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On Revenues
On Revenues
by Xenophon
Translation by H。 G。 Dakyns
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On Revenues
Xenophon the Athenian was born 431 B。C。 He was a pupil of
Socrates。 He marched with the Spartans； and was exiled from Athens。
Sparta gave him land and property in Scillus； where he lived for many
years before having to move once more； to settle in Corinth。 He died in
354 B。C。
Revenues describes Xenophon's ideas to solve the problem of poverty
in Athens； and thus remove an excuse to mistreat the Athenian allies。
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On Revenues
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For myself I hold to the opinion that the qualities of the leading
statesmen in a state； whatever they be； are reproduced in the character of
the constitution itself。＇1＇
＇1＇ 〃Like minister； like government。〃 For the same idea more fully
expressed； see 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 i。 8； viii。 5。
As； however； it has been maintained by certain leading statesmen in
Athens that the recognised standard of right and wrong is as high at
Athens as elsewhere； but that； owing to the pressure of poverty on the
masses； a certain measure of injustice in their dealing with the allied
states＇2＇ could not be avoided； I set myself to discover whether by any
manner of means it were possible for the citizens of Athens to be
supported solely from the soil of Attica itself； which was obviously the
most equitable solution。 For if so； herein lay； as I believed； the antidote at
once to their own poverty and to the feeling of suspicion with which they
are regarded by the rest of Hellas。
＇2＇ Lit。 〃the cities；〃 i。e。 of the alliance； ｛tas summakhidas｝。
I had no sooner begun my investigation than one fact presented itself
clearly to my mind； which is that the country itself is made by nature to
provide the amplest resources。 And with a view to establishing the truth of
this initial proposition I will describe the physical features of Attica。
In the first place； the extraordinary mildness of the climate is proved
by the actual products of the soil。 Numerous plants which in many parts of
the world appear as stunted leafless growths are here fruit…bearing。 And as
with the soil so with the sea indenting our coasts； the varied productivity
of which is exceptionally great。 Again with regard to those kindly fruits of
earth＇3＇ which Providence bestows on man season by season； one and all
they commence earlier and end later in this land。 Nor is the supremacy of
Attica shown only in those products which year after year flourish and
grow old； but the land contains treasures of a more perennial kind。 Within
its folds lies imbedded by nature an unstinted store of marble； out of which
are chiselled＇4＇ temples and altars of rarest beauty and the glittering
splendour of images sacred to the gods。 This marble； moreover； is an
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On Revenues
obejct of desire to many foreigners； Hellenes and barbarians alike。 Then
there is land which； although it yields no fruit to the sower； needs only to
be quarried in order to feed many times more mouths than it could as corn…
land。 Doubtless we owe it to a divine dispensation that our land is veined
with silver； if we consider how many neighbouring states lie round us by
land and sea and yet into none of them does a single thinnest vein of silver
penetrate。
＇3＇ Lit。 〃those good things which the gods afford in their seasons。〃
＇4＇ Or； 〃arise；〃 or 〃are fashioned。〃
Indeed it would be scarcely irrational to maintain that the city of
Athens lies at the navel； not of Hellas merely； but of the habitable world。
So true is it； that the farther we remove from Athens the greater the
extreme of heat or cold to be encountered； or to use another illustration；
the traveller who desires to traverse the confines of Hellas from end to end
will find that； whether he voyages by sea or by land； he is describing a
circle； the centre of which is Athens。＇5＇
＇5＇ See 〃Geog。 of Brit。 Isles。〃 J。 R。 and S。 A。 Green； ch。 i。 p。 7：
〃London； in fact； is placed at what is very nearly the geometrical
centre of those masses of land which make up the earth surface of
the globe； and is thus more than any city of the world the natural
point of convergence for its different lines of navigation；〃 etc。 The
natural advantages of Boeotia are similarly set forth by Ephorus。 Cf。
Strab。 ix。 2； p。 400。
Once more； this land though not literally sea…girt has all the
advantages of an island； being accessible to every wind that blows； and
can invite to its bosom or waft from its shore all products； since it is
peninsular； whilst by land it is the emporium of many markets； as being a
portion of the continent。
Lastly； while the majority of states have barbarian neighbours； the
source of many troubles； Athens has as her next…door neighbours civilised
states which are themselves far remote from the barbarians。
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On Revenues
II
All these advantages； to repeat what I have said； may； I believe； be
traced primarily to the soil and position of Attica itself。 But these natural
blessings may be added to： in the first place； by a careful handling of our
resident alien＇1＇ population。 And； for my part； I can hardly conceive of a
more splendid source of revenue than lies open in this direction。 Here you
have a self…supporting class of residents confering large benefits upon the
state； and instead of receiving payment＇2＇ themselves； contributing on the
contrary to the gain of the exchequer by the sojourners' tax。＇3＇ Nor； under
the term careful handling； do I demand more than the removal of
obligations which； whilst they confer no benefit on the state； ha