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＇12＇ Or； 〃the compliance of cold lips where love is not reciprocated
is 。 。 。〃
＇13＇ Or； 〃to rank injustice。〃
But honours have a very different origin；＇14＇ as different to my mind
as are the sentiments to which they give expression。 See how； for
instance； men of common mould will single out a man； who is a man；＇15＇
they feel； and competent to be their benefactor； one from whom they
hope to reap rich blessings。 His name lives upon their lips in praise。
As they gaze at him； each one among them sees in him a private
treasure。 Spontaneously they yield him passage in the streets。 They
rise from their seats to do him honour； out of love not fear； they
crown him for his public＇16＇ virtue's sake and benefactions。 They
shower gifts upon him of their own free choice。 These same are they
who； if my definition holds； may well be said to render honour to
their hero by such service； whilst he that is held worthy of these
services is truly honoured。 And for my part I can but offer my
congratulations to him。 〃God bless him；〃 say I； perceiving that so far
from being the butt of foul conspiracy； he is an object of anxiety to
all； lest evil should betide him； and so he pursues the even tenour of
his days in happiness exempt from fears and jealousy＇17＇ and risk。 But
the current of the tyrant's life runs differently。 Day and night； I do
assure you； Simonides； he lives like one condemned by the general
verdict of mankind to die for his iniquity。
＇14＇ Lit。 〃Honours would seem to be the outcome and expression of
conditions utterly remote from these； in fact their very
opposites。〃
＇15＇ Cf。 Napoleon's accost of Goethe； 〃Vous etes un homme；〃 and 〃as
Goethe left the room； Napoleon repeated to Berthier and Daru；
'Voila un homme！'〃 （〃The Life of Goethe；〃 Lewes； p。 500）。
＇16＇ Reading ｛koines｝； which ought to mean 〃common to them and him〃；
if with Cobet ｛koine｝； 〃in public crown him for his virtue's sake；
a benefactor。〃
＇17＇ Or； 〃without reproach。〃
Now when Simonides had listened to these reasonings to the end；＇18＇ he
answered： How is it； Hiero； if to play the tyrant is a thing so
villainous；＇19＇ and that is your final judgment； how comes it you are
not quit of so monstrous an evil？ Neither you； nor； for that matter；
any monarch else I ever heard of； having once possessed the power； did
ever of his own free will divest himself of sovereignty。 How is that；
Hiero？
＇18＇ Cf。 〃Econ。〃 xi。 1。
＇19＇ Or； 〃if to monarchise and play the despot。〃
For one simple reason （the tyrant answered）； and herein lies the
supreme misery of despotic power； it is not possible even to be quit
of it。＇20＇ How could the life of any single tyrant suffice to square
the account？ How should he pay in full to the last farthing all the
moneys of all whom he has robbed？ with what chains laid upon him make
requital to all those he has thrust into felons' quarters？＇21＇ how
proffer lives enough to die in compensation of the dead men he has
slain？ how die a thousand deaths？
＇20＇ Holden aptly cf。 Plut。 〃Sol。〃 14； ｛kalon men einai ten torannida
khorion； ouk ekhein de apobasin｝； 〃it was true a tyrrany was a
very fair spot； but it had no way down from it〃 （Clough； i。 p。
181）。
＇21＇ Or； 〃how undergo in his own person the imprisonments he has
inflicted？〃 Reading ｛antipaskhoi｝； or if ｛antiparaskhoi｝； transl。
〃how could he replace in his own person the exact number of
imprisonments which he has inflicted on others？〃
Ah； no！ Simonides （he added）； if to hang one's self outright be ever
gainful to pour mortal soul； then； take my word for it； that is the
tyrant's remedy： there's none better suited＇22＇ to his case； since he
alone of all men is in this dilemma； that neither to keep nor lay
aside his troubles profits him。
＇22＇ Or； 〃nought more profitable to meet the case。〃 The author plays
on ｛lusitelei｝ according to his wont。
VIII
Here Simonides took up the thread of the discourse＇1＇ as follows： That
for the moment； Hiero； you should be out of heart regarding tyranny＇2＇
I do not wonder； since you have a strong desire to be loved by human
beings； and you are persuaded that it is your office which balks the
realisation of your dream。
＇1＇ Al。 〃took up the speaker thus。〃
＇2＇ 〃In reference to despotic rule。〃
Now； however； I am no less certain I can prove to you that
government＇3＇ implies no obstacle to being loved； but rather holds the
advantage over private life so far。 And whilst investigating if this
be really so； let us not embarass the inquiry by asking whether in
proportion to his greater power the ruler is able to do kindness on a
grander scale。 But put it thus： Two human beings； the one in humble
circumstances；＇4＇ the other a despotic ruler； perform a common act；
which of these twain will； under like conditions；＇5＇ win the larger
thanks？ I will begin with the most trifling＇6＇ examples； and first a
simple friendly salutation； 〃Good day；〃 〃Good evening；〃 dropped at
sight of some one from the lips of here a ruler； there a private
citizen。 In such a case； whose salutation will sound the pleasanter to
him accosted？
＇3＇ ｛to arkhein｝。 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 passim。
＇4＇ 〃A private person。〃
＇5＇ Lit。 〃by like expenditure of power。〃
＇6＇ ｛arkhomai soi｝。 Lit。 〃I'll begin you with quite commonplace
examples。〃 Holden cf。 Shakesp。 〃Merry Wives；〃 i。 4。 97； 〃I'll do
you your master what good I can〃； 〃Much Ado；〃 ii。 3。 115； 〃She
will sit you。〃 For the distinction between ｛paradeigmaton｝ =
examples and ｛upodeigmata｝ = suggestions see 〃Horsem。〃 ii。 2。
Or again；＇7＇ let us suppose that both should have occasion to
pronounce a panegyric。 Whose compliments will carry farther； in the
way of delectation； think you？ Or on occasion of a solemn sacrifice；
suppose they do a friend the honour of an invitation。＇8＇ In either
case it is an honour； but which will be regarded with the greater
gratitude； the monarch's or the lesser man's？
＇7＇ 〃Come now。〃
＇8＇ Cf。 〃Mem。〃 II。 iii。 11 as to 〃sacrifices as a means of social
enjoyment。〃 Dr。 Holden cf。 Aristot。 〃Nic。 Eth。〃 VIII。 ix。 160；
〃And hence it is that these clan communites and hundreds solemnise
sacrifices； in connection with which they hold large gatherings；
and thereby not only pay honour to the gods； but also provide for
themselves holiday and amusement〃 （R。 Williams）。 Thuc。 ii。 38；
〃And we have not forgotten to provide for our weary spirits many
relaxations from toil； we have regular games and sacrifices
throughout the year〃 （Jowett）。 Plut。 〃Them。〃 v。； ｛kai gar
philothuten onta kai lampron en tais peri tous xenous dapanais
。 。 。｝ 〃For loving to sacrifice often； and to be splendid in his
entertainment of strangers； he required a plentiful revenue〃
（Clough； i。 236）。 To which add Theophr。 〃Char。〃 xv。 2； 〃The
Shameless Man〃： ｛eita thusas tois theois autos men deipnein par'
etero； ta de krea apotithenai alsi pasas； k。t。l。｝； 〃then when he
has been sacrificing to the gods； he will put away the salted
remains； and will himself dine out〃 （Jebb）。
Or let a sick man be attended with a like solicitude by both。 It is
plain； the kind attentions of the mighty potentate＇9＇ arouse in the
patient's heart immense delight。＇10＇