§5.25Διὰ τί πλείων δοκεῖ ἡ ὁδὸς εἶναι, ὅταν μὴ εἰδότες βαδίζωμεν πόση τις, ἢ ὅταν εἰδότες, ἐὰν τἆλλα ὁμοίως ἔχοντες τύχωμεν;
Why does a journey seem longer when we walk without knowing how far it is, than when we know, if we happen to be in other respects in the same condition?
ἢ ὅτι τὸ εἰδέναι πόση τὸ εἰδέναι ἐστὶ τὸν ἀριθμὸν αὐτοῦ· καὶ πλεῖον ἀεὶ τὸ ἀόριστον τοῦ ὡρισμένου;
Is it because to know how far it is, is to know its number, and the indefinite is always more than the definite?
ὥσπερ οὖν εἰ ᾔδει ὅτι τοσήδε, πεπερασμένην ἀνάγκη εἶναι, οὕτω καὶ εἰ μὴ οἶδεν, ὡς ἀντιστρέφοντος παραλογίζεται ἡ ψυχή, καὶ φαίνεται εἶναι ἄπειρος.
Just as, then, if one knew that it was so much, it must be limited, so also if one does not know, the soul reasons falsely by a reversal of the relation, and it appears to be infinite.
ἔτι τὸ ποσὸν ὡρισμένον καὶ τὸ ὡρισμένον ποσόν.
Furthermore, quantity is definite, and that which is definite is quantity.
ὅταν τοίνυν μὴ φαίνηται ὡρισμένον, ὥσπερ ἄπειρον φαίνεται εἶναι, διὰ τὸ τὸ πεφυκὸς ὡρίσθαι, ἐὰν μὴ ᾖ ὡρισμένον, ἄπειρον εἶναι, ὥστε καὶ τὸ φαινόμενον μὴ ὡρίσθαι φαίνεσθαι ἀνάγκη πως ἀπέραντον.
Therefore, when it does not appear to be definite, it appears to be infinite, because that which is naturally definite, if it is not definite, is infinite, so that what appears not to be definite must also in some way appear to be infinite.
§5.26Διὰ τί τοὺς μηροὺς μᾶλλον ἢ τὰς κνήμας κοπιῶσιν;
Why do people tire in their thighs more than in their shins?
πότερον ὅτι ἐγγὺς τοῦ τόπου τοῦ ἔχοντος τὸ περίττωμα, ὥστε ἂν ὑπερβάλλῃ διὰ τὴν κίνησιν τῇ θερμότητι, συσπῶσιν οἱ μηροὶ μᾶλλον καὶ πλεῖον ἢ αἱ κνῆμαι;
Is it because they are near the region which contains the residue, so that if it exceeds in heat due to movement, the thighs contract more and to a greater degree than the shins?
ἢ διὰ τὸ συμφυὲς εἶναι μᾶλλον τοὺς μηρούς;
Or because the thighs are more continuous with the body?
μάλιστα γὰρ πονοῦσιν τῇ τοῦ συνεχοῦς διαστάσει.
For they suffer pain most of all by the pulling apart of what is continuous.
καὶ γὰρ ἂν μηδὲν ἔχοντες περίττωμα κοπιάσωσιν, ὅμως τοὺς μηροὺς καὶ τὴν ὀσφὺν πονοῦσι μᾶλλον.
Indeed, even if they tire when they have no residue, nevertheless they suffer pain more in their thighs and loins.
ἢ ὅτι καθάπερ οἱ βουβῶνες γίνονται πληγέντες διὰ τὴν συνάρτησιν τῶν φλεβῶν καὶ νεύρων, οὕτω καὶ οὗτος;
Or is it that just as swellings in the groin occur when one is struck, because of the connection of the veins and ducts, so also this pain occurs?
ἐγγυτέρω δὲ τῆς ἀρχῆς ὁ μηρός.
And the thigh is nearer to the origin.
ἢ διότι μᾶλλον ἐν τῷ αὐτῷ σχήματι ὁ μηρὸς τῆς κνήμης;
Or because the thigh remains more in the same posture than the shin?
τοῦτο δὲ κοπιαρώτερον.
And this is more tiring.
ἢ ὅτι σαρκώδης, ὥστε πολὺ τὸ κατὰ φύσιν ἔχον ἐν αὐτοῖς;
Or because it is fleshy, so that the naturally existing matter in them is abundant?
§5.27Διὰ τί ἐνίοις, ὅταν πονήσωσιν, ἕλκη ἐκφύουσιν;
Why do sores break out on some people when they exert themselves?
ἢ ὅταν τὸ σῶμα ἀκάθαρτον ιἦ, ἡ κίνησις θερμαίνουσα καὶ ἄλλα περιττώματα συνεξικμάζει μετὰ τοῦ ἱδρῶτος;
Is it because when the body is impure, the movement, being heating, evaporates other residues along with the sweat?
παχέα δὲ ὄντα καὶ χυμοὺς ἔχοντα μοχθηρούς, ὀξεῖς καὶ πικροὺς καὶ ἁλμυρούς, τὰ περιττώματα ἐκκρίνεσθαι μὲν οὐ δύναται διὰ πάχος, ἐξαίρεται δὲ διὰ τῆς σαρκὸς καὶ ἐξελκοῖ διὰ πικρότητα τοῦ χυμοῦ.
And these residues, being thick and having bad, sharp, bitter, and salty humors, cannot be secreted because of their thickness, but rise up through the flesh and cause ulceration because of the bitterness of the humor.
§5.28Διὰ τί τοῖς ἐκ τῶν γυμνασίων καὶ φαρμακοποσιῶν οὐκ εὐθὺς προσφέρουσι τροφήν;
Why do they not immediately offer food to those who have finished exercising or taking medicine?
ἢ διότι καθαίρεται τὸ σῶμα ἔτι, καὶ οὐκ ἀναπέπαυται πονοῦν, καὶ ἀποκέκριται τὰ περιττώματα;
Is it because the body is still being purged, and has not rested from exertion, and the residues have been separated?
§5.29Διὰ τί χαλεπώτερον θεῖν ἢ βαδίζειν;
Why is it more difficult to run than to walk?
ἢ ὅτι πλεῖον φορτίον φέρει ὁ θέων;
Is it because the runner carries a greater load?
ὅταν γὰρ ιἦ μετέωρος, ἅπαν ἐφ’ ἑαυτῷ ἔχει.
For when he is in the air, he has the whole weight upon himself.
ὁ δὲ βαδίζων, οἷον οἱ ἐπὶ τοῖς τειχίοις ἀναπαυόμενοι, ἐπιθεὶς ἔχει ἐπὶ τῷ ἠρεμοῦντι.
But the walker, like those who rest on low walls, has placed his weight upon the part which is at rest.
§5.30Διὰ τί ἐκ τῶν γυμνασίων οὐ πεινῶσιν εὐθύς;
Why is it that after exercise people do not feel hungry immediately?
πότερον διὰ τὴν ὑπόλειψιν τῆς συντήξεως, ἕως ἀντιπεφθῇ;
Is it because of the remnant of the melted matter, until it is digested?
ἢ διὰ τὸ πνεῦμα ὃ ποιεῖ ὁ πόνος ἐκ τοῦ ὑγροῦ;
Or because of the breath which the exertion produces from the moisture?
ἢ διὰ τὴν δίψαν ἣ γίνεται ἐκ τοῦ θερμαίνεσθαι πονοῦντας;
Or because of the thirst which arises from being heated by exertion?
πάντα γὰρ συμβαίνει ταῦτα.
For all these things happen.
§5.31Διὰ τί ἐξονειρωκτικοί εἰσιν οἱ κοπιῶντες καὶ φθισιῶντες;
Why are those who are fatigued and those with consumption prone to nocturnal emissions?
ἢ ὅτι ὅλως ἐξονειρωκτικοὶ οἱ θερμοὶ καὶ ὑγροί;
Is it because generally the hot and moist are prone to nocturnal emissions?
τὸ γὰρ σπέρμα τοιοῦτόν ἐστι τὴν φύσιν.
For the semen is of such a nature.
τὸ τοιοῦτο δὲ ἐξ οὕτω διακειμένων μάλιστα γίνεται, ὅταν ἡ ἀπὸ τοῦ ὕπνου θερμότης προσγένηται· μικρᾶς γὰρ ῥοπῆς τὰ σώματα δεῖται, καὶ ταύτης ἔσωθεν, ἀλλ’ οὐκ ἔξωθεν.
And such a thing arises most of all from those who are in this condition, when the heat from sleep is added; for the body needs only a small impulse, and that from within, not from without.
οἱ δὲ φθισικοὶ καὶ κοπιῶντες οὕτω διάκεινται· οἱ μὲν γὰρ κοπιῶντες διὰ τὸν κόπον καὶ τὴν κίνησιν συντήγματος θερμοῦ πλήρεις εἰσίν, οἱ δὲ φθισικοὶ διὰ τὸν κατάρρουν καὶ τὴν γινομένην θέρμην ὑπὸ τῆς φλεγμασίας.
Now those with consumption and those who are fatigued are in this condition; for those who are fatigued are full of hot melted matter because of their fatigue and movement, while those with consumption are so because of the catarrh and the heat generated by the inflammation.
§5.32Διὰ τί τὸ ἀριστερὸν σκέλος χαλεπώτερον τρίβεσθαι ὑφ’ ἑαυτοῦ πολὺν χρόνον ἢ τὸ δεξιόν;
Why is it much more difficult to rub one's left leg oneself for a long time than the right?
ἢ ὅτι τοῖς δεξιοῖς πονεῖν δυνάμεθα;
Is it because we are able to exert ourselves with our right parts?
ἐν τοῖς δὲ παρὰ φύσιν ἡ τοῦ ἀριστεροῦ σκέλους τρῖψις ἐξεστραμμένως γίνεται.
But in actions contrary to nature, the rubbing of the left leg takes place in a twisted manner.
τὰ δὲ παρὰ φύσιν ποιούμενα χαλεπά.
And things done contrary to nature are difficult.
τῇ δὲ ἀριστερᾷ τὰ δεξιὰ οὐθὲν ἐπίδηλον διὰ τὸ μηθετέρως ἰσχύειν.
On the other hand, when rubbing the right parts with the left hand, there is no distinct difference because neither of them can exert force in either way.