ow when Simonides had listened to these reasonings to the end, (18)
he answered: How is it, Hiero, if to play the tyrant is a thing so
villainous, (19) and that is your final judgment, how comes it you are
not quit of so monstrous an evil? Neither you, nor, for that matter, any
monarch else I ever heard of, having once possessed the power, did ever
of his own free will divest himself of sovereignty. How is that, Hiero?

(18) Cf. "Econ." xi. 1.

(19) Or, "if to monarchise and play the despot."

For one simple reason (the tyrant answered), and herein lies the supreme
misery of despotic power; it is not possible even to be quit of it. (20)
How could the life of any single tyrant suffice to square the account?
How should he pay in full to the last farthing all the moneys of all
whom he has robbed? with what chains laid upon him make requital to all
those he has thrust into felons' quarters? (21) how proffer lives enough
to die in compensation of the dead men he has slain? how die a thousand
deaths?

(20) Holden aptly cf. Plut. "Sol." 14, {kalon men einai ten torannida
khorion, ouk ekhein de apobasin}, "it was true a tyrrany was a
very fair spot, but it had no way down from it" (Clough, i. p.
181).

(21) Or, "how undergo in his own person the imprisonments he has
inflicted?" Reading {antipaskhoi}, or if {antiparaskhoi}, transl.
"how could he replace in his own person the exact number of
imprisonments which he has inflicted on others?"

Ah, no! Simonides (he added), if to hang one's self outright be ever
gainful to pour mortal soul, then, take my word for it, that is the
tyrant's remedy: there's none better suited (22) to his case, since he
alone of all men is in this dilemma, that neither to keep nor lay aside
his troubles profits him.

(22) Or, "nought more profitable to meet the case." The author plays
on {lusitelei} according to his wont.

VIII

Here Simonides took up the thread of the discourse (1) as follows: That
for the moment, Hiero, you should be out of heart regarding tyranny (2)
I do not wonder, since you have a strong desire to be loved by human
beings, and you are persuaded that it is your office which balks the
realisation of your dream.

(1) Al. "took up the speaker thus."

(2) "In reference to despotic rule."

Now, however, I am no less certain I can prove to you that government
(3) implies no obstacle to being loved, but rather holds the advantage
over p