Now, 'WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?'
... The time Alexander the Great came to Athens, he heard about Diogenes.
One day he went to pay a visit to him.
"It was morning,just time of dusk: I heard voices and marching horses,I came out my (pithos- large tub) tub and saw Alexander and his horsemen. I lay down in front of my tub, feeling the warm sun.
Alexander and the horse men stopped, and he came to me. He greeted me and I did the same, then stared at me for a long time with out saying anything.I looked at him as well, he was young, very young, allmost a child.
Then he asked: it is true that you live in that tub? or it is just one of those pranks filosophers do in order for the people to talk and admire them?I will ansewr with a question, Alexander! it is true you want to conquer Persia, and so unit all Greeks under your leadership? or do you do all this just for the sake of getting the admiration of people?
He liked my answer! he smiled and ttouched my tub said: one tub full of wisdom. I liked this words and I feld flattered, but quickly replied: I prefer one drop of luck, that a tub full of wisdom, great King! Sometimes wisdom drives you to a bitter taste of vanith, and all your warks will stop in death! and one drop of luck can open streets you never could imagine and give you happines you never knew! Alexander anderstood every word and knew the meaning of luck in life better than anyone, then he came closer to me and said: I would like to do something very importand for you Diogenes. I know you chose this kind solitaire life, but I think that sometimes in your life you want something better.Ask me, what you want and it will be a pleasure for me to give it to you.
He stood in front of me while hiding the sun, I gave him the following answer:
I want only one thing Alexander. You stand in front of me, and you' re hinding the sun, so, don' t take from me, the thing that you can not give me!
.. ALAS IF WE DON'T KNOW..
DIOGENES ALEXANDER
Alexander once came and stood opposite him and said, "I am Alexander the great king." "And I, " said he, "am Diogenes the Cynic." When someone was extolling the good fortune and splendor another had experienced in sharing the suite of Alexander, Diogenes said, "Not so, but rather ill fortune -- for he breakfasts and dines when Alexander thinks fit."
Alexander stood opposite him and asked, "Are you not afraid of me?" "Why, what are you, " said Diogenes, "a good thing or a bad?" Alexander replied, "A good thing" whereupon Diogenes said, "Who, then, is afraid of the good?" At another time Diogenes was sunning himself when Alexander stood over him and said, "Ask of me any boon you like." To which he replied, "Stand out of my light."
Alexander is reported to have said, "Had I not been Alexander, I should have liked to be Diogenes." As it turned out, both Diogenes and Alexander died on the same day in 323 B.C. Alexander was 33 and Diogenes was 90.
http://www.benbest.com/philo/diogenes.html
DIOGENES AND ALEXANDER THE GREAT
There lived a wise man in ancient Greece whose name was Diogenes. Men came from all parts of the land to see him and talk to him.
Diogenes was a strange man. He said that no man needed much, and so he did not live in a house but slept in a barrel, which he rolled about from place to place. He spent his days sitting in the sun and saying wise things to those who were around him.
When Alexander the Great came to that town he went to see the wise man. He found Diogenes outside the town lying on the ground by his barrel. He was enjoying the sun.
When he saw the king he sat up and looked at Alexander. Alexander greeted him and said:
"Diogenes, I have heard a great deal about you. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Yes," said Diogenes, "you can step aside a little so as not to keep the sunshine from me."
The king was very much surprised. But this answer did not make him angry. He turned to his officers with the following words:
"Say what you like, but if I were not Alexander, I should like to be Diogenes."
EXERCISES
I Learn and practise the pronunciation of the following vocabulary.
1. Diogenes - Diog?ns - (an ancient Greek philosopher)
2. Alexander the Great - Ma?edonijas Aleksandrs - ?
3. anciet - sens -
http://www.de.dau.lv/angluvaloda/ang1/node21.html
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