The Economist | Page 7

than if they caught you
stealing their own property. But worse than all, I see you fondling the
notion that you are rich. Without a thought or care how to increase your
revenue, your fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love,[7] as if you had
some special license to amuse yourselef. . . . That is why I pity and
compassionate you, fearing lest some irremediable mischief overtake
you, and you find yourself in desperate straits. As for me, if I ever
stood in need of anything, I am sure you know I have friends who

would assist me. They would make some trifling contribution--trifling
to themselves, I mean--and deluge my humble living with a flood of
plenty. But your friends, albeit far better off than yourself, considering
your respective styles of living, persist in looking to you for assistance.
[2] See Dr. Holden ad loc., Boeckh [Bk. iii. ch. xxiii.], p. 465 f.
[3] Cf. Lycurg. "c. Leocr." 139.
[4] Al. "presidential duties."
[5] {trierarkhias [misthous]}. The commentators in general "suspect"
{misthous}. See Boeckh, "P. E. A." p. 579.
[6] See Boeckh, p. 470 f.; "Revenues," iii. 9, iv. 40.
[7] Or, "to childish matters," "frivolous affairs"; but for the full import
of the phrase {paidikois pragmasi} see "Ages." viii. 2.
Then Critobulus: I cannot gainsay what you have spoken, Socrates, it is
indeed high time that you were constituted my patronus, or I shall
become in very truth a pitiable object.
To which appeal Socrates made answer: Why, you yourself must surely
be astonished at the part you are now playing. Just now, when I said
that I was rich, you laughed at me as if I had no idea what riches were,
and you were not happy till you had cross-examined me and forced me
to confess that I do not possess the hundredth part of what you have;
and now you are imploring me to be your patron, and to stint no pains
to save you from becoming absolutely and in very truth a pauper.[8]
[8] Or, "literally beggared."
Crit. Yes, Socrates, for I see that you are skilled in one lucrative
operation at all events--the art of creating a surplus. I hope, therefore,
that a man who can make so much out of so little will not have the
slightest difficulty in creating an ample surplus out of an abundance.
Soc. But do not you recollect how just now in the discussion you would
hardly let me utter a syllable[9] while you laid down the law: if a man
did not know how to handle horses, horses were not wealth to him at
any rate; nor land, nor sheep, nor money, nor anything else, if he did
not know how to use them? And yet these are the very sources of
revenue from which incomes are derived; and how do you expect me to
know the use of any of them who never possessed a single one of them
since I was born?
[9] Cf. Aristoph. "Clouds," 945; "Plut." 17; Dem. 353; and Holden ad
loc.

Crit. Yes, but we agreed that, however little a man may be blest with
wealth himself, a science of economy exists; and that being so, what
hinders you from being its professor?
Soc. Nothing, to be sure,[10] except what would hinder a man from
knowing how to play the flute, supposing he had never had a flute of
his own and no one had supplied the defect by lending him one to
practise on: which is just my case with regard to economy,[11] seeing I
never myself possessed the instrument of the science which is wealth,
so as to go through the pupil stage, nor hitherto has any one proposed
to hand me over his to manage. You, in fact, are the first person to
make so generous an offer. You will bear in mind, I hope, that a learner
of the harp is apt to break and spoil the instrument; it is therefore
probable, if I take in hand to learn the art of economy on your estate, I
shall ruin it outright.
[10] Lit. "The very thing, God help me! which would hinder . . ."
[11] Lit. "the art of administering an estate."
Critobulus retorted: I see, Socrates, you are doing your very best to
escape an irksome task: you would rather not, if you can help it, stretch
out so much as your little finger to help me to bear my necessary
burthens more easily.
Soc. No, upon my word, I am not trying to escape: on the contrary, I
shall be ready, as far as I can, to expound the matter to you.[12] . . .
Still it strikes me, if you had come to me for fire, and I had none in my
house, you