more natural grace than the gifts of meat and
drink. [3] Accordingly he arranged that his table should be spread every
day for many guests in exactly the same way as for himself; and all that
was set before him, after he and his guests had dined, he would send out
to his absent friends, in token of affection and remembrance. He would
include those who had won his approval by their work on guard, or in
attendance on himself, or in any other service, letting them see that no
desire to please him could ever escape his eyes. [4] He would show the
same honour to any servant he wished to praise; and he had all the
food for them placed at his own board, believing this would win their
fidelity, as it would a dog's. Or, if he wished some friend of his to be
courted by the people, he would single him out for such gifts; even to
this day the world will pay court to those who have dishes sent them
from the Great King's table, thinking they must be in high favour at
the palace and can get things done for others. But no doubt there was
another reason for the pleasure in such gifts, and that was the sheer
delicious taste of the royal meats. [5] Nor should that surprise us;
for if we remember to what a pitch of perfection the other crafts are
brought in great communities, we ought to expect the royal dishes to be
wonders of finished art. In a small city the same man must make beds
and chairs and ploughs and tables, and often build houses as well; and
indeed he will be only too glad if he can find enough employers in all
trades to keep him. Now it is impossible that a single man working at a
dozen crafts can do them all well; but in the great cities, owing to the
wide demand for each particular thing, a single craft will suffice for a
means of livelihood, and often enough even a single department of that;
there are shoe-makers who will only make sandals for men and others only
for women. Or one artisan will get his living merely by stitching shoes,
another by cutting them out, a third by shaping the upper leathers, and
a fourth will do nothing but fit the parts together. Necessarily the man
who spends all his time and trouble on the smallest task will do that
task the best. [6] The arts of the household must follow the same law.
If one and the same servant makes the bed, spreads the table, kneads the
dough, and cooks the various dishes, the master must take things as they
come, there is no help for it. But when there is work enough for on