Have you ever seen
chastity
of any use to
anyone?
anyone?
Aristophanes
From the very
outset I have seized you and hold you round the middle; you cannot escape
me. Tell me, of all the sons of Zeus, who had the stoutest heart, who
performed the most doughty deeds?
JUST DISCOURSE. None, in my opinion, surpassed Heracles.
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Where have you ever seen cold baths called 'Baths of
Heracles'? [558] And yet who was braver than he?
JUST DISCOURSE. 'Tis because of such quibbles, that the baths are seen
crowded with young folk, who chatter there the livelong day while the
gymnasia remain empty.
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Next you condemn the habit of frequenting the
market-place, while I approve this. If it were wrong Homer would never
have made Nestor[559] speak in public as well as all his wise heroes. As
for the art of speaking, he tells you, young men should not practise it;
I hold the contrary. Furthermore he preaches chastity to them. Both
precepts are equally harmful.
Have you ever seen chastity of any use to
anyone? Answer and try to confute me.
JUST DISCOURSE. To many; for instance, Peleus won a sword thereby. [560]
UNJUST DISCOURSE. A sword! Ah! what a fine present to make him! Poor
wretch! Hyperbolus, the lamp-seller, thanks to his villainy, has gained
more than . . . I do not know how many talents, but certainly no sword.
JUST DISCOURSE. Peleus owed it to his chastity that he became the husband
of Thetis. [561]
UNJUST DISCOURSE.
outset I have seized you and hold you round the middle; you cannot escape
me. Tell me, of all the sons of Zeus, who had the stoutest heart, who
performed the most doughty deeds?
JUST DISCOURSE. None, in my opinion, surpassed Heracles.
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Where have you ever seen cold baths called 'Baths of
Heracles'? [558] And yet who was braver than he?
JUST DISCOURSE. 'Tis because of such quibbles, that the baths are seen
crowded with young folk, who chatter there the livelong day while the
gymnasia remain empty.
UNJUST DISCOURSE. Next you condemn the habit of frequenting the
market-place, while I approve this. If it were wrong Homer would never
have made Nestor[559] speak in public as well as all his wise heroes. As
for the art of speaking, he tells you, young men should not practise it;
I hold the contrary. Furthermore he preaches chastity to them. Both
precepts are equally harmful.
Have you ever seen chastity of any use to
anyone? Answer and try to confute me.
JUST DISCOURSE. To many; for instance, Peleus won a sword thereby. [560]
UNJUST DISCOURSE. A sword! Ah! what a fine present to make him! Poor
wretch! Hyperbolus, the lamp-seller, thanks to his villainy, has gained
more than . . . I do not know how many talents, but certainly no sword.
JUST DISCOURSE. Peleus owed it to his chastity that he became the husband
of Thetis. [561]
UNJUST DISCOURSE.
