worthy should prosper, and you with the more worthy, be in poverty.” “Doubtless ’tis because his folk are artisans while mine have been liberally educated.” “By artisans you mean such as know how to make useful things.[Pg 84]” [Pg 84] “Certainly.” “Barley meal is a useful thing, for instance?” “Very much so.” “And bread?” “Very much so.” “And men’s and women’s cloaks, and short frocks, and mantles, and vests?” “Very much so.” “But your folk don’t know how to make any of these things. Is it so?” “Nay, but they know how to make them all.” “Do you not know then, how Nausicydes not only supports himself and his household by making barley meal, and has become so rich that he is often called upon to make special contributions to the State[35] and how Corœlus, the baker, lives in fine style on the profits of bread-making, and Demias on mantle-making, and Menon on cloak-making, and nearly every one in Megara on the making of vests?” “That is very true, Socrates. But all these buy barbarians for slaves, and make them work; but my people are free by birth and kinsfolk of my own.” “And because they are free and kinsfolk of yours must they do nothing but eat and sleep? Do you suppose that other free people are happier when they live in this indolent fashion, or when they employ themselves in useful occupations? What about your kinsfolk, my friend? At present I take it, you do not love them, and they do not love you, for you think them a great trouble and loss to you, and they see that you feel them to be a burden. It is only too likely[Pg 85] that all natural affection will
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