each
set of things was laid and how many there were of each, just as well
as any one who knows his alphabet [25] could tell you how many letters
there are in Socrates and the order in which they stand.

[23] Cf. "Pol. Ath." i. 1; Aristoph. "Knights," 543 foll.

[24] Or, "with his eyes shut, at a distance he could say exactly."

[25] Or, "how to spell." See "Mem." IV. iv. 7; Plat. "Alc." i. 113 A.

I saw this same man (continued Ischomachus) examining at leisure [26]
everything which could possibly [27] be needful for the service of the
ship. His inspection caused me such surprise, I asked him what he was
doing, whereupon he answered, "I am inspecting, stranger," [28] "just
considering," says he, "the way the things are lying aboard the ship; in
case of accidents, you know, to see if anything is missing, or not lying
snug and shipshape. [29] There is no time left, you know," he added,
"when God makes a tempest in the great deep, to set about searching
for what you want, or to be giving out anything which is not snug and
shipshape in its place. God threatens and chastises sluggards. [30] If
only He destroy not innocent with guilty, a man may be content; [31]
or if He turn and save all hands aboard that render right good service,
[32] thanks be to Heaven." [33]

[26] "Apparently when he had nothing better to do"; "by way of
amusement."

[27] {ara}, "as if he were asking himself, 'Would this or this
possibly be wanted for the ship's service?'"

[28] "Sir."

[29] Or, "things not lying handy in their places."

[30] Or, "them that are slack." Cf. "Anab." V. viii. 15; "Mem." IV.
ii. 40; Plat. "Gorg." 488 A: "The dolt and good-for-nothing."

[31] "One must not grumble."

[32] "The whole ship's crew right nobly serving." {uperetein} = "to
serve at the oar" (metaphorically = to do service to heaven).

[33] Lit. "great thanks be to the gods."

So spoke the pilot's mate; and I, with this carefulness of stowage still
before my eyes, proceeded to enforce my thesis:

"Stupid in all conscience would it be on our parts, my wife, if those
who sail the sea in ships, that are but small things, can discover space
and place for everything; can, moreover, in spite of violent tossings up
and down, keep order, and, even while their hearts are failing them for
fear, find everything they need to hand; whilst we, with all our ample
storerooms [34] diversely disposed for divers objects in our mansion,
an e