9.  Lastly, there is a matter more serious than any which I have mentioned, for I am now coming to the finale25    The finale of the question, or “the main conclusion of my subject,” lit. “the colophon of my reason.”  λόγος cannot here mean “of my speech,” for it has only just begun. of the question:  and I will not deceive you; for that would not be lawful in regard to topics of such moment.  I did not, nor do I now, think myself qualified to rule a flock or herd, or to have authority over the souls of men.  For in their case it is sufficient to render the herd or flock as stout and fat as possible; and with this object the neatherd and shepherd will look for well watered and rich pastures, and will drive his charge from pasture to pasture, and allow them to rest, or arouse, or recall them, sometimes with his staff, most often with his pipe; and with the exception of occasional struggles with wolves, or attention to the sickly, most of his time will be devoted to the oak and the shade and his pipes, while he reclines on the beautiful grass, and beside the cool water, and shakes down his couch in a breezy spot, and ever and anon sings a love ditty, with his cup by his side, and talks to his bullocks or his flock, the fattest of which supply his banquets or his pay.  But no one ever has thought of the virtue of flocks or herds; for indeed of what virtue are they capable?  Or who has regarded their advantage as more important than his own pleasure?

Θʹ. Ὃ δὲ τελευταῖον καὶ μεῖζον τῶν εἰρημένων, εἶμι γὰρ ἐπ' αὐτὸν ἤδη τὸν κολοφῶνα τοῦ λόγου, καὶ οὐ ψεύσομαι: οὐδὲ γὰρ θέμις τοῖς περὶ τηλικούτων ποιουμένοις τὸν λόγον: οὐκ ᾤμην ἴσον εἶναι, οὐδὲ νῦν οἴομαι, ποίμνης ἄρχειν ἢ βουκολίου, καὶ ἀνθρώπων ἐπιστατεῖν ψυχαῖς. Ἐκεῖ μὲν γὰρ ἐξαρκεῖν, ὅτι παχύτατον καὶ πιότατον ἀποδεῖξαι τὸ βουκόλιον ἢ τὸ ποίμνιον: καὶ πρὸς τοῦτο ὁρῶν ὅ τε βουκόλος καὶ ὁ ποιμὴν τῶν τε χωρίων ἐπισκέψεται τὰ ἔνυδρα καὶ ἐπίνομα, εἰσελάσει τε καὶ ἐξελάσει ἀπό τε νομῶν καὶ ἐπὶ νομὰς, ἀναπαύσει τε καὶ ἀποκινήσει καὶ ἀνακαλέσει, ὀλίγα μὲν τῇ βακτηρίᾳ, τὰ πολλὰ δὲ τῇ σύριγγι. Ἄλλο δὲ οὐδὲν ἔργον εἶναι τῷ ποιμένι ἢ τῷ βουκόλῳ πλὴν ὅσον βραχέα προσπολεμῆσαι τοῖς λύκοις, καὶ ποῦ τι καὶ ἀῤῥωστοῦν ἐπισκέψασθαι: τὰ πολλὰ δὲ αὐτῷ μελήσει δρῦς, καὶ σκιὰ, καὶ δόνακες, καὶ ἐν καλῷ τῆς πόας κατακλιθῆναι, καὶ παρὰ ψυχρὸν ὕδωρ, καὶ ὑπὸ ταῖς αὔραις σχεδιάσαι στιβάδα, καὶ ποῦ τι καὶ ἐρωτικὸν ᾆσαι μετὰ τοῦ κισσυβίου, καὶ προσλαλῆσαι ταῖς βουσὶν ἢ τῇ ποίμνῃ: καὶ τούτων αὐτῶν θοινήσασθαι ἢ ἀποδόσθαι τὸ πιότατον. Ἀρετῆς δὲ οὐδείς πω ποιμνίων ἢ βουκολίων ἐφρόντισε. Τίς γὰρ καὶ ἀρετὴ τούτων; ἢ τίς τὸ ἐκείνοις καλὸν πρὸ τῆς ἰδίας ἡδονῆς ἐσκέψατο;