第10章 PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE:Eudicus,Socrates(6)(1 / 3)

SOCRATES:And does not the same hold of the bow and the lyre,the flute and all other things?

HIPPIAS:Very true.

SOCRATES:And would you rather have a horse of such a temper that you may ride him ill voluntarily or involuntarily?

HIPPIAS:I would rather have a horse which I could ride ill voluntarily.

SOCRATES:That would be the better horse?

HIPPIAS:Yes.

SOCRATES:Then with a horse of better temper,vicious actions would be produced voluntarily;and with a horse of bad temper involuntarily?

HIPPIAS:Certainly.

SOCRATES:And that would be true of a dog,or of any other animal?

HIPPIAS:Yes.

SOCRATES:And is it better to possess the mind of an archer who voluntarily or involuntarily misses the mark?

HIPPIAS:Of him who voluntarily misses.

SOCRATES:This would be the better mind for the purposes of archery?

HIPPIAS:Yes.

SOCRATES:Then the mind which involuntarily errs is worse than the mind which errs voluntarily?

HIPPIAS:Yes,certainly,in the use of the bow.

SOCRATES:And what would you say of the art of medicine;--has not the mind which voluntarily works harm to the body,more of the healing art?

HIPPIAS:Yes.

SOCRATES:Then in the art of medicine the voluntary is better than the involuntary?

HIPPIAS:Yes.

SOCRATES:Well,and in lute-playing and in flute-playing,and in all arts and sciences,is not that mind the better which voluntarily does what is evil and dishonourable,and goes wrong,and is not the worse that which does so involuntarily?