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On Revenues
Zurborg； 〃Comm。〃 p。 25； Boeckh；
op。 cit。 IV。 xxi。 （p。 606； Eng。 tr。）；
and Grote's note； op。 cit。 p。 598。
＇19＇ = L20：6：3 = 500 drachmae。
＇20＇ = I。e。 36 per cent。
＇21＇ = L4：1：3 = 100 drachmae。
＇22＇ I。e。 180 per cent。
Moreover； I am of opinion that if the names of contributors were to be
inscribed as benefactors for all time； many foreigners would be induced to
contribute； and possibly not a few states； in their desire to obtain the right
of inscription； indeed I anticipate that some kings；＇23＇ tyrants；＇24＇ and
satraps will display a keen desire to share in such a favour。
＇23＇ Zurborg suggests （p。 5） 〃Philip or Cersobleptes。〃 Cf。 Isocr。 〃On
the Peace；〃 S。 23。
＇24＇ I。e。 despotic monarchs。
To come to the point。 Were such a capital once furnished； it would be a
magnificent plan to build lodging…houses for the benefit of shipmasters in
the neighbourhood of the harbours； in addition to those which exist； and
again； on the same principle； suitable places of meeting for merchants； for
the purposes＇25＇ of buying and selling； and thirdly； public lodging…houses
for persons visiting the city。 Again； supposing dwelling…houses and stores
for vending goods were fitted up for retail dealers in Piraeus and the city；
they would at once be an ornament to the state and a fertile source of
revenue。 Also it seems to me it would be a good thing to try and see if； on
the principle on which at present the state possesses public warships； it
would not be possible to secure public merchant vessels； to be let out on
the security of guarantors just like any other public property。 If the plan
were found feasible this public merchant navy would be a large source of
extra revenue。
＇25＇ Reading； with Zurborg； ｛epi one te｝。
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On Revenues
IV
I come to a new topic。 I am persuaded that the establishment of the
silver mines on a proper footing＇1＇ would be followed by a large increase
in wealth apart from the other sources of revenue。 And I would like； for
the benefit of those who may be ignorant； to point out what the capacity of
these mines really is。 You will then be in a position to decide how to turn
them to better account。 It is clear； I presume； to every one that these mines
have for a very long time been in active operation； at any rate no one will
venture to fix the date at which they first began to be worked。＇2＇ Now in
spite of the fact that the silver ore has been dug and carried out for so long
a time； I would ask you to note that the mounds of rubbish so shovelled
out are but a fractional portion of the series of hillocks containing veins of
silver； and as yet unquarried。 Nor is the silver…bearing region gradually
becoming circumscribed。 On the contrary it is evidently extending in
wider area from year to year。 That is to say； during the period in which
thousands of workers＇3＇ have been employed within the mines no hand
was ever stopped for want of work to do。 Rather； at any given moment； the
work to be done was more than enough for the hands employed。 And so it
is to…day with the owners of slaves working in the mines； no one dreams
of reducing the number of his hands。 On the contrary； the object is
perpetually to acquire as many additional hands as the owner possibly can。
The fact is that with few hands to dig and search； the find of treasure will
be small； but with an increase in labour the discovery of the ore itself is
more than proportionally increased。 So much so； that of all operations with
which I am acquainted； this is the only one in which no sort of jealousy is
felt at a further development of the industry。＇4＇ I may go a step farther；
every proprietor of a farm will be able to tell you exactly how many yoke
of oxen are sufficient for the estate； and how many farm hands。 To send
into the field more than the exact number requisite every farmer would
consider a dead loss。＇5＇ But in silver mining ＇operations＇ the universal
complaint is the want of hands。 Indeed there is no analogy between this
and other industries。 With an increase in the number of bronze…workers
articles of bronze may become so cheap that the bronze…worker has to
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On Revenues
retire from the field。 And so again with ironfounders。 Or again； in a
plethoric condition of the corn and wine market these fruits of the soil will
be so depreciated in value that the particular husbandries cease to be
remunerative； and many a farmer will give up his tillage of the soil and
betake himself to the business of a merchant； or of a shopkeeper； to
banking or money…lending。 But the converse is the case in the working of
silver； there the larger the quantity of ore discovered and the greater the
amount of silver extracted； the greater the number of persons ready to
engage in the operation。 One more illustration： take the case of movable
property。 No one when he has got sufficient furniture for his house dreams
of making further purchases on this head； but of silver no one ever yet
possessed so much that he was forced to cry 〃enough。〃 On the contrary； if
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。〃