that can procure him the victory, and will carefully avoid whatever might be the cause of his defeat.  Thus, when he sees his army well provided with all things, and in a condition that seems to promise a good success, he will give his enemies battle; but when he wants anything he will avoid coming to an engagement with them.  Thus you see how economy may be of use to him; and therefore, Nicomachides, despise not those who apply themselves to it; for between the conduct of a family and that of a State the sole difference is that of a greater or lesser number; for as to all besides there is much conformity between them.  The sum of what I have advanced is this, that without men there could not be any policy or any economy, that they are often executed by the same persons, and that they who are called to the government of the Republic are the very same whom great men employ for their private affairs.  Lastly, that they who make use of proper persons for their several businesses are successful in their economy and in politics; and that, on the contrary, they who fail in this point commit great faults both in one and the other.”

Chapter V. A conversation between Socrates and Pericles concerning the then present state of the republic of Athens, in which Socrates lays down A method by which the Athenians may recover their ancient lustre and reputation.

Socrates one day being in company with Pericles, the son of the great Pericles, introduced the following discourse:—­

“I hope that when you command the army the Republic will be more successful and gain more glory in their wars than formerly.”  “I should be glad of it,” answered Pericles, “but I see little likelihood of it.”  “We may bring this matter to the test,” said Socrates.  “Is it not true that the Boeotians are not more numerous than the Athenians?” “I know it.”  “Nor are they either braver or stronger?” “True, they are not.”  “Do you believe that they agree better among themselves?” “Quite the contrary,” said Pericles; “for there is a great misunderstanding between most of the Boeotians and the Thebans, because of the great hardships the latter put upon the former, and we have nothing of this among us.”  “But the Boeotians,” replied Socrates, “are wonderfully ambitions and obliging; and these are the qualities that naturally push men on to expose themselves for the sake of glory and of their country.”  “The Athenians,” answered Pericles, “come not short of them in either of those qualities.”  “It is true,” replied Socrates, “that there is no nation whose ancestors have done braver actions, and in greater number, than those of the Athenians.  And these domestic examples excite us to courage, and create in us a true love of virtue and bravery.”