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my desire as to do myself some mortal mischief。
＇42＇ Lit。 〃of tyrant to achieve；〃 a met。 from the chase。 Cf。
〃Hunting；〃 xii。 22。
Were he my enemy； to wrest some spoil from his unwilling hands would
be an exquisite pleasure； to my thinking。 But of all sweet favours the
sweetest to my notion is the free…will offering of a man's beloved。
For instance； how sweet the responsive glance of love for love； how
sweet the questions and the answers；＇43＇ and； most sweet of all； most
love…enkindling； the battles and the strifes of faithful lovers。＇44＇
But to enjoy＇45＇ one's love perforce （he added） resembles more an act
of robbery； in my judgment； than love's pastime。 And； indeed； the
robber derives some satisfaction from the spoils he wins and from the
pain he causes to the man he hates。 But to seek pleasure in the pain
of one we love devoutly； to kiss and to be hated； to touch＇46＇ and to
be loathedcan one conceive a state of things more odious or more
pitiful？ For； it is a certainty； the ordinary person may accept at
once each service rendered by the object of his love as a sign and
token of kindliness inspired by affection； since he knows such
ministry is free from all compulsion。 Whilst to the tyrant； the
confidence that he is loved is quite foreclosed。 On the contrary；＇47＇
we know for certain that service rendered through terror will
stimulate as far as possible the ministrations of affection。 And it is
a fact； that plots and conspiracies against despotic rulers are
oftenest hatched by those who most of all pretend to love them。＇48＇
＇43＇ 〃The 'innere Unterhaltung'〃； the ｛oarismos｝。 Cf。 Milton； 〃P。 L。〃：
With thee conversing； I forget all time。
＇44＇ Cf。 Ter。 〃Andr。〃 iii。 3。 23； 〃amantium irae amoris
intergratiost。〃
＇45＇ 〃To make booty of。〃
＇46＇ For ｛aptesthai｝ L。 & S。 cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 840 A； Aristot。 〃H。 A。〃
v。 14。 27； Ep。 1 Cor。 vii。 1。
＇47＇ Reading ｛au｝。 〃If we do know anything it is this； that；〃 etc。
＇48＇ Or； 〃do oftenest issue from treacherous make…believe of warmest
friendship。〃 Cf。 Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 xi。 288； 〃Hell。〃 VI。 iv。 36。
II
To these arguments Simonides replied： Yes； but the topics you have
named are to my thinking trifles； drops； as it were； in the wide
ocean。 How many men； I wonder； have I seen myself； men in the deepest
sense；＇1＇ true men； who choose to fare but ill in respect of meats and
drinks and delicacies； ay； and what is more； they voluntarily abstain
from sexual pleasures。 No！ it is in quite a different sphere； which I
will name at once； that you so far transcend us private citizens。＇2＇
It is in your vast designs； your swift achievements； it is in the
overflowing wealth of your possessions； your horses； excellent for
breed and mettle； the choice beauty of your arms； the exquisite finery
of your wives； the gorgeous palaces in which you dwell； and these；
too； furnished with the costliest works of art； add to which the
throng of your retainers； courtiers； followers； not in number only but
accomplishments a most princely retinue； and lastly； but not least of
all； in your supreme ability at once to afflict your foes and benefit
your friends。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃many among those reputed to be men。〃 Cf。 〃Cyrop。〃 V。 v。 33；
〃Hell。〃 i。 24； 〃their hero〃； and below； viii。 3。 Aristoph。 〃Ach。〃
78； ｛oi barbaroi gar andras egountai monous｝ ｜ ｛tous pleista
dunamenous phagein te kai piein｝： 〃To the Barbarians 'tis the test
of manhood： there the great drinkers are the greatest men〃
（Frere）； id。 〃Knights；〃 179； 〃Clouds；〃 823； so Latin 〃vir。〃 See
Holden ad loc。
＇2＇ 〃Us lesser mortals。〃
To all which Hiero made answer： That the majority of men； Simonides；
should be deluded by the glamour of a despotism in no respect
astonishes me； since it is the very essence of the crowd； if I am not
mistaken； to rush wildly to conjecture touching the happiness or
wretchedness of people at first sight。
Now the nature of a tyrrany is such： it presents； nay flaunts； a show
of costliest possessions unfolded to the general gaze； which rivets
the attention；＇3＇ but the real troubles in the souls of monarchs it
keeps concealed in those hid chambers where lie stowed away the
happiness and the unhappiness of mankind。
＇3＇ There is some redundancy in the phraseology。
I repeat then； I little marvel that the multitude should be blinded in
this matter。 But that you others also； you who are held to see with
the mind's eye more clearly than with the eye of sense the mass of
circumstances；＇4＇ should share its ignorance； does indeed excite my
wonderment。 Now； I know it all too plainly from my own experience；
Simonides； and I assure you； the tyrant is one who has the smallest
share of life's blessings； whilst of its greater miseries he possesses
most。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃the majority of things〃； al。 〃the thousand details of a
thing。〃
For instance； if peace is held to be a mighty blessing to mankind；
then of peace despotic monarchs are scant sharers。 Or is war a curse？
If so； of this particular pest your monarch shares the largest moiety。
For； look you； the private citizen； unless his city…state should
chance to be engaged in some common war；＇5＇ is free to travel
wheresoe'er he chooses without fear of being done to death； whereas
the tyrant cannot stir without setting his foot on hostile territory。
At any rate； nothing will persuade him but he must go through life
armed； and on all occasions drag about with him armed satellites。 In
the next place； the private citizen； even during an expedition into
hostile territory；＇6＇ can comfort himself in the reflection that as
soon as he gets back home he will be safe from further peril。 Whereas
the tyrant knows precisely the reverse； as soon as he arrives in his
own city； he will find himself in the centre of hostility at once。 Or
let us suppose that an invading army； superior in force； is marching
against a city： however much the weaker population； whilst they are
still outside their walls； may feel the stress of danger； yet once
within their trenches one and all expect to find themselves in
absolute security。 But the tyrant is not out of danger； even when he
has passed the portals of his palace。 Nay！ there of all places most；
he feels； he must maintain the strictist watch。＇7＇ Again； to the
private citizen there will come eventually； either through truce or
terms of peace； respite from war； but for the tyrant； the day of peace
wi