Memorabilia

Then why not tell them the story of the dog? asked Socrates. It is said that when beasts could talk, a sheep said to her master: It is strange that you give us sheep nothing but what we get from the land, though we supply you with wool and lambs and cheese, and yet you share your own food with your dog, who supplies you with none of these things. The dog heard this, and said:

Of course he does. Do not I keep you from being stolen by thieves, and carried off by wolves? Why, but for my protection you couldn’t even feed for fear of being killed. And so, they say, the sheep admitted the dog’s claim to preference. Do you then tell these women that you are their watch-dog and keeper, and it is due to you that they live and work in safety and comfort, with none to harm them.

Again, on meeting an old comrade after long absence he said: Where do you come from, Eutherus?I came home when the war ended, Socrates, and am now living here, he replied. Since we have lost our foreign property, and my father left me nothing in Attica, I am forced to settle down here now and work for my living with my hands. I think it’s better than begging, especially as I have no security to offer for a loan.

And how long will you have the strength, do you think, to earn your living by your work?Oh, not long, of course.But remember, when you get old you will have to spend money, and nobody will be willing to pay you for your labour.True.

Then it would be better to take up some kind of work at once that will assure you a competence when you get old, and to go to somebody who is better off and wants an assistant, and get a return for your services by acting as his bailiff, helping to get in his crops and looking after his property.

I shouldn’t like to make myself a slave, Socrates.But surely those who control their cities and take charge of public affairs are thought more respectable, not more slavish on that account.

Briefly, Socrates, I have no inclination to expose myself to any man’s censure.But, you see, Eutherus, it is by no means easy to find a post in which one is not liable to censure. Whatever one does, it is difficult to avoid mistakes, and it is difficult to escape unfair criticism even if one makes no mistakes. I wonder if you find it easy to avoid complaints entirely even from your present employers.