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expense。＇44＇ Whereas； if part were proceeded with and part stood over； the
portion of revenue in hand will help to furnish what is necessary to go on
with。 But to come now to what every one probably will regard as a really
grave danger； lest the state may become possessed of an over large number
of slaves； with the result that the works will be overstocked。 That again is
an apprehension which we may escape if we are careful not to put into the
works more hands from year to year than the works themselves demand。
Thus＇45＇ I am persuaded that the easiest method of carrying out this
scheme； as a whole； is also the best。 If； however； you are persuaded that；
owing to the extraordinary property taxes＇46＇ to which you have been
subjected during the present war； you will not be equal to any further
contributions at present；＇47＇ what you should do is this：＇48＇ during the
current year resolve to carry on the financial administration of the state
within the limits of a sum equivalent to that which your dues＇49＇ realised
before the peace。 That done； you are at liberty to take any surplus sum；
whether directly traceable to the peace itself； or to the more courteous
treatment of our resident aliens and traders； or to the growth of the imports
and exports； coincident with the collecting together of larger masses of
human beings； or to an augmentation of harbour＇50＇ and market dues： this
surplus； I say； however derived； you should take and invest＇51＇ so as to
bring in the greatest revenue。＇52＇
＇40＇ Or； 〃sinking fund。〃
＇41＇ ｛athrooi｝〃in a body。〃 It is a military phrase； I think。 In
close order； as it were； not in detachments。
＇42＇ 〃According to our ability；〃 a favourite Socratic phrase。
＇43＇ ｛authis｝。 See for this corrupt passage Zurborg； 〃Comm。〃 p。 31。
He would insert； 〃and a little delay will not be prejudicial to our
interests； but rather the contrary；〃 or to that effect； thus： ｛kai authis
an ＇anutoimen ou gar toiaute te anabole blaben genesthai an＇ emin
oiometha｝ 〃vel simile aliquid。〃
＇44＇ Or； 〃it is we who must bear the whole burthen of the outlay。〃
＇45＇ ｛outos｝； 〃so far； unless I am mistaken； the easiest method is the
best。〃
＇46＇ Or； 〃heavy contributions； subscriptions incidental to；〃 but the
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word ｛eisphoras｝ is technical。 For the exhaustion of the treasury see
Dem。 〃Lept。〃 464； Grote； 〃H。 G。〃xi。 326。
＇47＇ Or； 〃you will not be able to subscribe a single penny more。〃
＇48＇ ｛umeis de｝； you are masters of the situation。 It lies with you to
carry on； etc。； ｛dioikeite｝ is of course imperative。
＇49＇ Or； 〃taxes。〃
＇50＇ Reading； after Zurborg； ｛dia ta ellimenia｝。 Or； if the vulg。 ｛dia
en limeni｝； transl。 〃an augmentation of market dues at Piraeus。〃
＇51＇ I。e。 as fixed capital； or； 〃you should expend on plant。〃
＇52＇ Or； adopting Zurborg's emend； ｛os an pleista eggignetai｝； transl。
〃for the purposes of the present scheme as far as it may be
available。〃
Again； if there is an apprehension on the part of any that the whole
scheme＇53＇ will crumble into nothing on the first outbreak of war； I would
only beg these alarmists to note that； under the condition of things which
we propose to bring about； war will have more terrors for the attacking
party than for this state。 Since what possession I should like to know can
be more serviceable for war than that of men？ Think of the many ships
which they will be capable of manning on public service。 Think of the
number who will serve on land as infantry ＇in the public service＇ and will
bear hard upon the enemy。 Only we must treat them with courtesy。＇54＇ For
myself； my calculation is； that even in the event of war we shall be quite
able to keep a firm hold of the silver mines。 I may take it； we have in the
neighbourhood of the mines certain fortressesone on the southern slope
in Anaphlystus；＇55＇ and we have another on the northern side in Thoricus；
the two being about seven and a half miles＇56＇ apart。 Suppose then a third
breastwork were to be placed between these； on the highest point of Besa；
that would enable the operatives to collect into one out of all the fortresses；
and at the first perception of a hostile movement it would only be a short
distance for each to retire into safety。＇57＇ In the event of an enemy
advancing in large numbers they might certainly make off with whatever
corn or wine or cattle they found outside。 But even if they did get hold of
the silver ore； it would be little better to them than a heap of stones。＇58＇
But how is an enemy ever to march upon the mines in force？ The nearest
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state； Megara； is distant； I take it； a good deal over sixty miles；＇59＇ and the
next closest； Thebes； a good deal nearer seventy。＇60＇ Supposing then an
enemy to advance from some such point to attack the mines； he cannot
avoid passing Athens； and presuming his force to be small； we may expect
him to be annihilated by our cavalry and frontier police。＇61＇ I say；
presuming his force to be small； since to march with anything like a large
force； and thereby leave his own territory denuded of troops； would be a
startling achievement。 Why； the fortified city of Athens will be much
closer the states of the attacking parties than they themselves will be by
the time they have got to the mines。 But； for the sake of argument； let us
suppose an enemy to have arrived in the neighbourhood of Laurium； how
is he going to stop there without provisions？ To go out in search of
supplies with a detachment of his force would imply risk； both for the
foraging party and for those who have to do the fighting；＇62＇ whilst； if
they are driven to do so in force each time； they may call themselves
besiegers； but they will be practically in a state of siege themselves。
＇53＇ Or； 〃the proposed organisation。〃
＇54＇ See ch。 ii。 above。
＇55＇ Or； reading ｛en te pros mesembrian thalatte｝； 〃on the southern
Sea。〃 For Anaphlystus see 〃Hell。〃 I。 ii。 1； 〃Mem。〃 III。 v。 25。 It was
Eubulus's deme； the leading statesman at this date。
＇56＇ Lit。 〃60 stades。〃
＇57＇ The passage ｛sunekoi t an erga｝； etc。； is probably corrupt。 ｛Ta
erga｝ seems to mean 〃the operatives；〃 cf。 Latin 〃operae。〃 Others take
it of 〃the works themselves。〃 Possibly it may refer to military works
connecting the three fortresses named。 〃There might be a system of
converging （works or） lines drawn to a single point from all the
fortresses； and at the first sign of any thing hostile；〃 etc。
＇58＇ I。e。 〃they might as well try to carry off so many tons of stone。〃
＇59＇ Lit。 〃500 stades。〃
＇60＇ Lit。 〃more than 600 stades。〃
＇61＇ The ｛peripoloi｝； or horse patrol to guard the frontier。 See Thuc。
iv。 57； viii。 92； Arist。 〃Birds；〃ii。 76。 Young Athenians between
eighteen and twenty were eligible for the service。
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＇62＇ Or； 〃for the very object of the contest。〃 The construction is in
any case unusual。 ｛peri on agonizontai｝ = ｛peri touton oi｝。 Zurborg
suggests ｛peri ton agonizomenon｝。
But it is not the income＇63＇ derived from the slaves alone to which we
look to help the state towards the effective maintenance of her citizens； but
with the growth and concentration of a thick population in the mining
district various sources of revenue will accrue； whether from the market at
Sunium； or from the various state buildings in connection with the silver
mines； from furnaces and all the rest。 Since we must expect a thickly
populated city to spring up here； if organised in th