book III.  CHAP. XII.                             119
 

CHAPTER   XII.

ARQUMENT.

Socrates enjoined upon Epigenes, one of his disciples, who, although a
youth, was suffering from physical debility, the duty of engaging in
gymnastic exercises. As a citizen of Athens, and hence bound to fight
against her enemies, he, as much as those who contended in the Olympic
Games, needed to cultivate his physical powers. The dangers and in¬
conveniences are many to those who neglect physical exercise, whilst
those who are robust and firm in health, can easily extricate themselves
from peril and danger, and by succoring their friends and country, ob¬
tain honor and glory, and thus provide happily for the future life of
themselves and families (§ 1—4). But health is not a boon to be desired
for warlike purposes only; it contributes to soundness and vigor of mind,
and cannot be neglected with impunity (§ 5—8).
 

^ETTtyivyv Se t&v ^vvovtcov Ttvd, viov Te bvTa Kal 1
Tb a&pta KaK&s exovTa, IS&v 'Us IStcoTtK&s, e^y, Tb
a&pta exets, ft) ^ETriyeves. Kal os* ^ISt&Tys ptiv, ecpy,
elpti, ft) S&KpaTes.-—OvSiv ye ptdXXov, ecpy, t&v iv
^OXvptTTtci pteXXbvTcov dycovi^ea^at* fj SoKel aot pttKpbs
elvat b Trepl Tys '\Jrvxvs Trpbs tovs TToXeptlovs dy&v,
qv 'A^yvalot ^TJaovatv, OTav Tvx^oatv ; Kal ptyv ovk 2
bXlyot ptev Std T97Z/ twz^ acoptaTcov Kaxe^lav ^dTTo^vy-
aKOval Te iv toIs TroXepttKols KtvSvvots, Kal alaxp&S
a&^ovTat, TToXXol Se St avTb tovto ^&VTes dXlaKovTat,
Kal dXovTes fJTot SovXevovat Tbv XotTrbv fiiov, idv
OVTCO Tvx^^L, T'^z^ o^aXeTTcoTaTT^z^ SovXeiav, y els Tds
dvdyKas Tds dXyetvoTdTas iptTreabvTes, Kal iKTiaavTes
ivloTe TrXeico t&v VTrapxbvTcov avTols, Tbv XotTrbv /Slov
ivoeels t&v dvayKaicov ovTes Kal KOKOira^ovvTes Sta-
^&at, TToXXol Se Sb^av alaxpdv KT&VTat, Std Tyv toxj
a&ptaTos dSvvapblav SoKovvTes dTToSetXtdv  fj KaTacppo- 3