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barbaroi gar andras egountai monous｝ ｜ ｛tous pleista dunamenous
phagein te kai piein｝： 〃To the Barbarians 'tis the test of manhood：
there the great drinkers are the greatest men〃 （Frere）； id。 〃Knights；〃
179； 〃Clouds；〃 823； so Latin 〃vir。〃 See Holden ad loc。
＇2＇ 〃Us lesser mortals。〃
To all which Hiero made answer： That the majority of men； Simonides；
should be deluded by the glamour of a despotism in no respect astonishes
me； since it is the very essence of the crowd； if I am not mistaken； to rush
wildly to conjecture touching the happiness or wretchedness of people at
first sight。
Now the nature of a tyrrany is such： it presents； nay flaunts； a show of
costliest possessions unfolded to the general gaze； which rivets the
attention；＇3＇ but the real troubles in the souls of monarchs it keeps
concealed in those hid chambers where lie stowed away the happiness and
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the unhappiness of mankind。
＇3＇ There is some redundancy in the phraseology。
I repeat then； I little marvel that the multitude should be blinded in this
matter。 But that you others also； you who are held to see with the mind's
eye more clearly than with the eye of sense the mass of circumstances；＇4＇
should share its ignorance； does indeed excite my wonderment。 Now； I
know it all too plainly from my own experience； Simonides； and I assure
you； the tyrant is one who has the smallest share of life's blessings； whilst
of its greater miseries he possesses most。
＇4＇ Lit。 〃the majority of things〃； al。 〃the thousand details of a
thing。〃
For instance； if peace is held to be a mighty blessing to mankind； then
of peace despotic monarchs are scant sharers。 Or is war a curse？ If so； of
this particular pest your monarch shares the largest moiety。 For； look you；
the private citizen； unless his city…state should chance to be engaged in
some common war；＇5＇ is free to travel wheresoe'er he chooses without fear
of being done to death； whereas the tyrant cannot stir without setting his
foot on hostile territory。 At any rate； nothing will persuade him but he
must go through life armed； and on all occasions drag about with him
armed satellites。 In the next place； the private citizen； even during an
expedition into hostile territory；＇6＇ can comfort himself in the reflection
that as soon as he gets back home he will be safe from further peril。
Whereas the tyrant knows precisely the reverse； as soon as he arrives in
his own city； he will find himself in the centre of hostility at once。 Or let
us suppose that an invading army； superior in force； is marching against a
city： however much the weaker population； whilst they are still outside
their walls； may feel the stress of danger； yet once within their trenches
one and all expect to find themselves in absolute security。 But the tyrant is
not out of danger； even when he has passed the portals of his palace。 Nay！
there of all places most； he feels； he must maintain the strictist watch。＇7＇
Again； to the private citizen there will come eventually； either through
truce or terms of peace； respite from war； but for the tyrant； the day of
peace will never dawn。 What peace can he have with those over whom he
exercises his despotic sway？＇8＇ Nor have the terms of truce been yet
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devised； on which the despotic ruler may rely with confidence。＇9＇
＇5＇ ｛koinon｝； i。e。 making demands upon the eneriges of all the
citizens in common； as opposed to the personal character of war as
conducted by a despot = 〃public；〃 〃patriotic；〃 〃national〃 war。 Al。
borne by the particular ｛polis｝ as member of a league； whether of
states united for the time being in a ｛summakhia｝； or permanently in
a confederacy = a 〃federal〃 war。
＇6＇ 〃Even if serving on a campaign in the enemy's country。〃
＇7＇ Or； 〃he has to exercise the utmost vigilance。〃
＇8＇ 〃With those who are 'absolutely governed；' not to say tyrannically
ruled。〃
＇9＇ Or； 〃which the tyrant may accept in faith and go his way
rejoicing。〃
Wars doubtless there are；＇10＇ wars waged by states and wars waged by
autocratic monarchs against those whom they have forcibly enslaved； and
in respect of these wars there is no hardship which any member of the
states at war＇11＇ can suffer but the tyrant will feel it also。 That is to say；
both must alike be under arms； keep guard； run risks； and whatever the
pains of defeat may be； they are equally sustained by both。 Up to this point
there is no distinction。 The 〃bitters〃 are equal。 But when we come to
estimate the 〃sweets〃 derivable from warfare between states；＇12＇ the
parallel ceases。 The tyrant； if he shared the pains before； no longer shares
the pleasures now。 What happens when a state has gained the mastery in
battle over her antagonist？ It would be hard （I take it） to describe the joy
of that occurrence： joy in the rout； joy in the pursuit； joy in the slaughter of
their enemies； and in what language shall I describe the exultation of these
warriors at their feats of arms？ With what assumption they bind on their
brows the glittering wreath of glory；＇13＇ with what mirth and jollity
congratulate themselves on having raised their city to newer heights of
fame。 Each several citizen claims to have shared in the plan of the
campaign；＇14＇ and to have slain the largest number。 Indeed it would be
hard to find where false embellishment will not creep in；＇15＇ the number
stated to be the slain exceeding that of those that actually perished。 So
truly glorious a thing it seems to them to have won a great victory。＇16＇
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＇10＇ Lit。 〃and further； wars there are； waged against forcibly…
subjected populations whether by free states〃e。g。 of Olynthus；
〃Hell。〃 V。 ii。 23； or Athens against her 〃subject allies〃 during the Pel。
war〃or by despotic rules〃Jason of Pherae （〃Hell。〃 VI。） Al。 〃wars
waged by free states against free states； and wars waged by tyrants
against enslaved peoples。〃
＇11＇ Does ｛o en tais polesi｝ = 〃the citizen〃？ So some commentators；
or （sub。 ｛polemos｝） = 〃the war among states〃 （see Hartman； op。 cit。
p。 248）？ in which case transl。 〃all the hardships involved in
international war come home to the tyrant also。〃 The same obscurity
attaches to ｛oi en tais polesi｝ below （the commonly adopted emend。
of the MS。 ｛oi sunontes polesi｝ = 〃the citizens；〃 or else =
〃international wars。〃
＇12＇ 〃The pleasures incidental to warfare between states〃； al。 〃the
sweets which citizens engaged in warfare as against rival states can
count upon。〃
＇13＇ Reading ｛analambanousin｝； or； if after Cobet； etc。；
｛lambanousin｝； transl。 〃what brilliant honour； what bright credit they
assume。〃
＇14＇ 〃To have played his part in counsel。〃 See 〃Anab。〃 passim； and M。
Taine； 〃Essais de Critique；〃 〃Xenophon；〃 p。 128。
＇15＇ Lit。 〃they do not indulge in false additions； pretending to have
put more enemies to death than actually fell。〃
＇16＇ Cf。 〃Hipparch；〃 viii。 11； 〃Cyrop。〃 VIII。 iii。 25； 〃Thuc。〃 i。 49。
But the tyrant； when he forebodes； or possibly perceives in actual fact；
some opposition brewing； and puts the suspects＇17＇ to the sword； knows
he will not thereby promote the welfare of the state collectively。 The cold
clear fact is； he will have fewer subjects to rule over。＇18＇ How can he
show a cheerful countenance？＇19＇ how