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dispute＇7＇ to enable any one so wishing to proceed on his voyage without
hindrance； the result would be that far more traders would trade with us
and with greater satisfaction。
＇5＇ Cf。 〃Hiero；〃 ix。 6； 7； 11； 〃Hipparch。〃 i。 26。
＇6＇ ｛to tou emporiou arkhe｝。 Probably he is referring to the
｛epimeletai emporiou｝ （overseers of the market）。 See Harpocr。 s。v。；
Aristot。 〃Athenian Polity；〃 51。
＇7＇ For the sort of case； see Demosth。 （or Deinarch。） 〃c。 Theocr。〃
1324； Zurborg ad loc。； Boeckh； I。 ix。 xv。 （pp。 48； 81； Eng。 tr。）
It would indeed be a good and noble institution to pay special marks of
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On Revenues
honour； such as the privilege of the front seat； to merchants and
shipowners； and on occasion to invite to hospitable entertainment those
who； through something notable in the quality of ship or merchandise；
may claim to have done the state a service。 The recipients of these honours
will rush into our arms as friends； not only under the incentive of gain； but
of distinction also。
Now the greater the number of people attracted to Athens either as
visitors or as residents； clearly the greater the development of imports and
exports。 More goods will be sent out of the country；＇8＇ there will be more
buying and selling； with a consequent influx of money in the shape of
rents to individuals and dues and customs to the state exchequer。 And to
secure this augmentation of the revenues； mind you； not the outlay of one
single penny； nothing needed beyond one or two philanthropic measures
and certain details of supervision。＇9＇
＇8＇ See Zurborg； 〃Comm。〃 p。 24。
＇9＇ See Aristot。 〃Pol。〃 iv。 15； 3。
With regard to the other sources of revenue which I contemplate； I
admit； it is different。 For these I recognise the necessity of a capital＇10＇ to
begin with。 I am not； however； without good hope that the citizens of this
state will contribute heartily to such an object； when I reflect on the large
sums subscribed by the state on various late occasions； as； for instance；
when reinforcements were sent to the Arcadians under the command of
Lysistratus；＇11＇ and again at the date of the generalship of Hegesileos。＇12＇
I am well aware that ships of war are frequently despatched and that
too＇13＇ although it is uncertain whether the venture will be for the better
or for the worse； and the only certainty is that the contributor will not
recover the sum subscribed nor have any further share in the object for
which he gave his contribution。＇14＇
＇10＇ 〃A starting…point。〃
＇11＇ B。C。 366； cf。 〃Hell。〃 VII。 iv。 3。
＇12＇ B。C。 362； cf。 〃Hell。〃 VII。 v。 15。 See Grote； 〃H。 G。〃 x。 459；
Ephor。 ap。 Diog。 Laert。 ii。 54； Diod。 Sic。 xv。 84； Boeckh； ap。 L。
Dindorf。 Xenophon's son Gryllus served under him and was slain。
＇13＇ Reading ｛kai tauta toutout men adelou ontos｝； after Zurborg。
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＇14＇ Reading ｛＇uper＇ on an eisenegkosi｝ with Zurborg。 See his note；
〃Comm。〃 p。 25。
But for a sound investment＇15＇ I know of nothing comparable with the
initial outlay to form this fund。＇16＇ Any one whose contribution amounts
to ten minae＇17＇ may look forward to a return as high as he would get on
bottomry； of nearly one…fifth；＇18＇ as the recipient of three obols a day。 The
contributor of five minae＇19＇ will on the same principle get more than a
third；＇20＇ while the majority of Athenians will get more than cent per cent
on their contribution。 That is to say； a subscription of one mina＇21＇ will
put the subscriber in possession of nearly double that sum；＇22＇ and that；
moreover； without setting foot outside Athens； which； as far as human
affairs go； is as sound and durable a security as possible。
＇15＇ 〃A good substantial property。〃
＇16＇ Or； 〃on the other hand； I affirm that the outlay necessary to
form the capital for my present project will be more remunerative
than any other that can be named。〃 As to the scheme itself see Grote；
〃Plato；〃 III。 ch。 xxxix。； Boeckh； op。 cit。 （pp。 4； 37； 136； 600 seq。 Eng。
tr。） Cf。 Demosth。 〃de Sym。〃 for another scheme； 354 B。C。； which
shows the 〃sound administrative and practical judgment〃 of the
youthful orator as compared with 〃the benevolent dreams and ample
public largess in which Xenophon here indulges。〃 Grote； op。 cit。 p。
601。
＇17＇ L40：12：4 = 1000 drachmae。
＇18＇ I。e。 exactly 18 or nearly 20 per cent。 The following table will
make the arithmetic clear：
6 ob。 = 1 drachma 10 minae = 6000 ob。
100 dr。 = 1 mina = 1000 dr。 600 ob。 =
1 mina 1000 dr。：180 dr。：：100：18 therefore nearly 1/5 3 ob。 （a day）
x 360 = 1080 ob。 p。a。 = nearly 20 per cent。
= 180 dr。 p。a。
As to the 3 obols a day （= 180 dr。 p。a。） which as an Athenian
citizen he is entitled to； see Grote； op。 cit。 p。 597： 〃There will be a
regular distribution among all citizens； per head and equally。 Three
oboli； or half a drachma； will be allotted daily to each； to poor and
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rich alike〃 ＇on the principle of the Theorikon＇。 〃For the poor citizens
this will provide a comfortable subsistence； without any contribution
on their part； the poverty now prevailing will thus be alleviated。 The
rich； like the poor； receive the daily triobolon as a free gift； but if
they compute it as interest for their investments； they will find that
the rate of interest is full and satisfactory； like the rate on bottomry。〃
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Zurborg； 〃Comm。〃 p。 25； Boeckh；
op。 cit。 IV。 xxi。 （p。 606； Eng。