even a basket for carrying dung (11) is a
beautiful thing?

(11) Cf. Plat. "Hipp. maj." 288 D, 290 D; and Grote's note, loc. cit.
p. 381: "in regard to the question wherein consists {to kalon}?"

Soc. To be sure, and a spear of gold an ugly thing, if for their
respective uses--the former is well and the latter ill adapted.

Aristip. Do you mean to assert that the same things may be beautiful and
ugly?

Soc. Yes, to be sure; and by the same showing things may be good and
bad: as, for instance, what is good for hunger may be bad for fever, and
what is good for fever bad for hunger; or again, what is beautiful for
wrestling is often ugly for running; and in general everything is good
and beautiful when well adapted for the end in view, bad and ugly when
ill adapted for the same.

Similarly when he spoke about houses, (12) and argued that "the same
house must be at once beautiful and useful"--I could not help feeling
that he was giving a good lesson on the problem: "how a house ought to
be built." He investigated the matter thus:

(12) See K. Joel, op. cit. p. 488; "Classical Review," vii. 262.

Soc. "Do you admit that any one purposing to build a perfect house (13)
will plan to make it at once as pleasant and as useful to live in as
possible?" and that point being admitted, (14) the next question would
be:

(13) Or, "the ideal house"; lit. "a house as it should be."

(14) See below, IV. vi. 15.

"It is pleasant to have one's house cool in summer and warm in winter,
is it not?" and this proposition also having obtained assent, "Now,
supposing a house to have a southern aspect, sunshine during winter will
steal in under the verandah, (15) but in summer, when the sun traverses
a path right over our heads, the roof will afford an agreeable shade,
will it not? If, then, such an arrangement is desirable, the southern
side of a house should be built higher to catch the rays of the winter
sun, and the northern side lower to prevent the cold winds finding
ingress; in a word, it is reasonable to suppose that the pleasantest and
most beautiful dwelling place will be one in which the owner can at
all seasons of the year find the pleasantest retreat, and stow away his
goods with the greatest security."

(15) Or, "porticoes" or "collonades."

Paintings (16) and ornamental mouldings are apt (he said) to deprive one
of more joy (17) than they confer.

(16) See "Econ." ix. 2; Plat. "Hipp. maj." 298 A; "Rep." 529;