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ever anybody does become possessed of an immoderate amount he finds
as much pleasure in digging a hole in the ground and hoarding it as in the
actual employment of it。 And from a wider point of view： when a state is
prosperous there is nothing which people so much desire as silver。 The
men want money to expend on beautiful armour and fine horses； and
houses； and sumptuous paraphenalia＇6＇ of all sorts。 The women betake
themselves to expensive apparel and ornaments of gold。 Or when states
are sick；＇7＇ either through barrenness of corn and other fruits； or through
war； the demand for current coin is even more imperative （whilst the
ground lies unproductive）； to pay for necessaries or military aid。
＇1＇ Or； 〃on a sound basis。〃
＇2＇ 〃Exploited。〃
＇3＇ Or； 〃at the date when the maximum of hands was employed。〃
＇4＇ Reading ｛epikataskeuazumenois｝； or； if ｛episkeuazomenoi｝； transl。
〃at the rehabilitation of old works。〃
＇5＇ Cf。 〃Oecon。〃 xvii。 12。
＇6＇ 〃The thousand and one embellishments of civil life。〃
＇7＇ 〃When a state is struck down with barrenness；〃 etc。 See 〃Mem。〃 II。
vii。
And if it be asserted that gold is after all just as useful as silver；
without gainsaying the proposition I may note this fact＇8＇ about gold； that；
with a sudden influx of this metal； it is the gold itself which is depreciated
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whilst causing at the same time a rise in the value of silver。
＇8＇ Lit。 〃I know； however。〃
The above facts are； I think； conclusive。 They encourage us not only to
introduce as much human labour as possible into the mines； but to extend
the scale of operations within； by increase of plant； etc。； in full assurance
that there is no danger either of the ore itself being exhausted or of silver
becoming depreciated。 And in advancing these views I am merely
following a precedent set me by the state herself。 So it seems to me； since
the state permits any foreigner who desires it to undertake mining
operations on a footing of equality＇9＇ with her own citizens。
＇9＇ Or； 〃at an equal rent with that which she imposes on her own
citizens。〃 See Boeckh； 〃P。 E。 A。〃 IV。 x。 （p。 540； Eng。 tr。）
But； to make my meaning clearer on the question of maintenance； I
will at this point explain in detail how the silver mines may be furnished
and extended so as to render them much more useful to the state。 Only I
would premise that I claim no sort of admiration for anything which I am
about to say； as though I had hit upon some recondite discovery。 Since half
of what I have to say is at the present moment still patent to the eyes of all
of us； and as to what belongs to past history； if we are to believe the
testimony of our fathers；＇10＇ things were then much of a piece with what
is going on now。 No； what is really marvellous is that the state； with the
fact of so many private persons growing wealthy at her expense； and under
her very eyes； should have failed to imitate them。 It is an old story； trite
enough to those of us who have cared to attend to it； how once on a time
Nicias； the son of Niceratus； owned a thousand men in the silver mines；＇11＇
whom he let out to Sosias； a Thracian； on the following terms。 Sosias was
to pay him a net obol a day； without charge or deduction； for every slave
of the thousand； and be＇12＇ responsible for keeping up the number
perpetually at that figure。 So again Hipponicus＇13＇ had six hundred slaves
let out on the same principle； which brought him in a net mina＇14＇ a day
without charge or deduction。 Then there was Philemonides； with three
hundred； bringing him in half a mina； and others； I make no doubt there
were； making profits in proportion to their respective resources and
capital。＇15＇ But there is no need to revert to ancient history。 At the present
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moment there are hundreds of human beings in the mines let out on the
same principle。＇16＇ And given that my proposal were carried into effect；
the only novelty in it is that； just as the individual in acquiring the
ownership of a gang of slaves finds himself at once provided with a
permanent source of income； so the state； in like fashion； should possess
herself of a body of public slaves； to the number； say； of three for every
Athenian citizen。＇17＇ As to the feasability of our proposals； I challenge
any one whom it may concern to test the scheme point by point； and to
give his verdict。
＇10＇ Reading ｛para ton pateron｝； with Zurborg； after Wilamowitz…
Mollendorf。
＇11＇ See 〃Mem。〃 II。 v。 2； Plut。 〃Nicias；〃 4； 〃Athen。〃 vi。 272。 See an
important criticism of Boeckh's view by Cornewall Lewis；
translation of 〃P。 E。 A。〃 p。 675 foll。
＇12＇ Reading ｛parekhein｝； or if ｛pareikhen｝； transl。 〃whilst he
himself kept up the number。〃 See H。 hagen in 〃Journ。 Philol。〃 x。 19；
pp。 34…36； also Zurborg； 〃Comm。〃 p。 28。
＇13＇ Son of Callias。
＇14＇ = L4：1：3 = 600 ob。
＇15＇ Or； 〃whose incomes would vary in proportion to their working
capital。〃
＇16＇ See Jebb； 〃Theophr。〃 xxvi。 21。
＇17＇ According to the ancient authorities the citizens of Athens
numbered about 21；000 at this date； which would give about 63；000
as the number of state…slaves contemplated for the purposes of the
scheme。 See Zurborg； 〃Comm。〃 p。 29。 〃At a census taken in B。C。 309
the number of slaves was returned at 400；000； and it does not seem
likely that there were fewer at any time during the classical period。〃…
…〃A Companion to School Classics〃 （James Gow）； p。 101； xiii。
〃Population of Attica。〃
With regard to the price then of the men themselves； it is obvious that
the public treasury is in a better position to provide funds than any private
individuals。 What can be easier than for the Council＇18＇ to invite by
public proclamation all whom it may concern to bring their slaves； and to
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buy up those produced？ Assuming the purchase to be effected； is it
credible that people will hesitate to hire from the state rather than from the
private owner； and actually on the same terms？ People have at all events
no hesitation at present in hiring consecrated grounds； sacred victims；＇19＇
houses； etc。； or in purchasing the right of farming taxes from the state。 To
ensure the preservation of the purchased property； the treasury can take the
same securities precisely from the lessee as it does from those who
purchase the right of farming its taxes。 Indeed； fraudulent dealing is easier
on the part of the man who has purchased such a right than of the man
who hires slaves。 Since it is not easy to see how the exportation＇20＇ of
public money is to be detected； when it differs in no way from private
money。 Whereas it will take a clever thief to make off with these slaves；
marked as they will be with the public stamp； and in face of a heavy
penalty attached at once to the sale and exportation of them。 Up to this
point then it would appear feasible enough for the state to acquire property
in men and to keep a safe watch over them。＇21＇
＇18＇ Or； 〃senate。〃 See Aristot。 〃Athen。 Pol。〃 for the functions of the
Boule。
＇19＇ So Zurborg。 See Demosth。 〃in Mid。〃 570； Boeckh； 〃P。 E。 A。〃 II。
xii。 （p。 212； Eng。 tr。） See Arnold's note to 〃Thuc。〃 iii。 50； 7。
＇20＇ Or； 〃diversation；〃 〃defalcation。〃
＇21＇ Or； 〃as far as that goes； then； there is nothing apparently to
prevent the state from acquiring property in slaves； and safeguarding
the property so acquired。〃
But with reference to an opposite objection which may present itself to
the mind of some one： what guarantee is there that；