PLATONIC DIALOGUES. 483 



The investigation had commenced (a) with the enquiry whether all 

 pleasures were to be mixed with all kinds of knowledge ; but the 

 question in this form was departed from ; and, the fountain of plea- 

 sure being for a time left out of view, attention was confined to the 

 fountain of knowledge. Now, however, that a decision has been 

 given regarding knowledge in all its grades, "let us" (says Socrates) 

 "go back to the fountain of the pleasures." — The real knot which 

 interpreters have found in the passage is what follows, where Socrates 

 is (it is supposed) made to say that certain pleasures have already 

 been mixed into the life that is being compounded : a thing which, 

 in fact, has not been done. Stallbaura's words are : " Loquitur nunc 

 Socrates de voluptatum mixtione tanquam jam peracta, quum antea 

 nonnisi de scientiarum atque artium ad vitam beatam necessitate 

 disseruerit. Enimvero si quis verba w? yap ^levorjOrifxev auras 

 fxiyvvvai k. t. A. ut sensus flagitatj ad eTrto-TT^/Aas referat, repugnabit 

 huic rationi grammatica verborum structura ; sin vero ilia ad rihova<i 

 trahas, ut ipsa constructionis natura fert, exacerbati tibi reclamabunt 

 Socratis manes, qui non passuri sint, virum sapientissimum ea, quae 

 nondum facta sunt, jam facta dicere." Most astonishing criticism ! 

 What do the words ws yap k. t. A. really affirm ? ISot that pleasures 

 of any description had already been mixed into the life that was 

 being compounded, but that Socrates and Protarchus had entertained 

 the thought (SievorjOrjixa/ dvra^ payvvvaL) of introducing them at a 

 certain stage, not indeed in the gross, but the true pleasures first 

 (ra T(j)v dXrjOoiv p.opia TrpwTov) . This thought or purpose had been en- 

 tertained (6) ; but {d) it had not been carried into effect : a circum- 

 stance to which Socrates immediately adverts, in the words 6vk 

 c^eycvero y^puv.. He, moreover, jestingly assigns as the reason which had 

 rendered it impossible for him to carry out the order of investigation 

 originally agreed upon, his love for all the modes of knowledge 

 (dAAa 8ia to Tracrav <iya7rav €Tn(jTTfjp,riv ets ravrov we^ei/xcv dOpoas Kai 

 TrpocrOe tcov rj8ovo)v). 



Can anything be more natural and easy than the above interpreta- 

 tion ? In my humble opinion, with the single substitution of 

 €$eyeveTo for e^eyevrjOrj, the passage may remain unaltered, and yet 

 the Shade of Socrates rest in peace. 



Vol. VII. 2 e 



