The Symposium [5]
you notice how the beauty of the child, so lovely in repose, became enhanced with every movement of his supple body?
To which Charmides replied: How like a flatterer you are! one would think you had set yourself to puff the dancing-master.[27]
[27] See "The Critic," I. ii.
To be sure (he answered solemnly); and there's another point I could not help observing: how while he danced no portion of his body remained idle; neck and legs and hands together, one and all were exercised.[28] That is how a man should dance, who wants to keep his body light and healthy.[29] (Then turning to the Syracusan, he added): I cannot say how much obliged I should be to you, O man of Syracuse, for lessons in deportment. Pray teach me my steps.[30]
[28] Cf. "Pol. Lac." v. 9.
[29] Cf. Aristot. "H. A." vi. 21. 4.
[30] "Gestures," "postures," "figures." See Eur. "Cycl." 221; Aristoph. "Peace," 323; Isocr. "Antid." 183.
And what use will you make of them? (the other asked).
God bless me! I shall dance, of course (he answered).
The remark was greeted with a peal of merriment.
Then Socrates, with a most serious expression of countenance:[31] You are pleased to laugh at me. Pray, do you find it so ridiculous my wishing to improve my health by exercise? or to enjoy my victuals better? to sleep better? or is it the sort of exercise I set my heart on? Not like those runners of the long race,[32] to have my legs grow muscular and my shoulders leaner in proportion; nor like a boxer, thickening chest and shoulders at expense of legs; but by distribution of the toil throughout my limbs[33] I seek to give an even balance to my body. Or are you laughing to think that I shall not in future have to seek a partner in the training school,[34] whereby it will not be necessary for an old man like myself to strip in public?[35] All I shall need will be a seven-sofa'd chamber,[36] where I can warm to work,[37] just like the lad here who has found this room quite ample for the purpose. And in winter I shall do gymnastics[38] under cover, or when the weather is broiling under shade. . . . But what is it you keep on laughing at--the wish on my part to reduce to moderate size a paunch a trifle too rotund? Is that the source of merriment?[39] Perhaps you are not aware, my friends, that Charmides--yes! he there-- caught me only the other morning in the act of dancing?
[31] "Bearing a weighty and serious brow."
[32] "Like your runner of the mile race." Cf. Plat. "Prot." 335 E.
[33] Or, "resolute exercise of the whole body." See Aristot. "Pol." viii. 4. 9; "Rhet." i. 5. 14.
[34] Or, "be dependent on a fellow-gymnast." "Pol. Lac." ix. 5; Plat. "Soph." 218 B; "Laws," 830 B; "Symp." 217 B, C.
[35] Or, "to strip in puiblic when my hair turns gray." Socrates was (421 B.C.) about 50, but is pictured, I think, as an oldish man.
[36] See Aristot. "H. A." ix. 45. 1; "Econ." viii. 13.
[37] Passage referred to by Diog. Laert. ii. 5. 15; Lucian, "de Salt." 25; Plut. "Praec. San." 496.
[38] "Take my exercise."
[39] Zeune cf. Max. Tyr. "Diss." vii. 9; xxxix. 5.
Yes, that I will swear to (the other answered), and at first I stood aghast, I feared me you had parted with your senses; but when I heard your explanation, pretty much what you have just now told us, I went home and--I will not say, began to dance myself (it is an accomplishment I have not been taught as yet), but I fell to sparring,[40] an art of which I have a very pretty knowledge.
[40] "Sparring," etc., an art which Quintil. "Inst. Or." i. 11, 17, attributes to Socrates. Cf. Herod. vi. 129 concerning Hippocleides; and Rich, "Dict. of Antiq." s.v. "Chironomia."
That's true, upon my life! (exclaimed the jester). One needs but look at you to see there's not a dram of difference between legs and shoulders.[41] I'll be bound, if both were weighed in the scales apart, like "tops and bottoms," the clerks of the market[42] would let you off scot-free.
[41] Lit. "your legs are equal in weight with your shoulders." Cf. "Od." xviii. 373,
To which Charmides replied: How like a flatterer you are! one would think you had set yourself to puff the dancing-master.[27]
[27] See "The Critic," I. ii.
To be sure (he answered solemnly); and there's another point I could not help observing: how while he danced no portion of his body remained idle; neck and legs and hands together, one and all were exercised.[28] That is how a man should dance, who wants to keep his body light and healthy.[29] (Then turning to the Syracusan, he added): I cannot say how much obliged I should be to you, O man of Syracuse, for lessons in deportment. Pray teach me my steps.[30]
[28] Cf. "Pol. Lac." v. 9.
[29] Cf. Aristot. "H. A." vi. 21. 4.
[30] "Gestures," "postures," "figures." See Eur. "Cycl." 221; Aristoph. "Peace," 323; Isocr. "Antid." 183.
And what use will you make of them? (the other asked).
God bless me! I shall dance, of course (he answered).
The remark was greeted with a peal of merriment.
Then Socrates, with a most serious expression of countenance:[31] You are pleased to laugh at me. Pray, do you find it so ridiculous my wishing to improve my health by exercise? or to enjoy my victuals better? to sleep better? or is it the sort of exercise I set my heart on? Not like those runners of the long race,[32] to have my legs grow muscular and my shoulders leaner in proportion; nor like a boxer, thickening chest and shoulders at expense of legs; but by distribution of the toil throughout my limbs[33] I seek to give an even balance to my body. Or are you laughing to think that I shall not in future have to seek a partner in the training school,[34] whereby it will not be necessary for an old man like myself to strip in public?[35] All I shall need will be a seven-sofa'd chamber,[36] where I can warm to work,[37] just like the lad here who has found this room quite ample for the purpose. And in winter I shall do gymnastics[38] under cover, or when the weather is broiling under shade. . . . But what is it you keep on laughing at--the wish on my part to reduce to moderate size a paunch a trifle too rotund? Is that the source of merriment?[39] Perhaps you are not aware, my friends, that Charmides--yes! he there-- caught me only the other morning in the act of dancing?
[31] "Bearing a weighty and serious brow."
[32] "Like your runner of the mile race." Cf. Plat. "Prot." 335 E.
[33] Or, "resolute exercise of the whole body." See Aristot. "Pol." viii. 4. 9; "Rhet." i. 5. 14.
[34] Or, "be dependent on a fellow-gymnast." "Pol. Lac." ix. 5; Plat. "Soph." 218 B; "Laws," 830 B; "Symp." 217 B, C.
[35] Or, "to strip in puiblic when my hair turns gray." Socrates was (421 B.C.) about 50, but is pictured, I think, as an oldish man.
[36] See Aristot. "H. A." ix. 45. 1; "Econ." viii. 13.
[37] Passage referred to by Diog. Laert. ii. 5. 15; Lucian, "de Salt." 25; Plut. "Praec. San." 496.
[38] "Take my exercise."
[39] Zeune cf. Max. Tyr. "Diss." vii. 9; xxxix. 5.
Yes, that I will swear to (the other answered), and at first I stood aghast, I feared me you had parted with your senses; but when I heard your explanation, pretty much what you have just now told us, I went home and--I will not say, began to dance myself (it is an accomplishment I have not been taught as yet), but I fell to sparring,[40] an art of which I have a very pretty knowledge.
[40] "Sparring," etc., an art which Quintil. "Inst. Or." i. 11, 17, attributes to Socrates. Cf. Herod. vi. 129 concerning Hippocleides; and Rich, "Dict. of Antiq." s.v. "Chironomia."
That's true, upon my life! (exclaimed the jester). One needs but look at you to see there's not a dram of difference between legs and shoulders.[41] I'll be bound, if both were weighed in the scales apart, like "tops and bottoms," the clerks of the market[42] would let you off scot-free.
[41] Lit. "your legs are equal in weight with your shoulders." Cf. "Od." xviii. 373,