o learn the art of economy on your estate, I shall
ruin it outright.

[10] Lit. "The very thing, God help me! which would hinder..."

[11] Lit. "the art of administering an estate."

Critobulus retorted: I see, Socrates, you are doing your very best
to escape an irksome task: you would rather not, if you can help
it, stretch out so much as your little finger to help me to bear my
necessary burthens more easily.

Soc. No, upon my word, I am not trying to escape: on the contrary, I
shall be ready, as far as I can, to expound the matter to you. [12] ...
Still it strikes me, if you had come to me for fire, and I had none in
my house, you would not blame me for sending you where you might get it;
or if you had asked me for water, and I, having none to give, had led
you elsewhere to the object of your search, you would not, I am sure,
have disapproved; or did you desire to be taught music by me, and I were
to point out to you a far more skilful teacher than myself, who would
perhaps be grateful to you moreover for becoming his pupil, what kind of
exception could you take to my behaviour?

[12] Or, "to play the part of {exegetes}, 'legal adviser,' or
'spiritual director,' to be in fact your 'guide, philosopher, and
friend.'"

Crit. None, with any show of justice, Socrates.

Soc. Well, then, my business now is, Critobulus, to point out [13] to
you some others cleverer than myself about those matters which you are
so anxious to be taught by me. I do confess to you, I have made it long
my study to discover who among our fellow-citizens in this city are the
greatest adepts in the various branches of knowledge. [14] I had been
struck with amazement, I remember, to observe on some occasion that
where a set of people are engaged in identical operations, half of them
are in absolute indigence and the other half roll in wealth. I bethought
me, the history of the matter was worth investigation. Accordingly I set
to work investigating, and I found that it all happened very naturally.
Those who carried on their affairs in a haphazard manner I saw were
punished by their losses; whilst those who kept their wits upon the
stretch and paid attention I soon perceived to be rewarded by the
greater ease and profit of their undertakings. [15] It is to these I
would recommend you to betake yourself. What say you? Learn of them: and
unless the will of God oppose, [16] I venture to say you will become as
clever a man of business as