Pagina 561 di 734

Of the good man it is true likewise that he does many things for

the sake of his friends and his country, even to the extent of

dying for them, if need be: for money and honours, and, in short,

all the good things which others fight for, he will throw away

while eager to secure to himself the καλὸν: he will prefer a

brief and great joy to a tame and enduring one, and to live nobly

for one year rather than ordinarily for many, and one great and

noble action to many trifling ones. And this is perhaps that

which befals men who die for their country and friends; they

choose great glory for themselves: and they will lavish their own

money that their friends may receive more, for hereby the friend

gets the money but the man himself the καλὸν; so, in fact he

gives to himself the greater good.