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alike； methinks？
Nic。 Decidedly。
Soc。 And to win the kindly feeling of their subordinates must surely
be the noble ambition of both？
That too （he answered）。
Soc。 And do you consider it to the interest of both alike to win the
adherence of supporters and allies？＇9＇
＇9＇ In reference to the necessity of building up a family connection
or political alliances cf。 Arist。 〃Pol。〃 iii。 9； 13。
Nic。 Without a doubt。
Soc。 And does it not closely concern them both to be good guardians of
their respective charges？
Nic。 Very much so。
Soc。 Then it equally concerns them both to be painstaking and prodigal
of toil in all their doings？
Nic。 Yes； all these duties belong to both alike； but the parallel ends
when you come to actual fighting。
Soc。 Yet they are both sure to meet with enemies？
Nic。 There is no doubt about that。
Soc。 Then is it not to the interest of both to get the upper hand of
these？
Nic。 Certainly； but you omit to tell us what service organisation and
the art of management will render when it comes to actual fighting。
Soc。 Why； it is just then； I presume； it will be of most service； for
the good economist knows that nothing is so advantageous or so
lucrative as victory in battle； or to put it negatively； nothing so
disastrous and expensive as defeat。 He will enthusiastically seek out
and provide everything conducive to victory； he will painstakingly
discover and guard against all that tends to defeat； and when
satisifed that all is ready and ripe for victory he will deliver
battle energetically； and what is equally important； until the hour of
final preparation has arrived；＇10＇ he will be cautious to deliver
battle。 Do not despise men of economic genius； Nicomachides； the
difference between the devotion requisite to private affairs and to
affairs of state is merely one of quantity。 For the rest the parallel
holds strictly； and in this respect pre…eminently； that both are
concerned with human instruments： which human beings； moreover； are of
one type and temperament； whether we speak of devotion to public
affairs or of the administration of private property。 To fare well in
either case is given to those who know the secret of dealing with
humanity； whereas the absence of that knowledge will as certainly
imply in either case a fatal note of discord。＇11＇
＇10＇ Lit。 〃as long as he is unprepared。〃
＇11＇ L。 Dindorf； 〃Index Graec。〃 Ox。 ed。； cf。 Hor。 〃Ep。〃 II。 ii。 144；
〃sed verae numerosque modosque ediscere vitae；〃 〃the harmony of
life；〃 Conington。
V
A conversation held with Pericles the son of the great statesman may
here be introduced。＇1＇ Socrates began：
＇1＇ Or； 〃On one occasion Pericles was the person addressed in
conversation。〃 For Pericles see 〃Hell。〃 I。 v。 16； vii。 15； Plut。
〃Pericl。〃 37 （Clough； i。 368）。
I am looking forward； I must tell you； Pericles； to a great
improvement in our military affairs when you are minister of war。＇2＇
The prestige of Athens； I hope； will rise； we shall gain the mastery
over our enemies。
＇2＇ 〃Strategos。〃
Pericles replied： I devoutly wish your words might be fulfilled； but
how this happy result is to be obtained； I am at a loss to discover。
Shall we （Socrates continued）； shall we balance the arguments for and
against； and consider to what extent the possibility does exist？
Pray let us do so （he answered）。
Soc。 Well then； you know that in point of numbers the Athenians are
not inferior to the Boeotians？
Per。 Yes； I am aware of that。
Soc。 And do you think the Boeotians could furnish a better pick of
fine healthy men than the Athenians？
Per。 I think we should very well hold our own in that respect。
Soc。 And which of the two would you take to be the more united people
the friendlier among themselves？
Per。 The Athenians； I should say； for so many sections of the
Boeotians； resenting the selfish policy＇3＇ of Thebes； are ill disposed
to that power； but at Athens I see nothing of the sort。
＇3＇ 〃The self…aggrandisement。〃
Soc。 But perhaps you will say that there is no people more jealous of
honour or haughtier in spirit。＇4＇ And these feelings are no weak spurs
to quicken even a dull spirit to hazard all for glory's sake and
fatherland。
＇4＇ Reading ｛megalophronestatoi｝； after Cobet。 See 〃Hipparch；〃 vii。 3；
or if as vulg。 ｛philophronestatoi｝； transl。 〃more affable。〃
Per。 Nor is there much fault to find with Athenians in these respects。
Soc。 And if we turn to consider the fair deeds of ancestry；＇5＇ to no
people besides ourselves belongs so rich a heritage of stimulating
memories； whereby so many of us are stirred to pursue virtue with
devotion and to show ourselves in our turn also men of valour like our
sires。
＇5＇ See Wesley's anthem； Eccles。 xliv。 1； 〃Let us now praise famous
men and our fathers that begat us。〃
Per。 All that you say； Socrates； is most true； but do you observe that
ever since the disaster of the thousand under Tolmides at Lebadeia；
coupled with that under Hippocrates at Delium；＇6＇ the prestige of
Athens by comparison with the Boeotians has been lowered； whilst the
spirit of Thebes as against Athens had been correspondingly exalted；
so that those Boeotians who in old days did not venture to give battle
to the Athenians even in their own territory unless they had the
Lacedaemonians and the rest of the Peloponnesians to help them； do
nowadays threaten to make an incursion into Attica single…handed； and
the Athenians； who formerly； if they had to deal with the Boeotians＇7＇
only； made havoc of their territory； are now afraid the Boeotians may
some day harry Attica。
＇6＇ Lebadeia； 447 B。C。； Delium； 424 B。C。 For Tolmides and Hippocrates
see Thuc。 i。 113； iv。 100 foll。； Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 v。 471； vi。 533。
＇7＇ Reading ｛ote B。 monoi｝； al。 ｛ou monoi｝； 〃when the Boeotians were
not unaided。〃
To which Socrates： Yes； I perceive that this is so； but it seems to me
that the state was never more tractably disposed； never so ripe for a
really good leader； as to…day。 For if boldness be the parent of
carelessness； laxity； and insubordination； it is the part of fear to
make people more disposed to application； obedience； and good order。 A
proof of which you may discover in the behaviour of people on ship…
board。 It is in seasons of calm weather when there is nothing to fear
that disorder may be said to reign； but as soon as there is
apprehension of a storm； or an enemy in sight； the scene changes； not
only is each word of command obeyed； but there is a hush of silent
expectation； the mariners wait to catch the next signal like an
orchestra with eyes upon the leader。
Per。 But indeed； given that now is the opportunity to take obedience
at the flood； it is high time also to explain by what means we are to
rekindle in the hearts of our countrymen＇8＇ the old firesthe
passionate longing for antique valour； for the glory and the wellbeing
of the days of old。
＇8＇ Reading ｛anerasthenai｝； Schneider's emendation of the vulg。
｛aneristhenai｝。
Well （proceeded Socrates）； supposing we wished them to lay claim to
certain material wealth now held by others； we could not better
stimulate them to lay