Dialogues, vol. 1 - Charmides, Lysis, Laches, Protagoras, Euthydemus, Cratylus, Phaedrus, Ion, Symposium by Plato

Author:Plato
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Liberty Fund, Inc.
Published: 2010-09-07T23:00:00+00:00

Her.

I remember.

Soc.

Well, and about this river—to know that he ought to be called Xanthus and not Scamander—is not that a solemn lesson? Or about the bird which, as he says,

‘The Gods call Chalcis, and men Cymindis:’

Chalcis and Cymindis. Batieia and Myrina.

to be taught how much more correct the name Chalcis is than the name Cymindis,—do you deem that a light matter? Or about Batieia and Myrina ? And there are many other observations of the same kind in Homer and other poets. Now, I think that this is beyond the understanding of you and me; but the names of Scamandrius and Astyanax, which he affirms to have been the names of Hector’s son, are more within the range of human faculties, as I am disposed to think; and what the poet means by correctness may be more readily apprehended in that instance: you will remember I dare say the lines to which I refer .

Her.

I do.

Soc.

Astyanax and Scamandrius.

Let me ask you, then, which did Homer think the more correct of the names given to Hector’s son—Astyanax or Scamandrius?

Her.

I do not know.

Soc.

How would you answer, if you were asked whether the wise or the unwise are more likely to give correct names?

Her.

I should say the wise, of course.

Soc.

And are the men or the women of a city, taken as a class, the wiser?

Her.

I should say, the men.

Soc.

And Homer, as you know, says that the Trojan men called him Astyanax (king of the city); but if the men called him Astyanax, the other name of Scamandrius could only have been given to him by the women.

Her.

That may be inferred.

Soc.

And must not Homer have imagined the Trojans to be wiser than their wives?

Her.

To be sure.

Soc.

Then he must have thought Astyanax to be a more correct name for the boy than Scamandrius?

Her.

Clearly.

Soc.

And what is the reason of this? Let us consider:—does he not himself suggest a very good reason, when he says,

‘For he alone defended their city and long walls’?

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