If I take your meaning rightly, you would say that those who enjoy
your good things grow well disposed to you and seek to render you some
good?

Isch. Yes, for of all instruments to promote good feeling this I see to
be the best.

Soc. Well, granted the man is well disposed to you does it therefore
follow, Ischomachus, that he is fit to be your bailiff? It cannot have
escaped your observation that albeit human beings, as a rule, are kindly
disposed towards themselves, yet a large number of them will not apply
the attention requisite to secure for themselves those good things which
they fain would have.

Isch. Yes, but believe me, Socrates, when I seek to appoint such men as
bailiffs, I teach them also carefulness and application. [7]

[7] {epimeleia} is a cardinal virtue with the Greeks, or at any rate
with Xenophon, but it has no single name in English.

Soc. Nay, now in Heaven's name, once more, how can that be? I always
thought it was beyond the power of any teacher to teach these virtues.
[8]

[8] For the Socratic problem {ei arete didakte} see Grote, "H. G."
viii. 599.

Isch. Nor is it possible, you are right so far, to teach such
excellences to every single soul in order as simply as a man might
number off his fingers.

Soc. Pray, then, what sort of people have the privilege? [9] Should you
mind pointing them out to me with some distinctness?

[9] Lit. "what kind of people can be taught them? By all means signify
the sort to me distinctly."

Ishc. Well, in the first place, you would have some difficulty in making
intemperate people diligent--I speak of intemperance with regard to
wine, for drunkenness creates forgetfulness of everything which needs to
be done.

Soc. And are persons devoid of self-control in this respect the only
people incapable of diligence and carefulness? or are there others in
like case?

Isch. Certainly, people who are intemperate with regard to sleep, seeing
that the sluggard with his eyes shut cannot do himself or see that
others do what is right.

Soc. What then? [10] Are we to regard these as the only people incapable
of being taught this virtue of carefulness? or are there others in a
like condition?

[10] Or, "What then--is the list exhausted? Are we to suppose that
these are the sole people..."

Isch. Surely we must include the slave to amorous affection. [11] Your
woeful lover [12] is incapable of being taught attention to anything
beyond one