Eryxias | Page 3

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This etext was prepared by Sue Asscher

ERYXIAS
by a Platonic Imitator (see Appendix II)

Translated by Benjamin Jowett

APPENDIX II.
The two dialogues which are translated in the second appendix are not
mentioned by Aristotle, or by any early authority, and have no claim to
be ascribed to Plato. They are examples of Platonic dialogues to be
assigned probably to the second or third generation after Plato, when
his writings were well known at Athens and Alexandria. They exhibit
considerable originality, and are remarkable for containing several
thoughts of the sort which we suppose to be modern rather than ancient,
and which therefore have a peculiar interest for us. The Second
Alcibiades shows that the difficulties about prayer which have
perplexed Christian theologians were not unknown among the
followers of Plato. The Eryxias was doubted by the ancients themselves:
yet it may claim the distinction of being, among all Greek or Roman
writings, the one which anticipates in the most striking manner the
modern science of political economy and gives an abstract form to
some of its principal doctrines.
For the translation of these two dialogues I am indebted to my friend
and secretary, Mr. Knight.
That the Dialogue which goes by the name of the Second Alcibiades is
a genuine writing of Plato will not be maintained by any modern critic,
and was hardly believed by the ancients themselves. The dialectic is
poor and weak. There is no power over language, or beauty of style;
and there is a certain abruptness and agroikia in the conversation,
which is very un- Platonic. The best passage is probably that about the
poets:--the remark that the poet, who is of a reserved disposition, is
uncommonly difficult to understand, and the ridiculous interpretation
of Homer, are entirely in the spirit of Plato (compare Protag; Ion;
Apol.). The characters are ill- drawn. Socrates assumes the 'superior
person' and preaches too much, while Alcibiades is stupid and
heavy-in-hand. There are traces of Stoic influence in the general tone

and phraseology of the Dialogue (compare opos melesei tis...kaka: oti
pas aphron mainetai): and the writer seems to have been acquainted
with the 'Laws' of Plato (compare Laws). An incident from the
Symposium is rather clumsily introduced, and two somewhat
hackneyed quotations (Symp., Gorg.) recur. The reference to the death
of Archelaus as having occurred 'quite lately' is only a fiction, probably
suggested by the Gorgias, where the story of Archelaus is told, and a
similar phrase occurs;--ta gar echthes kai proen gegonota tauta, k.t.l.
There are several passages which are either corrupt or extremely ill-
expressed. But there is a modern interest in the subject of the dialogue;
and it is a good example of a short spurious work, which may be
attributed to the second or third century before Christ.
ERYXIAS
by
Platonic Imitator (see Appendix II above)
Translated by Benjamin Jowett
INTRODUCTION.
Much cannot be said in praise of the style or conception of the Eryxias.
It is frequently obscure; like the exercise of a student, it is