ulus, the
plain unvarnished truth: Is there an one to whom you are more in the
habit of entrusting matters of importance than to your wife?

[12] Cf. "Horsemanship," vi. 5, of a horse "to show vice."

[13] Or, "things beautiful and of good report."

[14] Al. "has treated her as a dunce, devoid of this high knowledge."

Crit. There is no one.

Soc. And is there any one with whom you are less in the habit of
conversing than with your wife?

Crit. Not many, I am forced to admit.

Soc. And when you married her she was quite young, a mere girl--at
an age when, as far as seeing and hearing go, she had the smallest
acquaintance with the outer world?

Crit. Certainly.

Soc. Then would it not be more astonishing that she should have real
knowledge how to speak and act than that she should go altogether
astray?

Crit. But let me ask you a question, Socrates: have those happy
husbands, you tell us of, who are blessed with good wives educated them
themselves?

Soc. There is nothing like investigation. I will introduce you to
Aspasia, [15] who will explain these matters to you in a far more
scientific way than I can. My belief is that a good wife, being as
she is the partner in a common estate, must needs be her husband's
counterpoise and counterpart for good; since, if it is through the
transactions of the husband, as a rule, that goods of all sorts find
their way into the house, yet it is by means of the wife's economy and
thrift that the greater part of the expenditure is checked, and on the
successful issue or the mishandling of the same depends the increase or
impoverishment of a whole estate. And so with regard to the remaining
arts and sciences, I think I can point out to you the ablest performers
in each case, if you feel you have any further need of help. [16]

[15] Aspasia. See "Mem." II. vi. 36.

[16] Al. "there are successful performers in each who will be happy to
illustrate any point in which you think you need," etc.

IV

But why need you illustrate all the sciences, Socrates? (Critobulus
asked): it would not be very easy to discover efficient craftsmen of all
the arts, and quite impossible to become skilled in all one's self.
So, please, confine yourself to the nobler branches of knowledge as men
regard them, such as it will best befit me to pursue with devotion; be
so good as to point me out these and their performers, and, above
all, contribute as far as in you lies the aid of your