The Symposium [15]
I reckon this the choicest, that were I robbed of my whole present stock, there is no work so mean, but it would amply serve me to furnish me with sustenance. Why, look you, whenever I desire to fare delicately, I have not to purchase precious viands in the market, which becomes expensive, but I open the storehouse of my soul, and dole them out.[63] Indeed, as far as pleasure goes, I find it better to await desire before I suffer meat or drink to pass my lips, than to have recourse to any of your costly viands, as, for instance, now, when I have chanced on this fine Thasian wine,[64] and sip it without thirst. But indeed, the man who makes frugality, not wealth of worldly goods, his aim, is on the face of it a much more upright person. And why?-- the man who is content with what he has will least of all be prone to clutch at what is his neighbour's.
[63] Or, "turn to the storehouse of a healthy appetite." See "Apol." 18, the same sentiment "ex ore Socratis."
[64] See Athen. "Deipnos." i. 28.
And here's a point worth noting. Wealth of my sort will make you liberal of soul. Look at Socrates; from him it was I got these riches. He did not supply me with it by weight or by measure, but just as much as I could carry, he with bounteous hand consigned to me. And I, too, grudge it to no man now. To all my friends without distinction I am ready to display my opulence: come one, come all; and whosoever likes to take a share is welcome to the wealth that lies within my soul. Yes, and moreover, that most luxurious of possessions,[65] unbroken leisure, you can see, is mine, which leaves me free to contemplate things worthy of contemplation,[66] and to drink in with my ears all charming sounds. And what I value most, freedom to spend whole days in pure scholastic intercourse[67] with Socrates, to whom I am devoted.[68] And he, on his side, is not the person to admire those whose tale of gold and silver happens to be the largest, but those who are well-pleasing to him he chooses for companions, and will consort with to the end.
[65] See Eur. "Ion," 601. Lit. "at every moment I command it."
[66] "To gaze upon all fairest shows (like a spectator in the theatre), and to drink in sounds most delectable." So Walt Whitman.
[67] Aristot. "Rhet." ii. 4. 12; "Eth. N." ix. 4. 9.
[68] See "Mem." III. xi. 17.
With these words the speaker ended, and Callias exclaimed:
By Hera, I envy you your wealth, Antisthenes, firstly, because the state does not lay burthens on you and treat you like a slave; and secondly, people do not fall into a rage with you when you refuse to be their creditor.
You may stay your envy (interposed Niceratus), I shall presently present myself to borrow of him this same key of his to independence.[69] Trained as I am to cast up figures by my master Homer--
Seven tripods, which ne'er felt the fire, and of gold ten talents And burnished braziers twenty, and horses twelve--[70]
by weight and measure duly reckoned,[71] I cannot stay my craving for enormous wealth. And that's the reason certain people, I daresay, imagine I am inordinately fond of riches.
[69] Or, "his want-for-nothing," or, "supply-all."
[70] Niceratus quotes "Il." ix. 122, 123, 263, 264.
[71] Or, "by number and by measure," "so much apiece, so much a pound," in reference to Antisthenes' remark that Socrates does not stint his "good things."
The remark drew forth a peal of laughter from the company, who thought the speaker hit the truth exactly.
Then some one: It lies with you, Hermogenes, to tell us who your friends are; and next, to demonstrate the greatness of their power and their care for you, if you would prove to us your right to pride yoruself on them.
Herm. That the gods know all things, that the present and the future lie before their eyes, are tenets held by Hellenes and barbarians alike. This is obvious; or else, why do states and nations, one and all, inquire of the gods by divination what they ought to do and what they ought not? This also is apparent, that we believe them
[63] Or, "turn to the storehouse of a healthy appetite." See "Apol." 18, the same sentiment "ex ore Socratis."
[64] See Athen. "Deipnos." i. 28.
And here's a point worth noting. Wealth of my sort will make you liberal of soul. Look at Socrates; from him it was I got these riches. He did not supply me with it by weight or by measure, but just as much as I could carry, he with bounteous hand consigned to me. And I, too, grudge it to no man now. To all my friends without distinction I am ready to display my opulence: come one, come all; and whosoever likes to take a share is welcome to the wealth that lies within my soul. Yes, and moreover, that most luxurious of possessions,[65] unbroken leisure, you can see, is mine, which leaves me free to contemplate things worthy of contemplation,[66] and to drink in with my ears all charming sounds. And what I value most, freedom to spend whole days in pure scholastic intercourse[67] with Socrates, to whom I am devoted.[68] And he, on his side, is not the person to admire those whose tale of gold and silver happens to be the largest, but those who are well-pleasing to him he chooses for companions, and will consort with to the end.
[65] See Eur. "Ion," 601. Lit. "at every moment I command it."
[66] "To gaze upon all fairest shows (like a spectator in the theatre), and to drink in sounds most delectable." So Walt Whitman.
[67] Aristot. "Rhet." ii. 4. 12; "Eth. N." ix. 4. 9.
[68] See "Mem." III. xi. 17.
With these words the speaker ended, and Callias exclaimed:
By Hera, I envy you your wealth, Antisthenes, firstly, because the state does not lay burthens on you and treat you like a slave; and secondly, people do not fall into a rage with you when you refuse to be their creditor.
You may stay your envy (interposed Niceratus), I shall presently present myself to borrow of him this same key of his to independence.[69] Trained as I am to cast up figures by my master Homer--
Seven tripods, which ne'er felt the fire, and of gold ten talents And burnished braziers twenty, and horses twelve--[70]
by weight and measure duly reckoned,[71] I cannot stay my craving for enormous wealth. And that's the reason certain people, I daresay, imagine I am inordinately fond of riches.
[69] Or, "his want-for-nothing," or, "supply-all."
[70] Niceratus quotes "Il." ix. 122, 123, 263, 264.
[71] Or, "by number and by measure," "so much apiece, so much a pound," in reference to Antisthenes' remark that Socrates does not stint his "good things."
The remark drew forth a peal of laughter from the company, who thought the speaker hit the truth exactly.
Then some one: It lies with you, Hermogenes, to tell us who your friends are; and next, to demonstrate the greatness of their power and their care for you, if you would prove to us your right to pride yoruself on them.
Herm. That the gods know all things, that the present and the future lie before their eyes, are tenets held by Hellenes and barbarians alike. This is obvious; or else, why do states and nations, one and all, inquire of the gods by divination what they ought to do and what they ought not? This also is apparent, that we believe them