Hiero

 I

 II

 III

 IV

 V

 VI

 VII

 Or, in this strong aspiration after honour. Holden aptly cf. Spectator, No. 467: The love of praise is a passion deeply fixed in the mind of ever

 VIII

 IX

 X

 XI

 Al. pastasi , = colonnades.

IX

To these arguments Simonides in turn made answer: Nay, Hiero, I am far from stating that you have not all these divers matters to attend to. They are serious duties, 164 I admit. But still, what strikes me is, if half these grave responsibilities do lend themselves undoubtedly to hatred, 165 the remaining half are altogether gratifying. Thus, to teach others 166 arts of highest virtue, and to praise and honour each most fair performance of the same, that is a type of duty not to be discharged save graciously. Whilst, on the other hand, to scold at people guilty of remissness, to drive and fine and chasten, these are proceedings doubtless which go hand in hand with hate and bitterness.

What I would say then to the hero-ruler is: Wherever force is needed, the duty of inflicting chastisement should be assigned to others, but the distribution of rewards and prizes must be kept in his own hands. 167

Common experience attests the excellence of such a system. 168 Thus when we 169 wish to set on foot a competition between choruses, 170 it is the function of the archon 171 to offer prizes, whilst to the choregoi 172 is assigned the duty of assembling the members of the band; 173 and to others 174 that of teaching and applying force to those who come behindhand in their duties. There, then, you have the principle at once: The gracious and agreeable devolves on him who rules, the archon; the repellent counterpart 175 on others. What is there to prevent the application of the principle to matters politic in general? 176

All states as units are divided into tribes (thulas), or regiments (moras), or companies (lokhous), and there are officers (arkhontes) appointed in command of each division. 177

Well then, suppose that some one were to offer prizes 178 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 179 in the field of battle, bravery in war; prizes for uprightness 180 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 181 at a time of crisis.

And that which of all arts is the most remunerative, albeit the least accustomed hitherto to be conducted on the principle of competition 182 - I mean agriculture - itself 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. 183 Nay further, crimes and villainies take root and spring less freely among busy workers.

Once more, if commerce 184 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.

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. 185

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 186 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) 187 how small the prizes are and yet what vast expenditure of wealth and toil, and painful supervision these elicit. 188

164 Cf. "Econ." vii. 41.

165 Or, "tend indisputably to enmity."

166 Or, "people," "the learner."

167 Cf. "Cyrop." VIII. ii. 27; ib. i. 18; "Hipparch," i. 26.

168 Or, "current incidents bear witness to the beauty of the principle."

169 emin. The author makes Simonides talk as an Athenian.

170 Lit. "when we wish our sacred choirs to compete."

171 Or, "magistrate"; at Athens the Archon Eponymos. See Boeckh, "P. E. A." p. 454 foll. Al. the athlethetai. See Pollux, viii. 93; cf. Aeschin. "c. Ctes." 13.

172 Or more correctly at Athens the choragoi = leaders of the chorus.

173 i.e. the choreutai.

174 Sc. the choro-didaskaloi, or chorus-masters.

175 ta antitupa, "the repellent obverse," "the seamy side." Cf. Theogn. 1244, ethos ekhon solion pistios antitupon. "Hell." VI. iii. 11.

176 Or, "Well then, what reason is there why other matters of political concern - all other branches of our civic life, in fact - should not be carried out on this same principle?"

177 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.

178 See "Revenues," iii. 3; A. Zurborg, "de. Xen. Lib. qui Poroi inscribitur," p. 42.

179 Cf. "Hell." III. iv. 16; IV. ii. 5 foll.

180 "In reward for justice in, etc." See "Revenues," l.c.; and for the evil in question, Thuc. i. 77; Plat. "Rep." 556.

181 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.

182 Al. "and what will be the most repaying . . . being a department of things least wont," etc.

183 Or, "soundness of soul much more be found allied with occupation."

184 Cf. "Revenues," l.c.

185 Lit. "that too is an inquiry which will not long lie fallow."

186 Reading protithemenon with Cobet.

187 Lit. "hippic, gymnic, and choregic contests."

188 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."