ive
as victory in battle, or to put it negatively, nothing so disastrous
and expensive as defeat. He will enthusiastically seek out and provide
everything conducive to victory, he will painstakingly discover and
guard against all that tends to defeat, and when satisfied that all is
ready and ripe for victory he will deliver battle energetically, and
what is equally important, until the hour of final preparation has
arrived, (10) he will be cautious to deliver battle. Do not despise men
of economic genius, Nicomachides; the difference between the devotion
requisite to private affairs and to affairs of state is merely one of
quantity. For the rest the parallel holds strictly, and in this respect
pre-eminently, that both are concerned with human instruments: which
human beings, moreover, are of one type and temperament, whether we
speak of devotion to public affairs or of the administration of private
property. To fare well in either case is given to those who know the
secret of dealing with humanity, whereas the absence of that knowledge
will as certainly imply in either case a fatal note of discord. (11)

(10) Lit. "as long as he is unprepared."

(11) L. Dindorf, "Index Graec." Ox. ed.; cf. Hor. "Ep." II. ii. 144,
"sed verae numerosque modosque ediscere vitae," "the harmony of
life," Conington.

V

A conversation held with Pericles the son of the great statesman may
here be introduced. (1) Socrates began:

(1) Or, "On one occasion Pericles was the person addressed in
conversation." For Pericles see "Hell." I. v. 16; vii. 15; Plut.
"Pericl." 37 (Clough, i. 368).

I am looking forward, I must tell you, Pericles, to a great improvement
in our military affairs when you are minister of war. (2) The prestige
of Athens, I hope, will rise; we shall gain the mastery over our
enemies.

(2) "Strategos."

Pericles replied: I devoutly wish your words might be fulfilled, but how
this happy result is to be obtained, I am at a loss to discover.

Shall we (Socrates continued), shall we balance the arguments for and
against, and consider to what extent the possibility does exist?

Pray let us do so (he answered).

Soc. Well then, you know that in point of numbers the Athenians are not
inferior to the Boeotians?

Per. Yes, I am aware of that.

Soc. And do you think the Boeotians could furnish a better pick of fine
healthy men than the Athenians?

Per. I think we should very well hold our own in that