the phrase {paidikois pragmasi} see "Ages." viii. 2.

Then Critobulus: I cannot gainsay what you have spoken, Socrates, it
is indeed high time that you were constituted my patronus, or I shall
become in very truth a pitiable object.

To which appeal Socrates made answer: Why, you yourself must surely be
astonished at the part you are now playing. Just now, when I said that
I was rich, you laughed at me as if I had no idea what riches were,
and you were not happy till you had cross-examined me and forced me to
confess that I do not possess the hundredth part of what you have; and
now you are imploring me to be your patron, and to stint no pains to
save you from becoming absolutely and in very truth a pauper. [8]

[8] Or, "literally beggared."

Crit. Yes, Socrates, for I see that you are skilled in one lucrative
operation at all events--the art of creating a surplus. I hope,
therefore, that a man who can make so much out of so little will not
have the slightest difficulty in creating an ample surplus out of an
abundance.

Soc. But do not you recollect how just now in the discussion you would
hardly let me utter a syllable [9] while you laid down the law: if a man
did not know how to handle horses, horses were not wealth to him at any
rate; nor land, nor sheep, nor money, nor anything else, if he did not
know how to use them? And yet these are the very sources of revenue from
which incomes are derived; and how do you expect me to know the use of
any of them who never possessed a single one of them since I was born?

[9] Cf. Aristoph. "Clouds," 945; "Plut." 17; Dem. 353; and Holden ad
loc.

Crit. Yes, but we agreed that, however little a man may be blest with
wealth himself, a science of economy exists; and that being so, what
hinders you from being its professor?

Soc. Nothing, to be sure, [10] except what would hinder a man from
knowing how to play the flute, supposing he had never had a flute of his
own and no one had supplied the defect by lending him one to practise
on: which is just my case with regard to economy, [11] seeing I never
myself possessed the instrument of the science which is wealth, so as to
go through the pupil stage, nor hitherto has any one proposed to hand
me over his to manage. You, in fact, are the first person to make so
generous an offer. You will bear in mind, I hope, that a learner of the
harp is apt to break and spoil the instrument; it is therefore probable,
if I take in hand t