TRANSLATION. 1 [Euclides, founder of the Megaric School, and his friend Terpsion, both 1 of them pupils of Socrates, meet in one of the streets of Megara. The former mentions that on his way to the harbour he had met Theaetetus, wounded and dangerously sick, being carried to Athens from the Athenian camp near Corinth. A conversation ensuing on the noble character of Theaetetus, and the estimation in which he was held by Socrates, Euclides says that he has at home in manuscript a dialogue, which Theaetetus took part in with Socrates. As Terpsion expresses a wish to hear this dialogue, the friends adjourn to the house of Euclides, where a slave reads it aloud to them as they repose.] Eu. Ha, Terpsion! long in' from the country?? Ter. A good while. And you'-I was looking for you in the Agora, and wondering that I could not find you. Eu. I was not in the city. 1 "Aprɩ...Ĥ máλa; English idiom would say 'just in?' or 'long in?' but not both. The translation therefore omits one alternative. 2 'E ȧypoû. Terpsion has a country residence; whether a town house also, there is nothing to show. 3 Καὶ σέ γε. This emphasis implies a question as to the cause of Euclid's absence. The ȧyopa or market-square was a promenade, where a friend might be looked for at a certain time of day, as in the Cascine at Florence. K. P. Eu. As I was going down to the harbour I met with Theaetetus being carried to Athens from the camp at Corinth. Ter. Alive or dead? Eu. Alive, but only just'. Besides being very ill from wounds, he is more seriously affected by the malady which has broken out in the army. Ter. You mean the dysentery? Eu. Ter. Yes. In danger, you say, such a man as that! Eu. Ay, a gallant and good one', Terpsion. It was but just now I heard some people praising him highly for his behaviour in the battleR. Ter. Nothing strange in that. It were far more surprising if he had not behaved so, But how came he not to put up here at Megara"? Eu. He was in haste to get home. For all my entreaties and advice, he would not stay. So after accompanying him some way, as I went back I bethought me of the marvellous divination shown by Socrates in so many cases, especially in that of Theaetetus. I think it was but a little 4 Καταβαίνων. The preposition κarà compounded with verbs of motion often implies coastward movement, the converse being άvá. The harbour was Nisaea. 5 Καὶ μάλα. The intensive και is largely used by Plato. 6 Aipeî. A technical verb for morbid affection. 7 Καλόν τε καὶ ἀγαθόν. Καλοκαγαθία is the Athenian term for the heroic ideal of a gentleman. 8 Máxn. What battle is here meant we cannot absolutely determine. The great battle near Corinth, in which the Lacedaemonians defeated the Athenians, was in July, 394 B. C. Grote, H. Gr. Part II. ch. lxxiv. Demosth. Lept. 41. But Plato may point to some other affair before 387. • Αὐτοῦ Μεγαροῖ, two local adverbs=ἐν αὐτοῖς τοῖς Μεγάροις, at Megara itself; at the very place he had reached, viz. Megara. while before his own death that he met him, a mere lad at the time, and, after conversing and arguing with him, admired his genius greatly. When I went to Athens, he repeated to me the arguments he had held with him-well worth hearing they were—and said this youth must inevitably become distinguished, if he should reach man's estate. Ter. He spoke the truth, manifestly. But what were the arguments? Can you repeat them? 10 Eu. No indeed; not from mere recollection. But, having returned home immediately, I jotted down1o some notes at once, and, afterwards taxing my memory at leisure, I went on writing; and, every time I visited Athens, I used to ask Socrates anything I had not remembered, and to make corrections on my return here. So that I have got nearly the whole conversation in writing. Ter. True: I heard you say so once before; and I have always been meaning to bid you show it me, but have loitered till this moment. What hinders us from perusing it now? Especially as I am in real want of rest, after coming from the country. Eu. Well, and I too escorted Theaetetus as far as Erineum"; so I should not dislike a siesta. Let us go then; and while we repose, the attendant shall read to us. Ter, A good suggestion. [They go to Euclid's house.] Eu. Here is the manuscript, Terpsion. I must observe that I wrote out the conversation in my own way:-not in the narrative form as Socrates related it to me, but as a dialogue between him and his fellow-disputants, whom he 10 'Eypayάun. The use of the middle voice here, as compared with ypapov afterwards, is notable: perhaps it implies the act of writing at the moment from recollection and for his own future revision. 11 Erineum: a locality on the way from Megara to Athens. |