The Instructor 2.7.55
Summary: At table the self-controlled eat little and slowly, do not reach first or linger long, and sit decorously.
Greek text · Stählin 1:190–191
γὰρ μὴ φέρειν αὑτόν, καὶ τοῦτο κατηγόρημα τοῦ νέου. συνεχὲς δὲ καὶ τὸ μετακινούμενον ἐναλλάττειν τὸ σχῆμα, κουφότητος σύμβολον. σώφρονος δὲ εὐθέως ἐν πόσει καὶ ἐν βρώσει τὸ ἔλαττον αἱρεῖσθαι καὶ τὸ σχολαίτερον, οὐ τὸ προπετέστερον, κἀν τῷ κατάρχεσθαι κἀν τοῖς διαλείμμασι, καὶ τὸ προκαταλήγειν δὲ καὶ τὸ ἀπροσπαθές. »φάγε«, φησίν, »ὡς ἄνθρωπος τὰ παρακείμενα, παῦσαι πρῶτος χάριν παιδείας, καὶ εἰ ἀνὰ μέσον πλειόνων ἐκάθισας, πρότερος αὐτῶν μὴ ἐκτείνῃς χεῖρα.« οὔκουν προεκπηδητέον ὑπὸ λαιμαργίας ἀναπειθομένους ποτὲ οὐδὲ μὴν ἐπιγλιχομένους παρεκτείνειν μέχρι πολλοῦ χρή, τῇ ἐφυστερήσει τὴν ἀκρασίαν ὁμολογοῦντας, ἀλλʼ οὐδὲ ἐν τῷ μεταξὺ προσκειμένους φαίνεσθαι καθάπερ τὰ θηρία τῇ βορᾷ οὐδὲ μὴν πλείονος ὄψου προσφέρεσθαι· οὐ γὰρ ὀψοφάγος φύσει, ἀλλὰ
English · Claude translation
not to support oneself, and this is a charge against the young. Constantly shifting and changing one's posture is a sign of levity. It belongs to the self-controlled, in drinking and eating, to choose the smaller portion and the slower pace, not the more headlong, both in beginning and in the intervals, and to stop first, and to be unattached. “Eat,” it says, “like a man what is set before you; stop first for the sake of good manners; and if you are seated among many, do not reach out your hand before them.” We must never jump forward urged on by gluttony, nor, craving, prolong the meal, confessing our incontinence by lingering; nor appear in the meantime to be intent on the food like beasts, nor take more of the relishes; for man is not by nature an eater of relishes, but
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The quotation is Sir 31:16–18 (34:16–18). The sentence continues in the next section.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.7.55 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/7/55/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Paed. 2.7.55 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-paedagogus/2/7/55/).
Download citation:BibTeX ·RIS (Zotero, EndNote)
Whole work:BibTeX ·RIS ·Markdown text