o, Ischomachus?

To which he: By no means, Socrates. I should not think of going away
until the gathering in the market is dispersed. [1]

[1] Lit. "until the market is quite broken up," i.e. after mid-day.
See "Anab." I. viii. 1; II. i. 7; "Mem." I. i. 10. Cf. Herod. ii.
173; iii. 104; vii. 223.

Of course, of course (I answered), you are naturally most careful not
to forfeit the title they have given you of "honest gentleman"; [2] and
yet, I daresay, fifty things at home are asking your attention at this
moment; only you undertook to meet your foreign friends, and rather than
play them false you go on waiting.

[2] Lit. "beautiful and good."

Isch. Let me so far correct you, Socrates; in no case will the things
you speak of be neglected, since I have stewards and bailiffs [3] on the
farms.

[3] Cf. Becker, op. cit. p. 363.

Soc. And, pray, what is your system when you need a bailiff? Do you
search about, until you light on some one with a natural turn for
stewardship; and then try to purchase him?--as, I feel certain, happens
when you want a carpenter: first, you discover some one with a turn for
carpentry, and then do all you can to get possession of him. [4] Or do
you educate your bailiffs yourself?

[4] The steward, like the carpenter, and the labourers in general,
would, as a rule, be a slave. See below, xxi. 9.

Isch. Most certainly the latter, Socrates; I try to educate them, as you
say, myself; and with good reason. He who is properly to fill my place
and manage my affairs when I am absent, my "alter ego," [5] needs but to
have my knowledge; and if I am fit myself to stand at the head of my own
business, I presume I should be able to put another in possession of my
knowledge. [6]

[5] Or, "my other self."

[6] Lit. "to teach another what I know myself."

Soc. Well then, the first thing he who is properly to take your place
when absent must possess is goodwill towards you and yours; for without
goodwill, what advantage will there be in any knowledge whatsoever which
your bailiff may possess?

Isch. None, Socrates; and I may tell you that a kindly disposition
towards me and mine is precisely what I first endeavour to instil.

Soc. And how, in the name of all that is holy, do you pick out whom you
will and teach him to have kindly feeling towards yourself and yours?

Isch. By kindly treatment of him, to be sure, whenever the gods bestow
abundance of good things upon us.

Soc.