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VI。 iv。 13； VII。 ii。 4。
Well then； suppose that some one were to offer prizes＇15＇ 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＇16＇ in the field of
battle； bravery in war； prizes for uprightness＇17＇ 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＇18＇ at a time of crisis。
＇15＇ See 〃Revenues；〃 iii。 3； A。 Zurborg； 〃de。 Xen。 Lib。 qui ｛Poroi｝
inscribitur；〃 p。 42。
＇16＇ Cf。 〃Hell。〃 III。 iv。 16； IV。 ii。 5 foll。
＇17＇ 〃In reward for justice in； etc。〃 See 〃Revenues；〃 l。c。； and for
the evil in question； Thuc。 i。 77； Plat。 〃Rep。〃 556。
＇18＇ ｛eispheroien｝； techn。 of the war…tax at Athens。 See 〃Revenues；〃
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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。
And that which of all arts is the most remunerative； albeit the least
accustomed hitherto to be conducted on the principle of competition＇19＇I
mean agricultureitself 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。＇20＇ Nay further； crimes and villainies
take root and spring less freely among busy workers。
＇19＇ Al。 〃and what will be the most repaying 。 。 。 being a department
of things least wont；〃 etc。
＇20＇ Or； 〃soundness of soul much more be found allied with
occupation。〃
Once more； if commerce＇21＇ 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。
＇21＇ Cf。 〃Revenues；〃 l。c。
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。＇22＇
＇22＇ Lit。 〃that too is an inquiry which will not long lie fallow。〃
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＇23＇
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Hiero
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）＇24＇ how small the prizes are and yet what vast
expenditure of wealth and toil； and painful supervision these elicit。＇25＇
＇23＇ Reading ｛protithemenon｝ with Cobet。
＇24＇ Lit。 〃hippic； gymnic； and choregic contests。〃
＇25＇ 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
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X
And Hiero replied： Thus far you reason prettily； methinks； Simonides；
but about these mercenary troops have you aught to say？ Can you suggest
a means to avoid the hatred of which they are the cause？ Or will you tell
me that a ruler who has won the affection of his subjects has no need for
body…guards？
Nay； in good sooth （replied Simonides）； distinctly he will need them
none the less。 I know it is with certain human beings as with horses； some
trick of the blood they have； some inborn tendency； the more their wants
are satisfied； the more their wantonness will out。 Well then； to sober and
chastise wild spirits； there is nothing like the terror of your men…at…arms。＇1＇
And as to gentler natures；＇2＇ I do not know by what means you could
bestow so many benefits upon them as by means of mercenaries。
＇1＇ Lit。 〃spear…bearers〃； the title given to the body…guard of kings
and tyrants。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃the beautiful and good；〃 the ｛kalois kagathois｝。 See 〃Econ。〃
vi。 11 foll。
Let me explain： You keep them； I presume； in the first instance； for
yourself； as guards of your own person。 But for masters； owners of estates
and others； to be done to death with violence by their own slaves is no
unheard…of thing。 Supposing； then； the first and foremost duty laid on
mercenary troops were this： they are the body…guards of the whole public；
and bound as such to come to the assistance of all members of the state
alike； in case they shall detect some mischief brewing＇3＇ （and miscreants
do spring up in the hearts of states； as we all know）； I say then； if these
mercenary troops were under orders to act as guardians of the citizens；＇4＇
the latter would recognise to whom they were indebted。
＇3＇ 〃If they become aware of anything of that sort。〃 Is not this
modelled on the ｛krupteia｝？ See Pater； 〃Plato and Platonism；〃 ch。
viii。 〃Lacedaemon；〃 p。 186。
＇4＇ Or； 〃as their police。〃 ｛toutous｝； sc。 〃the citizens〃； al。 〃the
evil…doers。〃 If so； transl。 〃to keep watch and ward on evil…doers； the
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citizens would soon recognise the benefit they owe them for that
service。〃
But in addition to these functions； such a body might with reason be
expected to create a sense of courage and security； by which the country
labourers with their flocks and herds would greatly benefit； a benefit not
limited to your demesne； but shared by every farm throughout the rural
district。
Again； these mercenaries； if set to guard strategic points；＇5＇ would
leave the citizens full leisure to attend to matters of more private interest。
＇5＇ Or； 〃as garrisons of critical positions；〃 like Phyle or Decelia
near Athens。
And again； a further function： Can you conceive a service better
qualified to gain intelligence beforehand and to hinder the secret sudden
onslaughts of a hostile force； than a set of troopers always under arms and
fully organised？＇6＇
＇6＇ Or； 〃trained to act as one man。〃 See Sturz； s。v。
Moreover； on an actual campaign； where will you find an arm of
greater service to the citizens than these wage…earning troops？＇7＇ than
whom； it is likely； there will none be found more resolute to take the lion's
share of toil or peril； or do outpost duty； keeping watch and ward while
others sleep； brave mercenaries。
＇7＇ The author is perhaps thinking of some personal experiences。 He
works out his theory of a wage…earning militia for the protection of
the state in the 〃Cyropaedia。〃 See esp。 VII。 v。 69 foll。
And what will be the effect