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will beware of men also； lest they should perceive your neglect of your
parents； and with one consent hold you in dishonour；＇7＇ and so you find
yourself in a desert devoid of friends。 For if once the notion be entertained
that here is a man ungrateful to his parents； no one will believe that any
kindness shown you would be other than thrown away。
＇6＇ Lit。 〃the docimasia。〃 See Gow； 〃Companion；〃 xiv。
＇7＇ 〃Visiti with atimia。〃
III
At another time the differences between two brothers named
Chaerephon and Chaerecrates； both well known to him； had drawn his
attention； and on seeing the younger of the two he thus addresed him。
Soc。 Tell me； Chaerecrates； you are not； I take it； one of those strange
people who believe that goods are better and more precious than a
brother；＇1＇ and that too although the former are but senseless chattels
which need protection； the latter a sensitive and sensible being who can
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afford it； and what is more； he is himself alone； whilst as for them their
name is legion。 And here again is a marvellous thing： that a man should
count his brother a loss； because the goods of his brother are not his； but
he does not count his fellow…citizens loss； and yet their possessions are not
his； only it seems in their case he has wits to see that to dwell securely
with many and have enough is better than to own the whole wealth of a
community and to live in dangerous isolation； but this same doctrine as
applied to brothers they ignore。 Again； if a man have the means； he will
purchase domestic slaves； because he wants assistants in his work； he will
acquire friends； because he needs their support； but this brother of his
who cares about brothers？ It seems a friend may be discovered in an
ordinary citizen； but not in a blood relation who is also a brother。 And yet
it is a great vantage…ground towards friendship to have sprung from the
same loins and to have been suckled at the same breasts； since even among
beasts a certain natural craving； and sympathy springs up between
creatures reared together。＇2＇ Added to which； a man who has brothers
commands more respect from the rest of the world than the man who has
none； and who must fight his own battles。＇3＇
＇1＇ Cf。 〃Merchant of Venice；〃 II。 viii。 17： 〃Justice！ the law！ my
ducats； and my daughter！〃
＇2＇ Or； 〃a yearning after their foster…brothers manifests itself in
animals。〃 See 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 vii。 14 foll。 for a parallel to this
discussion。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃and is less liable to hostility。〃
Chaer。 I daresay； Socrates； where the differences are not profound；
reason would a man should bear with his brother； and not avoid him for
some mere trifle's sake； for a brother of the right sort is； as you say； a
blessing； but if he be the very antithesis of that； why should a man lay his
hand to achieve the impossible？
Soc。 Well now； tell me； is there nobody whom Chaerephon can please
any more than he can please yourself； or do some people find him
agreeable enough？
Chaer。 Nay； there you hit it。 That is just why I have a right to detest
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him。 He can be pleasing enough to others； but to me； whenever he appears
on the scene； he is not a blessingno！ but by every manner of means the
reverse。
Soc。 May it not happen that just as a horse is no gain to the inexpert
rider who essays to handle him； so in like manner； if a man tries to deal
with his brother after an ignorant fashion； this same brother will kick？
Chaer。 But is it likely now？ How should I be ignorant of the art of
dealing with my brother if I know the art of repaying kind words and good
deeds in kind？ But a man who tries all he can to annoy me by word and
deed； I can neither bless nor benefit； and； what is more； I will not try。
Soc。 Well now； that is a marvellous statement； Chaerecrates。 Your dog；
the serviceable guardian of your flocks； who will fawn and lick the hand
of your shepherd； when you come near him can only growl and show his
teeth。 Well； you take no notice of the dog's ill…temper； you try to propitiate
him by kindness； but your brother？ If your brother were what he ought to
be； he would be a great blessing to youthat you admit； and； as you
further confess； you know the secret of kind acts and words； yet you will
not set yourself to apply means to make him your best of friends。
Chaer。 I am afraid； Socrates； that I have no wisdom or cunning to
make Chaerephon bear himself towards me as he should。
Soc。 Yet there is no need to apply any recondite or novel machinery。
Only bait your hook in the way best known to yourself； and you will
capture him； whereupon he will become your devoted friend。
Chaer。 If you are aware that I know some love…charm； Socrates； of
which I am the happy but unconscious possessor； pray make haste and
enlighten me。
Soc。 Answer me then。 Suppose you wanted to get some acquaintance
to invite you to dinner when he next keeps holy day；＇4＇ what steps would
you take？
＇4＇ 〃When he next does sacrifice〃； see 〃Hiero；〃 viii。 3。 Cf。 Theophr。
〃Char。〃 xv。 2； and Prof。 Jebb's note ad loc。
Chaer。 No doubt I should set him a good example by inviting him
myself on a like occasion。
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Soc。 And if you wanted to induce some friend to look after your affairs
during your absence abroad； how would you achieve your purpose？
Chaer。 No doubt I should present a precedent in undertaking to look
after his in like circumstances。
Soc。 And if you wished to get some foreign friend to take you under
his roof while visiting his country； what would you do？
Chaer。 No doubt I should begin by offering him the shelter of my own
roof when he came to Athens； in order to enlist his zeal in furthering the
objects of my visit； it is plain I should first show my readiness to do as
much for him in a like case。
S