3

You have made it an object of censure and have suffered the same thing as the owl; for it thinks the cause of its blindness is the brilliant flashes of the sun. The human race beneficially starves for gold, Sosipater; for from this both arts were introduced to life and cities were founded and ease of transactions. And if one must speak comprehensively, this earthly dwelling place would have been deprived of all good order, if gold had not made men dependent on one another; for no sailor would have sailed, no traveler would have journeyed, farmers would not have possessed a ploughing ox, scepters of royal command would not be honored, the subject people would not have been adorned with suitable magistrates, no general would have led the army. And if you wish to learn a secret teaching, gold has been entrusted with the reins of virtue and vice, and the desire of the soul is tested through it, and it is a rival to the Celtic river; for it is a most true test of counterfeit virtue and vice.

11

Kallistachys to Kyparisson. Simichidas yesterday set fire to the growth of fruitless and wild trees; for such a sentence he decreed against the unfruitful trees. But the nature of the all-consuming fire had an unrestrained impulse, and suddenly destroyed the plot of his country neighbor. And he, leaving his leather garment and his mattock, goes to the city to get an orator as an ally, and a court has been convened against Simichidas. This I too, Kyparisson, will plot against you, unless you order your bees to keep away from my meadows, and you will learn not to acquire unjust revenue by the labors of others.

12

Melpomene to Praximilla. The flute-girl Chrysogone has made her haunts at the Leokorion, and perhaps she thinks she is also delighting my lovers. And the little harlot says that we are greatly displeased at the matter. But I do not make much of what is being done; for may the character of Chrysogone test what sort of lovers they happen to be toward us. But become for me, by the gods, a most clear messenger of a true response and tell the Laconian woman: "3For this at least, Chrysogone, we owe you the greatest thanks; for by your ugliness our own attributes will be shown more venerable, since if a jackdaw does not appear even a crow will be counted among the comely birds."3

13

Ariston to Nicias. They say the elephant is a most learning-loving animal and a skillful pupil of human teachings; for the bulk of its body is not as admirable in it as the adornment of its education is honored. And these things the children of the Indians buzz about; but I have marveled at Nicias, who has a reason more unreasonable than the irrational animals. For being the son of a sophist, you have spurned your father's virtues, and on dice and wrestling schools you have wasted the leisure of your life, and you have become the end of nobility for your family. If, therefore, you wish to be called a son of Hermagoras, return at long last to his way of life; for it is a good thing for one to whom wisdom and prudence are present even in old age, as it also seems to Plato. But if you are unwilling to depart from your old evils and proclaim yourself a son of Hermagoras, know that you are becoming a grave-robber of your father's tomb; for by your own wickedness you dishonor his virtues.

14

Myronides to Damalus. Your son has ruined the entire flock. Always having filled his wooden cup with milk, the clothes-stealer goes to the plane trees and having made a pallet of straw he has fallen back without a care and embraces the luxurious life. Then having brought his pipe, he puts forth his merriment like an after-dinner song, and debases the rustic laws. And the livestock is scattered here and there and is vulnerable to attack. Yes, and indeed the wretch sells the dung cheap, and is not ashamed of wronging Myronides. Yesterday I was feasting Trygias splendidly; for my delicacies were dried figs and locusts. But this divine fellow

3

ψόγου πεποίησαι καὶ ταὐτὸν πέπονθας τῇ γλαυκί· ἀβλεψίας γὰρ αἴτιον ἐκείνη δοκεῖ τὰς περιφανεῖς τοῦ ἡλίου ἐκλάμψεις. λυσιτελῶς λιμώττει χρυσοῦ τὸ ἀνθρώπινον γένος, Σωσίπατρε· ἐντεῦθεν γὰρ καὶ τέχναι τῷ βίῳ εἰσήχθησαν καὶ πόλεις ᾠκίσθησαν καὶ συναλλαγμάτων εὐμάρεια. εἰ δὲ δεῖ συλλήβδην εἰπεῖν, πάσης εὐκοσμίας ἐστέρητο ἂν τὸ περίγειον τουτὶ ἐνδιαίτημα, εἰ μὴ χρυσὸς τοὺς ἀνθρώπους ἀλλήλων ἐπιδεεῖς ἐτεκτήνατο· οὐ γὰρ ἂν πλωτὴρ ἐναυτίλλετο, οὐχ ὁδοιπόρος ἐνεπορεύετο, οὐκ ἀροτῆρα βοῦν οἱ γεωργοῦντες ἐκέκτηντο, οὐ βασιλικῆς ἡγεμονίας ἐπρεσβεύετο σκῆπτρα, οὐκ ἀρχαῖς καὶ προσφόροις τὸ ὑπήκοον ἐκεκόσμητο, οὐ στρατηγὸς ἐδημαγώγει τὸ στράτευμα. εἰ δὲ καὶ ἀπόρρητον λόγον θέλεις μαθεῖν, ἀρετῆς καὶ κακίας ὁ χρυσὸς τὰς ἡνίας πεπίστευται, καὶ βασανίζεται ἔφεσις ψυχῆς δι' αὐτοῦ, καὶ τῷ Κελτικῷ ποταμῷ ἐστιν ἐφάμιλλος· νόθου γὰρ ἀρετῆς καὶ κακίας ἔλεγχός ἐστιν ἀληθέστατος.

11 Καλλίσταχυς Κυπαρίσσωνι Τῶν ἀκάρπων καὶ ἀνημέρων δένδρων τὴν φύσιν ὁ Σιμιχίδας χθές που ἐνέπρησε· τοιαύτην γὰρ τὴν καταδίκην τοῖς ἀτελεσφορήτοις ἐψηφίσατο δένδροις. ἡ δὲ τοῦ παμφάγου πυρὸς φύσις τὴν ὁρμὴν εἶχεν ἀκόλαστον, καὶ τοῦ ἀγρογείτονος ἄφνω τὸ χωρίον διώλεσεν. ὁ δὲ τὴν διφθέραν ἀφεὶς καὶ τὴν δίκελλαν πρὸς ἄστυ χωρεῖ ῥήτορα ληψόμενος σύμμαχον, καὶ τῷ Σιμιχίδᾳ δικαστήριον συγκεκρότηται. τοῦτο κἀγώ, Κυπαρίσσων, κατὰ σοῦ σκευωρήσομαι, εἰ μὴ ταῖς σαῖς μελίτταις προστάξειας τῶν ἐμῶν λειμώνων ἀπέχεσθαι, καὶ μαθήσῃ ἀλλοτρίοις πόνοις μὴ κεκτῆσθαι πρόσοδον ἄδικον.

12 Μελπομένη Πραξιμίλλῃ Ἐπὶ τὸ Λεωκόριον τὰς διατριβὰς ἡ αὐλητρὶς Χρυσογόνη πεποίηται, καὶ τάχα που καὶ τέρπειν οἴεται τοὺς ἐμοὺς ἐραστάς. καί φησιν ἡμᾶς τὸ πορνίδιον ἄγαν δυσανασχετεῖν ἐπὶ τῷ πράγματι. ἐγὼ δὲ οὐ περὶ πολλοῦ πεποίημαι τὸ πραττόμενον· τοὺς γὰρ ἐραστὰς ὁποῖοι ὄντες τυγχάνουσι πρὸς ἡμᾶς τὰ τῆς Χρυσογόνης βασανίσειεν ἤθη. ἀλλὰ γίνου μοι, πρὸς θεῶν, ἀψευδοῦς ἀποκρίσεως σαφέστατος ἄγγελος καὶ τῇ Λακαίνῃ φράσον· "3μεγίστας σοι χάριτας τοῦ γε ἕνεκα, Χρυσογόνη, ὀφείλομεν· τῇ σῇ γὰρ ἀμορφίᾳ σεμνότερα δειχθήσεται τὰ ἡμέτερα, ἐπεὶ καὶ κολοιοῦ μὴ φανέντος καὶ κόραξ τοῖς εὐπρεπέσι καταλογισθήσεται ὄρνισιν."3

13 Ἀρίστων Νικίᾳ Φιλομαθέστατον ζῷόν φασι τὸν ἐλέφαντα καὶ ἀνθρωπείων διδαγμάτων μαθητὴν ἐπιδέξιον· οὐ γὰρ ὁ τοῦ σώματος ὄγκος θαυμαστὸς παρ' αὐτῷ ὅσον ὁ τῆς παιδείας κόσμος τετίμηται. καὶ ταῦτα μὲν παῖδες περιθρυλλοῦσιν Ἰνδῶν· ἐγὼ δὲ τοῦ Νικίου τεθαύμακα τῶν ἀλόγων ζῴων ἔχοντος τὸν λογισμὸν ἀλογώτερον. ὑπάρχων γὰρ παῖς ἀνδρὸς σοφιστοῦ τὰς πατρῴας ἐκλελάκτικας ἀρετάς, περὶ δὲ κύβους καὶ παλαίστρας τὴν τοῦ βίου σχολὴν κατηνάλωσας, καὶ γέγονας πέρας εὐγενείας τῷ γένει. εἰ τοίνυν παῖς ἀκούειν Ἑρμαγόρου ἐθέλεις, ὀψέ ποτε πρὸς τὸν ἐκείνου βίον ἐπάνηκε· ἀγαθὸν γὰρ ὅτῳ κἂν ἐν γήρᾳ σοφία τε καὶ φρόνησις παρῇ, καθὰ δοκεῖ καὶ τῷ Πλάτωνι. εἰ δὲ τῶν πάλαι κακῶν δυσανασχετεῖς μεθιστάναι καὶ παῖδα σαυτὸν Ἑρμαγόρου κηρύττεις, τυμβωρύχος ἴσθι τοῦ πατρῴου τάφου γινόμενος· τῇ σῇ γὰρ κακίᾳ τὰς ἐκείνου ἀρετὰς καθυβρίζεις.

14 Μυρωνίδης ∆αμάλῳ Τὸ ποίμνιον ἅπαν ὁ σὸς ἐλυμήνατο παῖς. τὸ κισσύβιον ἀεὶ πληρώσας τοῦ γάλακτος ἐπὶ τὰς πλατάνους ὁ λωποδύτης χωρεῖ καὶ στιβάδα ποιήσας ἀπεριμερίμνως ἀναπέπτωκε καὶ τὸν ἁβροδίαιτον βίον ἀσπάζεται. εἶτα τὴν σύριγγα κομισάμενος ὥσπερ ἐπιδείπνιον ᾠδὴν τὴν εὐθυμίαν προβάλλεται, καὶ τοὺς ἀγροικικοὺς παραχαράττει θεσμούς. τὰ δὲ θρέμματα τῇδε κἀκεῖσε διέσπαρται καὶ πρὸς ἔφοδόν ἐστιν εὐάλωτα. ναὶ δὴ καὶ τοὺς ὄνθους εὐώνους διαπιπράσκει ὁ δείλαιος, καὶ Μυρωνίδην ἀδικῶν οὐκ αἰσχύνεται. εἱστίων χθὲς τὸν Τρυγίαν λαμπρῶς· ἰσχάδες γὰρ ἦν μοι καὶ ἀκρίδες τὰ ὄψα. ὁ δὲ θεσπέσιος οὑτοσὶ