*

I quote from the Court Journal:--

"The Emperor Nero reigns in the hearts of His People. Persons
asserting the contrary will be decapitated."

PHILOGEORGOS, OR CONCERNING BRIBERY

Going down the other day to the Kerameikos, I met my friend Philogeorgos,
who is at present one of those who desire to hold office in the city.
And I said to him--

"Philogeorgos, you look sad; is it because you fear lest you should not
be elected Archon?"

"No, Socrates," he replied. "It is not that which saddens me; it is the
baseness of those who try to prevent the people from choosing me."

"In what way do they act basely?" I asked.

"There is a certain wine-seller," he said, "who is offering what the
Hyperboreans call Free Drinks (that is, you know, draughts of wine
without payment) to all those who will vote for Misogeorgos, but not for
me."

"That is very unkind of the wine-seller. But why do you say that the
transaction is base?"

"Why, of course it is base. How can it be anything else?"

"When we predicate baseness of a transaction," I said, "we must also
predicate baseness of those who are concerned in it, or at least of one
of them. Now, Philogeorgos, let me ask you a question; for you are
accustomed by this time to answer questions. When you wish for a pair of
shoes or a flute, how do you obtain one?"

"How else," he said, "except by buying it from a shoemaker or a maker of
flutes?"

"How else, indeed?" I replied. "So, then, the tradesman gives you
something which he possesses; and you give the tradesman in return
something which you possess. And this exchange is advantageous to both
of you, and honourable; is it not?"

"I suppose so."

"And neither of you becomes base?"

"Neither."

"Then it is not a base transaction?"

"No."

"Now consider in this way; Does a vote belong to the man who possesses a
vote?"

"Yes, Socrates; but I am afraid that you are going to quibble, as usual."

"It is only by dialectic," I replied, "that we can arrive at the truth.
And the wine belongs, I suppose, to the wine-seller?"

"It would seem so, at least."

"Then when the wine-seller gets the voter's vote in exchange for his own
wine, they simply give each other what each possesses; and such a
transaction, as you have said, is advantageous to both parties, and
honourable, and not base at all."

"I said," he replied, rather angrily, "that you were going to quibble.
Of course, the case is quite