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be more serviceable for war than that of men？ Think of the many ships
which they will be capable of manning on public service。 Think of the
number who will serve on land as infantry ＇in the public service＇ and will
bear hard upon the enemy。 Only we must treat them with courtesy。＇54＇ For
myself； my calculation is； that even in the event of war we shall be quite
able to keep a firm hold of the silver mines。 I may take it； we have in the
neighbourhood of the mines certain fortressesone on the southern slope
in Anaphlystus；＇55＇ and we have another on the northern side in Thoricus；
the two being about seven and a half miles＇56＇ apart。 Suppose then a third
breastwork were to be placed between these； on the highest point of Besa；
that would enable the operatives to collect into one out of all the fortresses；
and at the first perception of a hostile movement it would only be a short
distance for each to retire into safety。＇57＇ In the event of an enemy
advancing in large numbers they might certainly make off with whatever
corn or wine or cattle they found outside。 But even if they did get hold of
the silver ore； it would be little better to them than a heap of stones。＇58＇
But how is an enemy ever to march upon the mines in force？ The nearest
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state； Megara； is distant； I take it； a good deal over sixty miles；＇59＇ and the
next closest； Thebes； a good deal nearer seventy。＇60＇ Supposing then an
enemy to advance from some such point to attack the mines； he cannot
avoid passing Athens； and presuming his force to be small； we may expect
him to be annihilated by our cavalry and frontier police。＇61＇ I say；
presuming his force to be small； since to march with anything like a large
force； and thereby leave his own territory denuded of troops； would be a
startling achievement。 Why； the fortified city of Athens will be much
closer the states of the attacking parties than they themselves will be by
the time they have got to the mines。 But； for the sake of argument； let us
suppose an enemy to have arrived in the neighbourhood of Laurium； how
is he going to stop there without provisions？ To go out in search of
supplies with a detachment of his force would imply risk； both for the
foraging party and for those who have to do the fighting；＇62＇ whilst； if
they are driven to do so in force each time； they may call themselves
besiegers； but they will be practically in a state of siege themselves。
＇53＇ Or； 〃the proposed organisation。〃
＇54＇ See ch。 ii。 above。
＇55＇ Or； reading ｛en te pros mesembrian thalatte｝； 〃on the southern
Sea。〃 For Anaphlystus see 〃Hell。〃 I。 ii。 1； 〃Mem。〃 III。 v。 25。 It was
Eubulus's deme； the leading statesman at this date。
＇56＇ Lit。 〃60 stades。〃
＇57＇ The passage ｛sunekoi t an erga｝； etc。； is probably corrupt。 ｛Ta
erga｝ seems to mean 〃the operatives；〃 cf。 Latin 〃operae。〃 Others take
it of 〃the works themselves。〃 Possibly it may refer to military works
connecting the three fortresses named。 〃There might be a system of
converging （works or） lines drawn to a single point from all the
fortresses； and at the first sign of any thing hostile；〃 etc。
＇58＇ I。e。 〃they might as well try to carry off so many tons of stone。〃
＇59＇ Lit。 〃500 stades。〃
＇60＇ Lit。 〃more than 600 stades。〃
＇61＇ The ｛peripoloi｝； or horse patrol to guard the frontier。 See Thuc。
iv。 57； viii。 92； Arist。 〃Birds；〃ii。 76。 Young Athenians between
eighteen and twenty were eligible for the service。
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＇62＇ Or； 〃for the very object of the contest。〃 The construction is in
any case unusual。 ｛peri on agonizontai｝ = ｛peri touton oi｝。 Zurborg
suggests ｛peri ton agonizomenon｝。
But it is not the income＇63＇ derived from the slaves alone to which we
look to help the state towards the effective maintenance of her citizens； but
with the growth and concentration of a thick population in the mining
district various sources of revenue will accrue； whether from the market at
Sunium； or from the various state buildings in connection with the silver
mines； from furnaces and all the rest。 Since we must expect a thickly
populated city to spring up here； if organised in the way proposed； and
plots of land will become as valuable to owners out there as they are to
those who possess them in the neighbourhood of the capital。
＇63＇ I adopt Zurborg's correction； ｛prosphora｝ for ｛eisphora｝； as
obviously right。 See above； iv。 23。
If； at this point； I may assume my proposals to have been carried into
effect； I think I can promise； not only that our city shall be relieved from a
financial strain； but that she shall make a great stride in orderliness and in
tactical organisation； she shall grow in martial spirit and readiness for war。
I anticipate that those who are under orders to go through gymnastic
training will devote themselves with a new zeal to the details of the
training school； now that they will receive a larger maintenance whilst＇64＇
under the orders of the trainer in the torch race。 So again those on garrison
duty in the various fortresses； those enrolled as peltasts； or again as
frontier police to protect the rural districts； one and all will carry out their
respective duties more ardently when the maintenance＇64＇ appropriate to
these several functions is duly forthcoming。
＇64＇ I follow Zurborg in omitting ｛e｝。 If ｛e｝ is to stand； transl。
〃than they get whilst supplied by the gymnasiarch in the torch race；〃
or 〃whilst exercising the office of gymnasiarchs themselves。〃 See
〃Pol。 Ath。〃 i。 13。
＇65＇ 〃State aid。〃
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V
But now； if it is evident that； in order to get the full benefit of all these
sources of revenue；＇1＇ peace is an indispensable condition if that is plain；
I say； the question sugg