,
gifted with, it may be, martial or, it may be, civil accomplishments,
which, however, they refuse to exercise, for the very reason, as I take
it, that they have no masters over them.

[18] "Eupatrids."

Soc. No masters over them! but how can that be if, in spite of their
prayers for prosperity and their desire to do what will bring them good,
they are still so sorely hindered in the exercise of their wills by
those that lord it over them?

Crit. And who, pray, are these lords that rule them and yet remain
unseen?

Soc. Nay, not unseen; on the contrary, they are very visible. And what
is more, they are the basest of the base, as you can hardly fail to
note, if at least you believe idleness and effeminacy and reckless
negligence to be baseness. Then, too, there are other treacherous
beldames giving themselves out to be innocent pleasures, to wit, dicings
and profitless associations among men. [19] These in the fulness of time
appear in all their nakedness even to them that are deceived, showing
themselves that they are after all but pains tricked out and decked with
pleasures. These are they who have the dominion over those you speak of
and quite hinder them from every good and useful work.

[19] Or, "frivolous society."

Crit. But there are others, Socrates, who are not hindered by these
indolences--on the contrary, they have the most ardent disposition to
exert themselves, and by every means to increase their revenues; but in
spite of all, they wear out their substance and are involved in endless
difficulties. [20]

[20] Or, "become involved for want of means."

Soc. Yes, for they too are slaves, and harsh enough are their
taskmasters; slaves are they to luxury and lechery, intemperance and the
wine-cup along with many a fond and ruinous ambition. These passions
so cruelly belord it over the poor soul whom they have got under their
thrall, that so long as he is in the heyday of health and strong to
labour, they compel him to fetch and carry and lay at their feet the
fruit of his toils, and to spend it on their own heart's lusts; but as
soon as he is seen to be incapable of further labour through old age,
they leave him to his gray hairs and misery, and turn to seize on other
victims. [21] Ah! Critobulus, against these must we wage ceaseless
war, for very freedom's sake, no less than if they were armed warriors
endeavouring to make us their slaves. Nay, foemen in war, it must be
granted, especially when o