Identify a Greek Myth

[Digital_Stimulus]

I have a (hazy) recollection of a Greek Myth in which a king is driving by an accident on the road. Despite not wanting to look at the gore, he finds himself compelled to look, saying something to the effect of, “Curse these eyes! Drink your fill!”

Any help? Perhaps it was in Plato’s Republic (an example of the appetite part of the soul, as opposed to reason or spirit)?

[Digital_Stimulus]

Just a single bump…

[rocking_chair]

driving?

it isn’t ringing a bell for me. perhaps it was a philos. thing?

[DaphneBlack]

I don’t have a text handy, but I’m quite sure that is from either the Meno or the Euthyphro, two ‘early’ dialogues of Plato.

[EmeraldGrue]

It’s from Plato’s Republic, just as you thought, Digital Stimulus. I can’t get you specific line numbers because I lent out my copy, but it’s from Book 4:

@Plato's Republic

Then let us finally determine that there are two principles existing in the soul. And what of passion, or spirit? Is it a third, or akin to one of the preceding?

I should be inclined to say --akin to desire.
Well, I said, there is a story which I remember to have heard, and in which I put faith. The story is, that Leontius, the son of Aglaion, coming up one day from the Piraeus, under the north wall on the outside, observed some dead bodies lying on the ground at the place of execution. He felt a desire to see them, and also a dread and abhorrence of them; for a time he struggled and covered his eyes, but at length the desire got the better of him; and forcing them open, he ran up to the dead bodies, saying, Look, ye wretches, take your fill of the fair sight.

I have heard the story myself, he said.
The moral of the tale is, that anger at times goes to war with desire, as though they were two distinct things.

• Book 4

Sorry about the archaic translation, it seems to be the only one free on the Web.

[Cunctator]

I had a phone call in the middle of all of this. On preview I see that **EmeraldGrue ** has already posted the same reference.

The story comes from the *Republic * (book 4) :

Well, I said, there is a story which I remember to have heard, and in which I put faith. The story is, that Leontius, the son of Aglaion, coming up one day from the Piraeus, under the north wall on the outside, observed some dead bodies lying on the ground at the place of execution. He felt a desire to see them, and also a dread and abhorrence of them; for a time he struggled and covered his eyes, but at length the desire got the better of him; and forcing them open, he ran up to the dead bodies, saying, Look, ye wretches, take your fill of the fair sight

[Digital_Stimulus]

Tremendous! If I had a nickel for every time I wanted to be able to quote that…well…I’d have a lot of nickels!

Seems like I’ll have to pick up a copy of The Republic; not a bad thing, as I haven’t read it more than a decade. Thank you all!

[Grrr]

It’s intresting to note that “rubber neckers” have a MUCH longer history than I originaly thought!!

Now, every time I get stuck in a traffic jam due to on lookers of the wreckage causing the problem; I’ll be compelled to think of Plato’s Republic!