een the two put
bricks and woodwork, with an eye to architectural principle, (10) and
finally you get a valuable possession--to wit, a dwelling-place.

(9) A strategos. For the duties and spheres of action of this officer,
see Gow, op. cit. xiv. 58.

(10) "As in the building of a house." See Vitrivius, ii. 3; Plin. xxv.
14.

The simile is very apt, Socrates (11) (replied the youth), for in
battle, too, the rule is to draw up the best men in front and rear,
with those of inferior quality between, where they may be led on by the
former and pushed on by the hinder.

(11) Cf. "Il." iv. 297 foll.; "Cyrop." VI. iii. 25; Polyb. x. 22.

Soc. Very good, no doubt, if the professor taught you to distinguish
good and bad; but if not, where is the use of your learning? It would
scarcely help you, would it, to be told to arrange coins in piles, the
best coins at top and bottom and the worst in the middle, unless you
were first taught to distinguish real from counterfeit.

The Youth. Well no, upon my word, he did not teach us that, so that the
task of distinguishing between good and bad must devolve on ourselves.

Soc. Well, shall we see, then, how we may best avoid making blunders
between them?

I am ready (replied the youth).

Soc. Well then! Let us suppose we are marauders, and the task imposed
upon us is to carry off some bullion; it will be a right disposition of
our forces if we place in the vanguard those who are the greediest of
gain? (12)

(12) "Whose fingers itch for gold."

The Youth. I should think so.

Soc. Then what if there is danger to be faced? Shall the vanguard
consist of men who are greediest of honour?

The Youth. It is these, at any rate, who will face danger for the sake
of praise and glory. (13) Fortunately such people are not hid away in
a corner; they shine forth conspicuous everywhere, and are easy to be
discovered.

(13) Cf. Shakesp. "seeking the bubble reputation even in the cannon's
mouth."

Soc. But tell me, did he teach you how to draw up troops in general,
or specifically where and how to apply each particular kind of tactical
arrangement?

The Youth. Nothing of the sort.

Soc. And yet there are and must be innumerable circumstances in which
the same ordering of march or battle will be out of place.

The Youth. I assure you he did not draw any of these fine distinctions.

He did not, did not he? (he answered). Bless me! Go back to him again,
then, and ply him