Opening the text

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch

Philosophy

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"

Name: Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"
Author: Plutarch

Plutarch

Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy

or at least we should have our acquaintance and familiars to
participate of our entertainments, mirth, and discourse over a glass of
wine; but now, as ferry-men permit their passengers to bring in what
fardel they please, so we permit others to fill our entertainments
with any persons, let them be good companions or not. And I should
wonder that any man of breeding being so (that is, not at all) invited,
should go; since, for the most part, he must be unacquainted with
the entertainer, or if he was acquainted, was not thought worthy to
be bidden. Nay, he should be more ashamed to go to such a one, if he
considers that it will look like an upbraiding of his unkindness, and
yet a rude intruding into his company against his will. Besides, to
go before or after the guest that invites him must look unhandsomely,
nor is it creditable to go and stand in need of witnesses to assure
the guests that he doth not come as a principally invited person, but
such a one’s shadow. Beside, to attend others bathing or anointing,
to observe his hour, whether he goes early or late, is servile and
gnathonical (for there never was such an excellent fellow as Gnatho to
feed at another man’s table). Besides, if there is no more proper time
and place to say,

  Speak, tongue, if thou wilt utter jovial things,

than at a feast, and freedom and raillery is mixed with every thing
that is either done or said over a glass of wine, how should he behave
himself, who is not a true principally invited guest, but as it were a
bastard and supposititious intruder? For whether he is free or not, he
lies open to the exception of the company. Besides, the very meanness
and vileness of the name is no small evil to those who do not resent
but can quietly endure to be called and answer to the name of shadows.
For, by enduring such base names, men are insensibly customed and drawn
on to base actions. Therefore, when I make an invitation, since it is
hard to break the custom of a place, I give my guests leave to bring
shadows; but when I myself am invited as a shadow, I assure you I
refuse to go.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"Plutarch

Philosophy

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"

Plutarch

Classical literature; Essays; Ethics; Philosophy

or at least we should have our acquaintance and familiars to
participate of our entertainments, mirth, and discourse over a glass of
wine; but now, as ferry-men permit their passengers to bring in what
fardel they please, so we permit others to fill our entertainments
with any persons, let them be good companions or not. And I should
wonder that any man of breeding being so (that is, not at all) invited,
should go; since, for the most part, he must be unacquainted with
the entertainer, or if he was acquainted, was not thought worthy to
be bidden. Nay, he should be more ashamed to go to such a one, if he
considers that it will look like an upbraiding of his unkindness, and
yet a rude intruding into his company against his will. Besides, to
go before or after the guest that invites him must look unhandsomely,
nor is it creditable to go and stand in need of witnesses to assure
the guests that he doth not come as a principally invited person, but
such a one’s shadow. Beside, to attend others bathing or anointing,
to observe his hour, whether he goes early or late, is servile and
gnathonical (for there never was such an excellent fellow as Gnatho to
feed at another man’s table). Besides, if there is no more proper time
and place to say,

  Speak, tongue, if thou wilt utter jovial things,

than at a feast, and freedom and raillery is mixed with every thing
that is either done or said over a glass of wine, how should he behave
himself, who is not a true principally invited guest, but as it were a
bastard and supposititious intruder? For whether he is free or not, he
lies open to the exception of the company. Besides, the very meanness
and vileness of the name is no small evil to those who do not resent
but can quietly endure to be called and answer to the name of shadows.
For, by enduring such base names, men are insensibly customed and drawn
on to base actions. Therefore, when I make an invitation, since it is
hard to break the custom of a place, I give my guests leave to bring
shadows; but when I myself am invited as a shadow, I assure you I
refuse to go.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"

Plutarch's essays and miscellanies, Vol. 3 (of 5) : $b Comprising all his works collected under the title of "Morals"

No reviews yet