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AT the time when I was leaving school, and rising towards manhood, my father consulted with his friends what profession he should bring me up to; most of them seemed to think that an application to letters would be a work of time, attended besides with great labor and expense, and, in short, only fit for such as were possessed of a splendid fortune; that my abilities, moreover, were but very moderate, and would stand in need of immediate assistance and support; whereas if I turned mechanic I might get something by my trade, not live idly at home upon my father, but in a little time be able to repay him for the expense of my education. The next question, therefore, was, which trade was the best, the most cheaply and easily learned, the most liberal, and that would bring in the surest profit; they all then gave their opinions; one preferring one, another another, according to their judgment or experience: when my father, looking steadfastly on my uncle, who was then present, one of the best statuaries[1] of his time. | AT the time when I was leaving school, and rising towards manhood, my father consulted with his friends what profession he should bring me up to; most of them seemed to think that an application to letters would be a work of time, attended besides with great labor and expense, and, in short, only fit for such as were possessed of a splendid fortune; that my abilities, moreover, were but very moderate, and would stand in need of immediate assistance and support; whereas if I turned mechanic I might get something by my trade, not live idly at home upon my father, but in a little time be able to repay him for the expense of my education. The next question, therefore, was, which trade was the best, the most cheaply and easily learned, the most liberal, and that would bring in the surest profit; they all then gave their opinions; one preferring one, another another, according to their judgment or experience: when my father, looking steadfastly on my uncle, who was then present, one of the best statuaries[1] of his time. | ||
- | > [1] Statuaries] // | + | > [1] Statuaries |
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I knew little of the matter, and pressing too hard on the marble, broke it in pieces. My uncle flew into a violent passion, and taking up a switch that happened to lay near him, with no great tenderness fell upon, and belabored me pretty handsomely, by way off initiating me[2] into the art. | I knew little of the matter, and pressing too hard on the marble, broke it in pieces. My uncle flew into a violent passion, and taking up a switch that happened to lay near him, with no great tenderness fell upon, and belabored me pretty handsomely, by way off initiating me[2] into the art. | ||
- | > [1] A good beginning] Lucian attributes this saying to Hesiod, in whose works, however, it is not at present, I believe, to be sound. We meet with it in Plato, Aristotle, Dionysius of Halicarnassus, | + | > [1] A good beginning |
- | > [2] Initiating me] The Greek word is very strong and expressive, signifying the rites performed at sacrifices just before the victim was slain.((Select Dialogues: Of Lucian, Translated from the Greek by Thomas Franklin, D.D. The Sungraphein, | + | > [2] Initiating me | The Greek word is very strong and expressive, signifying the rites performed at sacrifices just before the victim was slain.((Select Dialogues: Of Lucian, Translated from the Greek by Thomas Franklin, D.D. The Sungraphein, |
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Even at this distance of time, what I saw is actually before my eyes; and everything I heard, still sounding in my ears; so powerful was the effect it had upon me. | Even at this distance of time, what I saw is actually before my eyes; and everything I heard, still sounding in my ears; so powerful was the effect it had upon me. | ||
- | > [1] See Homer' | + | > [1] See Homer' |
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Thus, uncouthly, and with a barbarous accent, did Sculpture address me, adding many other things to the fame purpose, in order to seduce me; but I have forgot half what she said: when she had finished the other began, pretty nearly in these words, | Thus, uncouthly, and with a barbarous accent, did Sculpture address me, adding many other things to the fame purpose, in order to seduce me; but I have forgot half what she said: when she had finished the other began, pretty nearly in these words, | ||
- | > [1] Phidias] The statue of Jupiter Olympius, by Phidias, is celebrated by almost ail the best Greek writers as the chef-d' | + | > [1] Phidias |
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"I, my son, am Eloquence, not unknown to, though at present not fully possessed by you; what advantages you will reap by turning statuary she has already told you: to be nothing but a low mechanic, living on the work of your hands, and confining all your hopes and desires to that alone; getting a mean and scanty maintenance in obscurity, poor and dejected, neither serviceable to your friends, nor formidable to your enemies, neither courted nor envied by your fellow-citizens; | "I, my son, am Eloquence, not unknown to, though at present not fully possessed by you; what advantages you will reap by turning statuary she has already told you: to be nothing but a low mechanic, living on the work of your hands, and confining all your hopes and desires to that alone; getting a mean and scanty maintenance in obscurity, poor and dejected, neither serviceable to your friends, nor formidable to your enemies, neither courted nor envied by your fellow-citizens; | ||
- | > [1] Lives by the labor] The word in the original is remarkable, and could not be translated literally, Cheironax, //dominus five rex manuum//, one who is master of nothing but his hands.((Select Dialogues: Of Lucian, Translated from the Greek by Thomas Franklin, D.D. The Sungraphein, | + | > [1] Lives by the labor | The word in the original is remarkable, and could not be translated literally, Cheironax, //dominus five rex manuum//, one who is master of nothing but his hands.((Select Dialogues: Of Lucian, Translated from the Greek by Thomas Franklin, D.D. The Sungraphein, |
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home/texts_and_library/essays/the-vision.txt · Last modified: 2019/07/10 20:29 by frank