o a story which some one had
to tell about the animal. So then I stepped up boldly to the groom and
asked him, "Has the horse much wealth?" The fellow looked at me as if I
were hardly in my right mind to put the question, and retorted, "How
can a horse have wealth?" Thereat I dared to lift my eyes from earth, on
learning that after all it is permitted a poor penniless horse to be
a noble animal, if nature only have endowed him with good spirit. If,
therefore, it is permitted even to me to be a good man, please recount
to me your works from first to last, I promise, I will listen, all I
can, and try to understand, and so far as in me lies to imitate you from
to-morrow. To-morrow is a good day to commence a course of virtue, is it
not?

[2] Cf. Plat. "Rep." 566 A, "a tyrant full grown" (Jowett).

[3] Cf. Plat. "Phaed." 70 C; Aristoph. "Clouds," 1480.

[4] Or rather, "a measurer of air"--i.e. devoted not to good sound
solid "geometry," but the unsubstantial science of "aerometry."
See Aristoph. "Clouds," i. 225; Plat. "Apol." 18 B, 19 B; Xen.
"Symp." vi. 7.

[5] Nothing is known of this person.

You are pleased to jest, Socrates (Ischomachus replied), in spite of
which I will recount to you those habits and pursuits by aid of which I
seek to traverse life's course. If I have read aright life's lesson, it
has taught me that, unless a man first discover what he needs to do, and
seriously study to bring the same to good effect, the gods have placed
prosperity [6] beyond his reach; and even to the wise and careful they
give or they withhold good fortune as seemeth to them best. Such being
my creed, I begin with service rendered to the gods; and strive to
regulate my conduct so that grace may be given me, in answer to my
prayers, to attain to health, and strength of body, honour in my own
city, goodwill among my friends, safety with renown in war, and of
riches increase, won without reproach.

[6] "The gods have made well-doing and well-being a thing impossible."
Cf. "Mem." III. ix. 7, 14.

I, when I heard these words, replied: And are you then indeed so careful
to grow rich, Ischomachus?--amassing wealth but to gain endless trouble
in its management?

Most certainly (replied Ischomachus), and most careful must I needs be
of the things you speak of. So sweet I find it, Socrates, to honour
God magnificently, to lend assistance to my friends in answer to
their wants, and, so far as lies within my po