ἐπεὶ δὲ τὸ νικα̂ν ἡδύ, ἀνάγκη καὶ τὰς παιδιὰς ἡδείας εἰ̂ναι τὰς μαχητικὰς καὶ τὰς ἐριστικάς πολλάκις γὰρ ἐν ταύταισγίγνεται τὸ νικα̂ν̓, καὶ ἀστραγαλίσεις καὶ σφαιρίσεις καὶ κυβείας καὶ πεττείας
Aristotle has written this in his Rhetoric
(see Book I, Chapter XI, Verse 15;
Bekker 1370b lines 34-35 and 1371a, line 1).
How do you read that?
Which of these translations do you prefer, and why? (How would you better translate?)
“Since winning is pleasurable, necessarily, games of physical combat and mental wit are pleasurable (winning often takes place in these) and games of knucklebone and dice and backgammon.” – George A. Kennedy, 2007/1991
“But since winning is pleasant, competitive and emulous games must also be pleasant (for in them winning often comes about), as well as ‘knuckle-bones’, ball games, dice playing and backgammon.” – Hugh Lawson-Tancred, 1991
“The pleasantness of victory implies of course that combative sports and intellectual contests are pleasant (since in these it often happens that some one wins) and also games like knuckle-bones, ball, dice, and draughts.” – W. Rhys Roberts, 1954
“And since victory is pleasant, competitive and disputatious amusements must be so too, for victories are often gained in them; among these we may include games with knuckle-bones, ball-games, dicing, and draughts.” – John H. Freese, 1926
“But since to overcome is pleasant, it must follow of course, as those of music and disputations, are pleasant; for it frequently occurs, in the course of these, that we overcome; also chess, ball, dice, and droughts.” – Theodore Buckley (redoing Thomas Hobbes’ translation), 1890
“Thence the delight taken in all kinds of competitions, whether serious or playful; in those of music, science, and philosophy, not less than in such light pastimes as cockals, foot-ball, draughts, and dice.” – John Gillies, 1823
“Since, however, it is pleasant to conquer, those sports, also, must be delightful which relate to war, to playing on the pipe, and to verbal contests; for in these victory is frequently obtained. This is likewise the case with the games of dice, tennice, tables &c.” – Thomas Taylor, 1818
“Seeing then it is a pleafing thing to vanquifh, therefore of neceffity, all fports and exercifes relating to War, Mufic or Difputation, of neceffity muft be delightful, in regard it was a frequent thing to be viєtorious in thofe things: as alfo all manner of Games, as Cards, Dice, Tennice, Tables, &c.” – “Translators”, 1686
