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＇14＇ e。g。 Attica into ten phylae； Lacedaemon into six morae； Thebes
and Argos into lochi。 See Aristot。 〃Pol。〃 v。 8 （Jowett； i。 166）；
〃Hell。〃 VI。 iv。 13； VII。 ii。 4。
Well then； suppose that some one were to offer prizes＇15＇ to these
political departments on the pattern of the choric prizes just
described； prizes for excellence of arms； or skill in tactics； or for
discipline and so forth； or for skill in horsemanship； prizes for
prowess＇16＇ in the field of battle； bravery in war； prizes for
uprightness＇17＇ in fulfilment of engagements； contracts； covenants。 If
so； I say it is to be expected that these several matters； thanks to
emulous ambition； will one and all be vigorously cultivated。
Vigorously！ why； yes； upon my soul； and what a rush there would be！
How in the pursuit of honour they would tear along where duty called：
with what promptitude pour in their money contributions＇18＇ at a time
of crisis。
＇15＇ See 〃Revenues；〃 iii。 3； A。 Zurborg； 〃de。 Xen。 Lib。 qui ｛Poroi｝
inscribitur；〃 p。 42。
＇16＇ Cf。 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 16； IV。 ii。 5 foll。
＇17＇ 〃In reward for justice in； etc。〃 See 〃Revenues；〃 l。c。； and for
the evil in question； Thuc。 i。 77； Plat。 〃Rep。〃 556。
＇18＇ ｛eispheroien｝； techn。 of the war…tax at Athens。 See 〃Revenues；〃
iii。 7 foll。； iv。 34 foll。； Thuc。 iii。 19； Boeckh； 〃P。 E。 A。〃 pp。
470； 539。 Cf。 Aristot。 〃Pol。〃 v。 11。 10； in illustration of the
tyrant's usual method of raising money。
And that which of all arts is the most remunerative； albeit the least
accustomed hitherto to be conducted on the principle of
competition＇19＇I mean agricultureitself would make enormous
strides； if some one were to offer prizes in the same way； 〃by farms
and villages；〃 to those who should perform the works of tillage in the
fairest fashion。 Whilst to those members of the state who should
devote themselves with might and main to this pursuit； a thousand
blessings would be the result。 The revenues would be increased； and
self…restraint be found far more than now； in close attendance on
industrious habits。＇20＇ Nay further； crimes and villainies take root
and spring less freely among busy workers。
＇19＇ Al。 〃and what will be the most repaying 。 。 。 being a department
of things least wont；〃 etc。
＇20＇ Or； 〃soundness of soul much more be found allied with
occupation。〃
Once more； if commerce＇21＇ is of any value to the state； then let the
merchant who devotes himself to commerce on the grandest scale receive
some high distinction； and his honours will draw on other traders in
his wake。
＇21＇ Cf。 〃Revenues；〃 l。c。
Or were it made apparent that the genius who discovers a new source of
revenue； which will not be vexatious； will be honoured； by the state；
a field of exploration will at once be opened； which will not long
continue unproductive。＇22＇
＇22＇ Lit。 〃that too is an inquiry which will not long lie fallow。〃
And to speak compendiously； if it were obvious in each department that
the introducer of any salutary measure whatsoever will not remain
unhonoured； that in itself will stimulate a host of pople who will
make it their business to discover some good thing or other for the
state。 Wherever matters of advantage to the state excite deep
interest； of necessity discoveries are made more freely and more
promptly perfected。 But if you are afraid； O mighty prince； that
through the multitude of prizes offered＇23＇ under many heads； expenses
also must be much increased； consider that no articles of commerce can
be got more cheaply than those which people purchase in exchange for
prizes。 Note in the public contests （choral； equestrian； or
gymnastic）＇24＇ how small the prizes are and yet what vast expenditure
of wealth and toil； and painful supervision these elicit。＇25＇
＇23＇ Reading ｛protithemenon｝ with Cobet。
＇24＇ Lit。 〃hippic； gymnic； and choregic contests。〃
＇25＇ e。g。 〃in the choral dances （1） money on the part of the choragoi；
（2） pains on the part of the choreutai； （3） supervising care on
the part of the choro…didaskoi； and so mutatis mutandis of the
hippic and gymnic。〃
X
And Hiero replied： Thus far you reason prettily； methinks； Simonides；
but about these mercenary troops have you aught to say？ Can you
suggest a means to avoid the hatred of which they are the cause？ Or
will you tell me that a ruler who has won the affection of his
subjects has no need for body…guards？
Nay； in good sooth （replied Simonides）； distinctly he will need them
none the less。 I know it is with certain human beings as with horses；
some trick of the blood they have； some inborn tendency； the more
their wants are satisfied； the more their wantonness will out。 Well
then； to sober and chastise wild spirits； there is nothing like the
terror of your men…at…arms。＇1＇ And as to gentler natures；＇2＇ I do not
know by what means you could bestow so many benefits upon them as by
means of mercenaries。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃spear…bearers〃； the title given to the body…guard of kings
and tyrants。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃the beautiful and good；〃 the ｛kalois kagathois｝。 See 〃Econ。〃
vi。 11 foll。
Let me explain： You keep them； I presume； in the first instance； for
yourself； as guards of your own person。 But for masters； owners of
estates and others； to be done to death with violence by their own
slaves is no unheard…of thing。 Supposing； then； the first and foremost
duty laid on mercenary troops were this： they are the body…guards of
the whole public； and bound as such to come to the assistance of all
members of the state alike； in case they shall detect some mischief
brewing＇3＇ （and miscreants do spring up in the hearts of states； as we
all know）； I say then； if these mercenary troops were under orders to
act as guardians of the citizens；＇4＇ the latter would recognise to
whom they were indebted。
＇3＇ 〃If they become aware of anything of that sort。〃 Is not this
modelled on the ｛krupteia｝？ See Pater； 〃Plato and Platonism；〃 ch。
viii。 〃Lacedaemon；〃 p。 186。
＇4＇ Or； 〃as their police。〃 ｛toutous｝； sc。 〃the citizens〃； al。 〃the
evil…doers。〃 If so； transl。 〃to keep watch and ward on evil…doers；
the citizens would soon recognise the benefit they owe them for
that service。〃
But in addition to these functions； such a body might with reason be
expected to create a sense of courage and security； by which the
country labourers with their flocks and herds would greatly benefit； a
benefit not limited to your demesne； but shared by every farm
throughout the rural district。
Again； these mercenaries； if set to guard strategic points；＇5＇ would
leave the citizens full leisure to attend to matters of more private
interest。
＇5＇ Or； 〃as garrisons of critical positions；〃 like Phyle or Decelia
near Athens。
And again； a further function： Can you conceive a service better
qualified to gain intelligence beforehand and to hinder the secret
sudden onslaughts of a hostile force； than a set of troopers always
under arms and fully organised？＇6＇
＇6＇ Or； 〃trained to act as one man。〃 See Sturz； s。v。
Moreover； on an actual campaign； where will you find an arm of greater
service to the citizens than these wage…earning troops？＇7＇ than whom；
it is likely； there will none be found more resolute to take the
lion's share o