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but capable of originating useful ideas himself； with a certain
forecast of mind and judgmentI say such a man is worth dozens of
slaves。 Good economists tell us that when a precious article may be
got at a low price we ought to buy。 And nowadays when times are so bad
it is possible to get good friends exceedingly cheap。
＇2＇ Hermogenes； presumably the son of Hipponicus。 See I。 ii。 48。
Diodorus answered： You are quite right； Socrates； bid Hermogenes come
to me。
Soc。 Bid Hermogenes come to you！not I indeed！ since for aught I can
understand you are no better entitled to summon him that to go to him
yourself； nor is the advantage more on his side than your own。
Thus Diodorus went off in a trice to seek Hermogenes； and at no great
outlay won to himself a frienda friend whose one concern it now was
to discover how； by word or deed； he might help and gladden Diodorus。
BOOK III
I
Aspirants to honour and distinction＇1＇ derived similar help from
Socrates； who in each case stimulated in them a persevering assiduity
towards their several aims； as the following narratives tend to show。
He had heard on one occasion of the arrival in Athens of
Dionysodorus；＇2＇ who professed to teach the whole duty of a
general。＇3＇ Accordingly he remarked to one of those who were with him
a young man whose anxiety to obtain the office of Strategos＇4＇ was
no secret to him：
＇1＇ ｛ton kalon｝ = everything which the ｛kalos te kagathos｝ should aim
at； but especially the honourable offices of state such as the
Archonship； Strategia； Hipparchia； etc。 See Plat。 〃Laches。〃
＇2＇ Dionysodorus of Chios； presumably。 See Plat。 〃Euthyd。〃 271 C foll。
＇3＇ A professor of the science and art of strategy。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃that honour；〃 sc。 the Strategia。
Soc。 It would be monstrous on the part of any one who sought to become
a general＇5＇ to throw away the slightest opportunity of learning the
duties of the office。 Such a person； I should say； would deserve to be
fined and punished by the state far more than the charlatan who
without having learnt the art of a sculptor undertakes a contract to
carve a statue。 Considering that the whole fortunes of the state are
entrusted to the general during a war； with all its incidental peril；
it is only reasonable to anticipate that great blessings or great
misfortunes will result in proportion to the success or bungling of
that officer。 I appeal to you； young sir； do you not agree that a
candidate who； while taking pains to be elected neglects to learn the
duties of the office； would richly deserve to be fined？
＇5＇ i。e。 〃head of the war department； and commander…in…chief；〃 etc。
With arguments like these he persuaded the young man to go and take
lessons。 After he had gone through the course he came back； and
Socrates proceeded playfully to banter him。
Soc。 Behold our young friend； sirs； as Homer says of Agamemnon； of
mein majestical；＇6＇ so he； does he not seem to move more majestically；
like one who has studied to be a general？ Of course； just as a man who
has learned to play the harp is a harper； even if he never touch the
instrument； or as one who has studied medicine is a physician； though
he does not practise； so our friend here from this time forward is now
and ever shall be a general； even though he does not receive a vote at
the elections。 But the dunce who has not the science is neither
general nor doctor； no； not even if the whole world appointed him。 But
（he proceeded； turning to the youth）； in case any of us should ever
find ourselves captain or colonel＇7＇ under you； to give us some
smattering of the science of war； what did the professor take as the
starting…point of his instruction in generalship？ Please inform us。
＇6＇ 〃Il。〃 iii。 169； 170。
＇7＇ Or； 〃brigadier or captain；〃 lit。 taxiarch or lochagos。
Then the young man： He began where he ended； he taught me tactics＇8＇
tactics and nothing else。
＇8＇ Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 I。 vi。 12 foll。； VIII。 v。 15。
Yet surely （replied Socrates） that is only an infinitisemal part of
generalship。 A general＇9＇ must be ready in furnishing the material of
war： in providing the commissariat for his troops； quick in devices；
he must be full of practical resource； nothing must escape his eye or
tax his endurance； he must be shrewd； and ready of wit； a combination
at once of clemency and fierceness； of simplicity and of insidious
craft； he must play the part of watchman； of robber； now prodigal as a
spendthrift； and again close…fisted as a miser； the bounty of his
munificence must be equalled by the narrowness of his greed；
impregnable in defence； a very dare…devil in attackthese and many
other qualities must he possess who is to make a good general and
minister of war； they must come to him by gift of nature or through
science。 No doubt it is a grand thing also to be a tactician； since
there is all the difference in the world between an army properly
handled in the field and the same in disorder； just as stones and
bricks； woodwork and tiles； tumbled together in a heap are of no use
at all； but arrange them in a certain orderat bottom and atop
materials which will not crumble or rot； such as stones and earthen
tiles； and in the middle between the two put bricks and woodwork； with
an eye to architectural principle；＇10＇ and finally you get a valuable
possessionto wit； a dwelling…place。
＇9＇ A strategos。 For the duties and spheres of action of this officer；
see Gow； op。 cit。 xiv。 58。
＇10＇ 〃As in the building of a house。〃 See Vitrivius； ii。 3； Plin。 xxv。
14。
The simile is very apt； Socrates＇11＇ （replied the youth）； for in
battle； too； the rule is to draw up the best men in front and rear；
with those of inferior quality between； where they may be led on by
the former and pushed on by the hinder。
＇11＇ Cf。 〃Il。〃 iv。 297 foll。； 〃Cyrop。〃 VI。 iii。 25； Polyb。 x。 22。
Soc。 Very good； no doubt； if the professor taught you to distinguish
good and bad； but if not； where is the use of your learning？ It would
scarcely help you； would it； to be told to arrange coins in piles； the
best coins at top and bottom and the worst in the middle； unless you
were first taught to distinguish real from counterfeit。
The Youth。 Well no； upon my word； he did not teach us that； so that
the task of distinguishing between good and bad must devolve on
ourselves。
Soc。 Well； shall we see； then； how we may best avoid making blunders
between them？
I am ready （replied the youth）。
Soc。 Well then！ Let us suppose we are marauders； and the task imposed
upon us is to carry off some bullion； it will be a right disposition
of our forces if we place in the vanguard those who are the greediest
of gain？＇12＇
＇12＇ 〃Whose fingers itch for gold。〃
The Youth。 I should think so。
Soc。 Then what if there is danger to be faced？ Shall the vanguard
consist of men who are greediest of honour？
The Youth。 It is these； at any rate； who will face danger for the sake
of praise and glory。＇13＇ Fortunately such people are not hid away in a
corner； they shine forth conspicuous everywhere； and are easy to be
discovered。
＇13＇ Cf。 Shakesp。 〃seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon's
mouth。〃
S