现代大学英语-精读3-Diogenes-and-Alexander-原文

DiogenesandAlexanderLyingonthebareearth,shoeless,bearded,half-naked,helookedlikeabeggaroralunatic(神经病,疯子).Hewasone,butnottheother.Hehadopenedhiseyeswiththesunatdawn(拂晓),scratched,donehisbusinesslikeadogattheroadside,washedatthepublicfountain,beggedapieceofbreakfastbreadandafewolives,eatenthemsquattingontheground,andwashedthemdownwithafewhandfulsofwaterscoopedfromthespring.(Longagohehadownedaroughwoodencup,buthethrewitawaywhenhesawaboydrinkingoutofhishollowedhands.)Havingnoworktogotoandnofamilytoprovidefor,hewasfree.Asthemarketplacefilledupwithshoppersandmerchantsandslavesandforeigners,hehadstrolledthroughitforanhourortwo.Everybodyknewhim,orknewofhim.Theywouldthrowsharpquestionsathimandgetsharperanswers.Sometimestheythrewbitsoffood,andgotscantthanks;sometimesamischievouspebble,andgotashowerofstonesandabuse(漫骂).Theywerenotquitesurewhetherhewasmadornot.Heknewtheyweremad,eachinadifferentway;theyamusedhim.Nowhewasbackathishome.Itwasnotahouse,notevenasquatter'shut.Hethoughteverybodylivedfartooelaborately,expensively,anxiously.Whatgoodisahouse?Nooneneedsprivacy:naturalactsarenotshameful;wealldothesamething,andneednothidethem.Nooneneedsbedsandchairsandsuchfurniture:theanimalslivehealthylivesandsleepontheground.Allwerequire,sincenaturedidnotdressusproperly,isonegarmenttokeepuswarm,andsomeshelterfromrainandwind.Sohehadoneblanket—todresshiminthedaytimeandcoverhimatnight—andhesleptinacask.HisnamewasDiogenes.HewasthefounderofthecreedcalledCynicism;hespentmuchofhislifeintherich,lazy,corruptGreekcityofCorinth,mockingandsatirizingitspeople,andoccasionallyconvertingoneofthem.Hishomewasnotabarrelmadeofwood:tooexpensive.Itwasastoragejarmadeofearthenware,nodoubtdiscardedbecauseabreakhadmadeituseless.Hewasnotthefirsttoinhabitsuchathing,Buthewasthefirstwhoeverdidsobychoice,outofprinciple.Diogeneswasnotamaniac(疯子).Hewasaphilosopherwhowroteplaysandpoemsandessaysexpounding(解释)hisdoctrine;hetalkedtothosewhocaredtolisten;hehadpupilswhoadmiredhim.Buthetaughtchieflybyexample.Allshouldlivenaturally,hesaid,forwhatisnaturalisnormalandcannotpossiblybeevilorshameful.Livewithoutconventions,whichareartificialandfalse;escapecomplexitiesandextravagances:onlysocanyouliveafreelife.Therichmanbelieveshepossesseshisbighousewithitsmanyroomsanditselaboratefurniture,hisexpensiveclothes,hishorsesandhisservantsandhisbankaccounts.Hedoesnot.Hedependsonthem,heworriedaboutthem,hespendsmostofhisenergylookingafterthem;thethoughtoflosingthemmakeshimsickwithanxiety.Theyprocessthem,Heistheirslave.Inordertoprocureaquantityoffalse,perishablegoodshehassoldtheonlytrue,lastinggood,hisownindependence.Therehavebeenmanymenwhogrewtiredofhumansocietywithitscomplications,andwentawaytolivesimply—onasmallfarm,inaquietvillage,inahermit'scave.NotsoDiogenes.Hewasamissionary.Hislife'saimwascleartohim:itwastorestampthecurrency“:totakethecleanmetalofhumanlife,toerasetheoldfalseconventionalmarkings,andtoimprintitwithitstruevalues.TheothergreatphilosophersofthefourthcenturyBC,suchasPlatoandAristotle,taughtmainlytheirownprivatepupils.ButforDiogenes,laboratoryandspecimensandlecturehallsandpupilswerealltobefoundinacrowdofordinarypeople.Therefore,hechosetoliveinAthensorCorinth,wheretravelersfromallovertheMediterraneanworldconstantlycameandwent.And,bydesign,hepubliclybehavedinsuchwaysastoshowpeoplewhatreallifewas.Hethoughtmostpeoplewereonlyhalf-alive,mostmenonlyhalf-men.Atbrightnoondayhewalkedthroughthemarketplacecarryingalightedlampandinspectingthefaceofeveryonehemet.Theyaskedhimwhy.Diogenesanswered,Iamtryingtofindaman.Toagentlemanwhoseservantwasputtingonhisshoesforhim,Diogenessaid,Youwon'tbereallyhappyuntilhewipesyournoseforyou:thatwillcomeafteryoulosetheuseofyourhands.Oncetherewasawarscaresoseriousthatitstirredeventhelazy,profit-happyCorinthians.Theybegantodrill,cleantheirweapons,andrebuildtheirneglectedfortifications.Diogenestookhisoldcaskandbegantorollitupanddown,backandforward.Whenyouareallsobusy,hesaid,IfeltIoughttodosomething!Andsohelived—likeadog,somesaid,becausehecarednothingforconventionsofsociety,andbecauseheshowedhisteethandbarkedatthosehedisliked.Nowhewaslyinginthesunlight,contentedandhappy,happierthantheShahofPersia.Althoughheknewhewasgoingtohaveanimportantvisitor,hewouldnotmove.Thelittlesquarebegantofillwithpeople.Pageboys,soldiers,secretaries,officers,diplomats,theyallgraduallyformedacirclecenteredaroundDiogenes.Helookedthemoverasasobermanlooksatacrowdoftotteringdrunks,andshookhishead.Heknewwhotheywere.TheyweretheservantsofAlexander,theconquerorofGreece,theMacedonianking,whowasvisitinghisnewrealm.Onlytwenty,Alexanderwasfarolderandwiserthanhisyears.LikeallMacedoniansheloveddrinking,buthecouldusuallyhandleit;andtowardwomenhewasnoblyrestrainedandchivalrous.LikeallMacedonianshelovedfighting;hewasamagnificentcommander,buthewasnotmerelyamilitaryautomaton.Hecouldthink.AtthirteenhehadbecomeapupilofthegreatestmindinGreece,Aristotle.whogavehimthebestofGreekculture.HetaughtAlexanderpoetry;theyoungprincesleptwiththeIliadunderhispillowandlongedtoemulateAchilles,whobroughtthemightypowe