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trace of money going out of Lacedaemon？ And therefore you may safely infer
that the inhabitants are the richest of the Hellenes in gold and silver；
and that their kings are the richest of them； for they have a larger share
of these things； and they have also a tribute paid to them which is very
considerable。 Yet the Spartan wealth； though great in comparison of the
wealth of the other Hellenes； is as nothing in comparison of that of the
Persians and their kings。 Why； I have been informed by a credible person
who went up to the king （at Susa）； that he passed through a large tract of
excellent land； extending for nearly a day's journey； which the people of
the country called the queen's girdle； and another； which they called her
veil； and several other fair and fertile districts； which were reserved for
the adornment of the queen； and are named after her several habiliments。
Now； I cannot help thinking to myself； What if some one were to go to
Amestris； the wife of Xerxes and mother of Artaxerxes； and say to her；
There is a certain Dinomache； whose whole wardrobe is not worth fifty
minaeand that will be more than the valueand she has a son who is
possessed of a three…hundred acre patch at Erchiae； and he has a mind to go
to war with your sonwould she not wonder to what this Alcibiades trusts
for success in the conflict？ 'He must rely；' she would say to herself；
'upon his training and wisdomthese are the things which Hellenes value。'
And if she heard that this Alcibiades who is making the attempt is not as
yet twenty years old； and is wholly uneducated； and when his lover tells
him that he ought to get education and training first； and then go and
fight the king； he refuses； and says that he is well enough as he is； would
she not be amazed； and ask 'On what； then； does the youth rely？' And if we
replied： He relies on his beauty； and stature； and birth； and mental
endowments； she would think that we were mad； Alcibiades； when she compared
the advantages which you possess with those of her own people。 And I
believe that even Lampido； the daughter of Leotychides； the wife of
Archidamus and mother of Agis； all of whom were kings； would have the same
feeling； if； in your present uneducated state； you were to turn your
thoughts against her son； she too would be equally astonished。 But how
disgraceful； that we should not have as high a notion of what is required
in us as our enemies' wives and mothers have of the qualities which are
required in their assailants！ O my friend； be persuaded by me； and hear
the Delphian inscription； 'Know thyself'not the men whom you think； but
these kings are our rivals； and we can only overcome them by pains and
skill。 And if you fail in the required qualities； you will fail also in
becoming renowned among Hellenes and Barbarians； which you seem to desire
more than any other man ever desired anything。
ALCIBIADES： I entirely believe you； but what are the sort of pains which
are required； Socrates；can you tell me？
SOCRATES： Yes； I can； but we must take counsel together concerning the
manner in which both of us may be most improved。 For what I am telling you
of the necessity of education applies to myself as well as to you； and
there is only one point in which I have an advantage over you。
ALCIBIADES： What is that？
SOCRATES： I have a guardian who is better and wiser than your guardian；
Pericles。
ALCIBIADES： Who is he； Socrates？
SOCRATES： God； Alcibiades； who up to this day has not allowed me to
converse with you； and he inspires in me the faith that I am especially
designed to bring you to honour。
ALCIBIADES： You are jesting； Socrates。
SOCRATES： Perhaps； at any rate； I am right in saying that all men greatly
need pains and care； and you and I above all men。
ALCIBIADES： You are not far wrong about me。
SOCRATES： And certainly not about myself。
ALCIBIADES： But what can we do？
SOCRATES： There must be no hesitation or cowardice； my friend。
ALCIBIADES： That would not become us； Socrates。
SOCRATES： No； indeed； and we ought to take counsel together： for do we
not wish to be as good as possible？
ALCIBIADES： We do。
SOCRATES： In what sort of virtue？
ALCIBIADES： Plainly； in the virtue of good men。
SOCRATES： Who are good in what？
ALCIBIADES： Those； clearly； who are good in the management of affairs。
SOCRATES： What sort of affairs？ Equestrian affairs？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly not。
SOCRATES： You mean that about them we should have recourse to horsemen？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： Well； naval affairs？
ALCIBIADES： No。
SOCRATES： You mean that we should have recourse to sailors about them？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： Then what affairs？ And who do them？
ALCIBIADES： The affairs which occupy Athenian gentlemen。
SOCRATES： And when you speak of gentlemen； do you mean the wise or the
unwise？
ALCIBIADES： The wise。
SOCRATES： And a man is good in respect of that in which he is wise？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： And evil in respect of that in which he is unwise？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly。
SOCRATES： The shoemaker； for example； is wise in respect of the making of
shoes？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： Then he is good in that？
ALCIBIADES： He is。
SOCRATES： But in respect of the making of garments he is unwise？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： Then in that he is bad？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： Then upon this view of the matter the same man is good and also
bad？
ALCIBIADES： True。
SOCRATES： But would you say that the good are the same as the bad？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly not。
SOCRATES： Then whom do you call the good？
ALCIBIADES： I mean by the good those who are able to rule in the city。
SOCRATES： Not； surely； over horses？
ALCIBIADES： Certainly not。
SOCRATES： But over men？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： When they are sick？
ALCIBIADES： No。
SOCRATES： Or on a voyage？
ALCIBIADES： No。
SOCRATES： Or reaping the harvest？
ALCIBIADES： No。
SOCRATES： When they are doing something or nothing？
ALCIBIADES： When they are doing something； I should say。
SOCRATES： I wish that you would explain to me what this something is。
ALCIBIADES： When they are having dealings with one another； and using one
another's services； as we citizens do in our daily life。
SOCRATES： Those of whom you speak are ruling over men who are using the
services of other men？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： Are they ruling over the signal…men who give the time to the
rowers？
ALCIBIADES： No； they are not。
SOCRATES： That would be the office of the pilot？
ALCIBIADES： Yes。
SOCRATES： But； perhaps you mean that they rule over flute…players； who
lead the singers and use the services of the dancers？
ALCI