ake of wealth. These I must needs pity for the cruel malady
which plagues them. Their condition, to my mind, resembles that poor
creature's who, in spite of all he has (58) and all he eats, can never
stay the wolf that gnaws his vitals.

(55) Cf. "Cyrop." VIII. ii. 21; Hor. "Epist." i. 2. 26, "semper avarus
eget."

(56) Is Antisthenes thinking of Callias and Hermogenes? (presuming
these are sons of Hipponicus and brothers). Cf. "Mem." II. x. 3.

(57) Or, "'Tis want that does it." See "Pol. Ath." i. 5; "Rev," i. 1.

(58) Reading {ekhon}, or if {pinon}, transl. "who eats and drinks, but
never sates himself."

But as to me, my riches are so plentiful I cannot lay my hands on them
myself; (59) yet for all that I have enough to eat till my hunger is
stayed, to drink till my thirst is sated; (60) to clothe myself withal;
and out of doors not Callias there, with all his riches, is more safe
than I from shivering; and when I find myself indoors, what warmer
shirting (61) do I need than my bare walls? what ampler greatcoat than
the tiles above my head? these seem to suit me well enough; and as to
bedclothes, I am not so ill supplied but it is a business to arouse me
in the morning.

(59) "That I can scarce discover any portion of it." Zeune cf. "Econ."
viii. 2.

(60) So "the master" himself. See "Mem." I. ii. 1, vi. 5.

(61) Cf. Aristot. "Pol." ii. 8. 1, of Hippodamus.

And as to sexual desire, my body's need is satisfied by what comes first
to hand. Indeed, there is no lack of warmth in the caress which greets
me, just because it is unsought by others. (62)

(62) Cf. "Mem." I. iii. 14, the germ of cynicism and stoicism, the
Socratic {XS} form of "better to marry than to burn."

Well then, these several pleasures I enjoy so fully that I am much more
apt to pray for less than more of them, so strongly do I feel that some
of them are sweeter than what is good for one or profitable.

But of all the precious things in my possession, I reckon this the
choicest, that were I robbed of my whole present stock, there is no work
so mean, but it would amply serve me to furnish me with sustenance. Why,
look you, whenever I desire to fare delicately, I have not to purchase
precious viands in the market, which becomes expensive, but I open
the storehouse of my soul, and dole them out. (63) Indeed, as far as
pleasure goes, I find it better to await desire before I suffer meat
or drink to pass my lips, t