted to gymnastic exercise (and subsequent anointing of the limbs) by some, whilst others of them took a bath, the guests were severally presented to the master of the house.

Autolycus was seated next his father, as was natural, (20) while the rest reclined on couches. Noting the scene presented, the first idea to strike the mind of any one must certainly have been that beauty has by nature something regal in it; and the more so, if it chance to be combined (as now in the person of Autolycus) with modesty and self-respect. Even as when a splendid object blazes forth at night, the eyes of men are riveted, (21) so now the beauty of Autolycus drew on him the gaze of all; nor was there one of those onlookers but was stirred to his soul's depth by him who sat there. (22) Some fell into unwonted silence, while the gestures of the rest were equally significant.

(20) Al. "Autolycus found a seat beside his father, while the rest     reclined on couches in the usual fashion." See Schneider's note. (21) Passage imitated by Max. Tyr. "Or." xxiv. 4. (22) Cf. Plat. "Charm." 154.

It seems the look betokening divine possession, no matter who the god, must ever be remarkable. Only, whilst the subject of each commoner emotion passion-whirled may be distinguished by flashings of the eye, by terror-striking tones of voice, and by the vehement fervour of the man's whole being, so he who is inspired by temperate and harmonious love (23) will wear a look of kindlier welcome in his eyes; the words he utters fall from his lips with softer intonation; and every gesture of his bodily frame conform to what is truly frank and liberal. Such, at any rate, the strange effects now wrought on Callias by love. He was like one transformed, the cynosure of all initiated in the mysteries of this divinity. (24)

(23) Cf. Plat. "Rep." iii. 403 A: "Whereas true love is a love of     beauty and order, temperate and harmonious." (24) Cf. "Econ." xxi. 12.

So they supped in silence, the whole company, as if an injunction had been laid upon them by some superior power. But presently there came a knocking on the door! Philippus the jester bade the doorkeeper (25) announce him, with apologies for seeking a night's lodging: (26) he had come, he said, provided with all necessaries for dining, at a friend's expense: his attendant was much galled with carrying, nothing but an empty bread-basket. (27) To this announcement Callias, appealing to his guests, replied: "It would never do to begrudge the shelter of one's roof: (28) let him come in." And as he spoke, he glanced across to where Autolycus was seated, as if to say: "I wonder how you take the jest."

(25) Lit. "him who answers the knock," "the concierge" or hall-porter.     Cf. Theophr. "Char." xiv. 7; Aristot. "Oec." i. 6. (26) Lit. "and why he wished to put up." (27) Lit. "and being breakfastless"; cf. Theocr. i. 51. The jester's     humour resembles Pistol's ("Merry Wives," i. 3. 23) "O base     Hungarian wight!" (28) Or, "How say you, my friends, it would hardly do, methinks, to     shut the door upon him." See Becker, "Charicles," p. 92.

Meanwhile the jester, standing at the door of the apartment where the feast was spread, addressed the company:

I believe you know, sirs, that being a jester by profession, it is my business to make jokes. I am all the readier, therefore, to present myself, feeling convinced it is a better joke to come to dinner thus unbidden than by solemn invitation.

Be seated, (29) then (replied the host). The company are fully fed on serious thoughts, you see, if somewhat starved of food for laughter.

(29) Lit. "Pray, find a couch then."

The feast proceeded; and, if only to discharge the duty laid upon him at a dinner-party, Philippus must try at once to perpetrate a jest. Failing to stir a smile, poor fellow, he made no secret of his perturbation. Presently he tried again; and for the second time the joke fell flat. Whereat he paused abruptly in the middle of the course, and muffling up his face, fell prostrate on the couch.

Then Callias: What ails you, sirrah? Have you the cramp? the toothache? what?

To which the other heaving a deep groan: Yes, Callias, an atrocious ache; since laughter has died out among mankind, my whole estate is bankrupt. (30) In old days I would be asked to dinner to amuse the company with jests. (31) Now all is changed, and who will be at pains to ask me out to dinner any more? I might as well pretend to be immortal as to be serious. Nor will any one invite me in hopes of reclining at my board in his turn. Everyone knows so serious a thing as dinner in my house was never heard of; it's against the rules—the more's the pity.

(30) Cf. "Cyrop." VI. i. 3; Plat. "Laws," 677 C. (31) Lit. "by the laughter which I stirred in them."

And as he spoke he blew his nose and snuffled, uttering the while so truly dolorous a moan (32) that everybody fell to soothing him. "They would all laugh again another day," they said, and so implored him to have done and eat his dinner; till Critobulus could not stand his lamentation longer, but broke into a peal of laughter. The welcome sound sufficed. The sufferer unveiled his face, and thus addressed his inner self: (33) "Be of good cheer, my soul, there are many battles (34) yet in store for us," and so he fell to discussing the viands once again.

(32) Philippus would seem to have anticipated Mr. Woodward; see     Prologue to "She Stoops to Conquer":

Pray, would you know the reason I'm crying? The Comic Muse long sick is now a-dying! And if she goes...

(33) Cf. "Cyrop." I. iv. 13; Eur. "Med." 1056, 1242; Aristoph. "Ach."     357, 480. (34) Or add, "ere we have expended our last shot." Philippus puns on     the double sense of {sumbolai}. Cf. Aristoph. "Ach." 1210, where     Lamachus groans {talas ego xumboles bareias}, and Dicaeopolis     replies {tois Khousi gar tis xumbolas epratteto}.

Lam. 'Twas at the final charge; I'd paid before    A number of the rogues; at least a score.

Dic. It was a most expensive charge you bore:    Poor Lamachus! he was forced to pay the score.

H. Frere.

II

Now the tables were removed, and in due order they had poured out the libation, and had sung the hymn. (1) To promote the revelry, there entered now a Syracusan, with a trio of assistants: the first, a flute-girl, perfect in her art; and next, a dancing-girl, skilled to perform all kinds of wonders; lastly, in the bloom of beauty, a boy, who played the harp and danced with infinite grace. This Syracusan went about exhibiting his troupe, whose wonderful performance was a source of income to him.

(1) See Plat. "Symp." 176 A; Athen. ix. 408.

After the girl had played to them upon the flute, and then the boy in turn upon the harp, and both performers, as it would appear, had set the hearts of every one rejoicing, Socrates turned to Callias:

A feast, upon my word, O princeliest entertainer! (2) Was it not enough to set before your guests a faultless dinner, but you must feast our eyes and ears on sights and sounds the most delicious?

(2) Lit. "in consummate style."

To which the host: And that reminds me, a supply of unguents might not be amiss; (3) what say you? Shall we feast on perfumes also? (4)

(3) Lit. "suppose I tell the servant to bring in some perfumes, so     that we may further feast on fragrance..." Cf. Theophr. "Char."     vii. 6 (Jebb ad loc.) (4) See Athen. xv. 686.

No, I protest (the other answered). Scents resemble clothes. One dress is beautiful on man and one on woman; and so with fragrance: what becomes the woman, ill becomes the man. Did ever man anoint himself with oil of myrrh to please his fellow? Women, and especially young women (like our two friends' brides, Niceratus' and Critobulus'), need no perfume, being but compounds themselves of fragrance. (5) No, sweeter than any perfume else to women is good olive-oil, suggestive of the training-school: (6) sweet if present, and when absent longed for. And why? Distinctions vanish with the use of perfumes. The freeman and the slave have forthwith both alike one odour. But the scents derived from toils—those toils which every free man loves (7)—need customary habit first, and time's distillery, if they are to be sweet with freedom's breath, at last. (8)

(5) Cf. Solomon's Song, iv. 10: "How fair is thy love, my sister, my     spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of     thine ointments than all spices!" (6) Lit. "the gymnasium." (7) Cf. Aristoph. "Clouds," 1002 foll. See J. A. Symonds, "The Greek     Poets," 1st s., p. 281. (8) See "Mem." III. x. 5; "Cyrop." VIII. i. 43.

Here Lycon interposed: That may be well enough for youths, but what shall we do whose gymnastic days are over? What fragrance is left for us?

Soc. Why, that of true nobility, of course.