The meaning of ηρου Phaed 61e

Greek Learning Greek
1

If ηρου is from ερομαι it must mean asked or inquired. In Phaed 61e however this meaning does not fit the context so they translated it as said. Shouldn’t the lexicons include this meaning also? Ήδη γαρ εγωγε όπερ νυνδε συ ηρου…και Φιλολάου ήκουσα…ως ου δεοι τούτο ποιείν. I have heard from Philolaus the same thing that you have just said - not asked- that one should not do this.

2

But in the French translation it is Pour ma part, pour en revenir à ta question de tout à l’heure, j’ai déjà entendu dire à Philolaos, quand il séjournait parmi nous, et à plusieurs autres aussi, qu’on n’a pas le droit de se tuer.

3

What is the context that it doesn’t fit? Can you quote that too?

4

τί δέ, ὦ Κέβης; οὐκ ἀκηκόατε σύ τε καὶ Σιμμίας περὶ τῶν τοιούτων Φιλολάῳ συγγεγονότες;



οὐδέν γε σαφές, ὦ Σώκρατες.



ἀλλὰ μὴν καὶ ἐγὼ ἐξ ἀκοῆς περὶ αὐτῶν λέγω· ἃ μὲν οὖν τυγχάνω ἀκηκοὼς φθόνος οὐδεὶς λέγειν. καὶ γὰρ ἴσως [61e] καὶ μάλιστα πρέπει μέλλοντα ἐκεῖσε ἀποδημεῖν διασκοπεῖν τε καὶ μυθολογεῖν περὶ τῆς ἀποδημίας τῆς ἐκεῖ, ποίαν τινὰ αὐτὴν οἰόμεθα εἶναι· τί γὰρ ἄν τις καὶ ποιοῖ ἄλλο ἐν τῷ μέχρι ἡλίου δυσμῶν χρόνῳ;



κατὰ τί δὴ οὖν ποτε οὔ φασι θεμιτὸν εἶναι αὐτὸν ἑαυτὸν ἀποκτεινύναι, ὦ Σώκρατες; ἤδη γὰρ ἔγωγε, ὅπερ νυνδὴ σὺ ἤρου, καὶ Φιλολάου ἤκουσα, ὅτε παρ᾽ ἡμῖν διῃτᾶτο, ἤδη δὲ καὶ ἄλλων τινῶν, ὡς οὐ δέοι τοῦτο ποιεῖν· σαφὲς δὲ περὶ αὐτῶν οὐδενὸς πώποτε οὐδὲν ἀκήκοα. [62a] ἀλλὰ προθυμεῖσθαι χρή, ἔφη· τάχα γὰρ ἂν καὶ ἀκούσαις. ἴσως μέντοι
Now I can see that it may refer to socrates’ question at the beginning, the English translation however is not accurate then.

5

I don’t know what English translation you might be using, but looking at the Greek he seems to be referring to that earlier question, yes.

6

I’m reading phaedo consulting the English translation on Perseus

7

The Loeb has

I’ve already heard Philolaus ask the question you’ve just asked when he was living in our city and I’ve actually heard other people too, saying you shouldn’t do it, but I’ve never heard anyone say anything definite about it.”

I think your question shows the limitation of your methods. The Perseus translation may be loose but I don’t think it materially departs from the meaning of the Greek.