han to have recourse to any of your costly
viands, as, for instance, now, when I have chanced on this fine Thasian
wine, (64) and sip it without thirst. But indeed, the man who makes
frugality, not wealth of worldly goods, his aim, is on the face of it a
much more upright person. And why?--the man who is content with what he
has will least of all be prone to clutch at what is his neighbour's.

(63) Or, "turn to the storehouse of a healthy appetite." See "Apol."
18, the same sentiment "ex ore Socratis."

(64) See Athen. "Deipnos." i. 28.

And here's a point worth noting. Wealth of my sort will make you liberal
of soul. Look at Socrates; from him it was I got these riches. He did
not supply me with it by weight or by measure, but just as much as I
could carry, he with bounteous hand consigned to me. And I, too, grudge
it to no man now. To all my friends without distinction I am ready to
display my opulence: come one, come all; and whosoever likes to take
a share is welcome to the wealth that lies within my soul. Yes, and
moreover, that most luxurious of possessions, (65) unbroken leisure, you
can see, is mine, which leaves me free to contemplate things worthy of
contemplation, (66) and to drink in with my ears all charming sounds.
And what I value most, freedom to spend whole days in pure scholastic
intercourse (67) with Socrates, to whom I am devoted. (68) And he,
on his side, is not the person to admire those whose tale of gold and
silver happens to be the largest, but those who are well-pleasing to him
he chooses for companions, and will consort with to the end.

(65) See Eur. "Ion," 601. Lit. "at every moment I command it."

(66) "To gaze upon all fairest shows (like a spectator in the
theatre), and to drink in sounds most delectable." So Walt
Whitman.

(67) Aristot. "Rhet." ii. 4. 12; "Eth. N." ix. 4. 9.

(68) See "Mem." III. xi. 17.

With these words the speaker ended, and Callias exclaimed:

By Hera, I envy you your wealth, Antisthenes, firstly, because the state
does not lay burthens on you and treat you like a slave; and secondly,
people do not fall into a rage with you when you refuse to be their
creditor.

You may stay your envy (interposed Niceratus), I shall presently present
myself to borrow of him this same key of his to independence. (69)
Trained as I am to cast up figures by my master Homer--

Seven tripods, which ne'er felt the fire, and of gold ten talents
And burn