Plutarco: Alexandre e Diógenes

 

Alexander and Diogenes (Nicolas-André Monsiau, 1818)

    Plutarco (46-120) assim nos narra o lendário encontro de Alexandre, o Grande, com Diógenes de Sinope, em 338 a.C.:

    Following a conference held by the Greeks at the Isthmus, at which they decided to join Alexander’s expedition against Persia, he was formally put in charge. A great many people, not only politicians, but philosophers too, gained audiences with him to tender their congratulations, and he hoped that Diogenes of Sinope, who was living in Corinth at the time, would follow their example.

   Diogenes, however, continued to live an untroubled life in Craneium, without paying the slightest attention to Alexander, so Alexander paid him a visit and found him relaxing in the sun. Diogenes raised himself up a bit when the huge crowd of people appeared and looked at Alexander, who greeted him and asked him if there was anything he wanted. ‘Yes,’ replied Diogenes, ‘move aside a little, out of my sunlight.’ The story goes that Alexander was so struck at being held in such contempt, and so impressed with the man's haughty detachment, that while the members of his retinue were ridiculing and mocking Diogenes as they left, he said, ‘But as for me, if I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.’

    Alexandre, tendo os gregos realizado em Istmo uma assembleia geral em que decidiram juntar-se a ele na guerra aos persas, foi eleito comandante da Grécia. E, pois que lá iam felicitá-lo políticos e filósofos, Alexandre achou que Diógenes de Sinopla, que residia ordinariamente em Corinto, também iria visitá-lo.

    Diógenes, todavia, permanecia indiferente no subúrbio de Crânio e não lhe dava importância, então Alexandre foi procurá-lo e encontrou-o deitado, relaxando ao sol. Quando o filósofo percebeu tanta gente em volta de si, levantou-se levemente de seu lugar de repouso e olhou para o rosto de Alexandre, que o saudou e depois lhe perguntou se havia algo que desejasse. “Sim”, respondeu-lhe Diógenes, “quero que te movas um pouco para o lado e saias da frente do meu sol”. Diz-se que o general ficou tão impressionado com o desdém altivo de Diógenes, que, indo-se embora, enquanto seus familiares se riam juntos e zombavam do filósofo, Alexandre lhes afirmou: “Eu, se não fosse Alexandre, gostaria de ser Diógenes.”

(Plutarch. Greek Lives. Traduzido por Robin Waterfield.

New York: Oxford University Press, 2009, pág. 322)