The Rhctorica of Philodemus. 309 



on the assumption that it would not deserve praise if it merely 

 tried to hinder them and punished them if they did not obey. 



Fragment VI is not substantial enough to enable us to form an opinion 

 of its meaning. Fr. VII and VIII answer the argument that rhetoric 

 gives men higher pleasures and greater power than ordinary people 

 possess. 



It is not necessary or even possible to satisfy unnatural and Ji, 150, fr, 

 cultivated appetites. But the natural desires can easily be satis- ^^^• 

 fied in all pure men — not merely in great rhetors like Pericles ; 

 consequently philosophy w^hich teaches us how to limit our 

 desires is better than rhetoric which helps us to satisfy them. 



I do not believe that even the greatest rhetors can accomplish II, 151, fr, 

 all they wish even in their own cities, for then they would be ^•^^^• 

 tyrants. Rather it is true that men held in great honor by the 

 people, when they try to restrain them from following their own 

 pleasures are humiliated, fined and killed.^ 



From the mention of players on the cithara, and physicians and painters jj ^^,2 fr. 

 I judge that this is part of a comparison of the value of these professions IX. 

 and sophistic to a city. The passage, however, is sadly mutilated. Frag- 

 ments X and XI are hopeless. 



Rhetors find their public friendly until they have received II, 154, fr. 

 civil honors at their hands, and then find it hostile. For the * 

 mob is envious of those whom it has honored, and always thinks 

 that its heroes make an inadequate return for the honors they 

 have received. Consequently it is better not to receive public 

 preferment. 



It is objected (by the rhetoricians) that philosophers do not II, 154, fr. 

 help their covmtry. That is the reason why Critolaus' advice 

 to a philosopher not to join a colony was not regarded as ridicu- 

 lous. But if philosophers do not enter politics, yet they help 

 their native land by teaching the young to obey the laws ; nay 

 more, by teaching them to act justly even if there are no laws, 

 and to shim injustice as they would fire. 



[They say] that not only Lycurgus and Pittacus, but also those II, 155, fr. 

 who established constitutions were of this nature (i. e. rhetors?). ^IV. 

 But not even those who had rhetorical ability were like these, 



' Fuhr, Rhein. Mus. LVII (1902) p. 431, proposes these emendations in 

 fr. VIII : 1. 21 KUKuffewv or aTiixihcewv, drjfj.€V(r€o}v or <()vyadeiibv. 



