But, Hiero, you must not grudge to spend a portion of your private substance for the common weal. For myself, I hold to the opinion that the sums expended by the monarch on the state form items of disbursement more legitimate[1] than those expended on his personal account. But let us look into the question point by point.
[1] {eis to deon}. Holden cf. "Anab." I. iii. 8. Aristoph. "Clouds," 859, {osper Periklees eis to deon apolesa}: "Like Pericles, for a necessary purpose, I have lost them."First, the palace: do you imagine that a building, beautified in every way at an enormous cost, will afford you greater pride and ornament than a whole city ringed with walls and battlements, whose furniture consists of temples and pillared porticoes,[2] harbours, market- places?
[2] Reading {parastasi}, properly "pillasters" (Poll. i. 76. 10. 25) = "antae," hence "templum in antis" (see Vitruv. iii. 2. 2); or more widely the entrance of a temple or other building. (Possibly the author is thinking of "the Propylea").Cf. Eur. "Phoen." 415; "I. T." 1159. = {stathmoi}, Herod. i. 179; Hom. "Il." xiv. 167; "Od." vii. 89,{stathmoi d' argureoi en khalkeo estasan oudio}.
The brazen thresholds both sides did enfoldSilver pilasters, hung with gates of gold (Chapman).
Al. {pastasi}, = colonnades.
Next, as to armaments: Will you present a greater terror to the foe if you appear furnished yourself from head to foot with bright emlazonrie and horrent arms;[3] or rather by reason of the warlike aspect of a whole city perfectly equipped?
[3] Or, "with armour curiously wrought a wonder and a dread." {oplois tois ekpaglotatois}, most magnificent, awe-inspiring, a poetical word which appears only in this passage in prose (Holden). L. & S. cf. Hom. "Il."i. 146, xxi. 589, of persons; "Od." xiv. 552, of things. Pind. "Pyth." iv. 140; "Isth." 7 (6), 30.
And now for ways and means: On which principle do you expect yourrevenues to flow more copiously--by keeping your own private capital[4] employed, or by means devised to make the resources of the entire state[5] productive?
[4] Reading {idia}, al. {idia}, = "your capital privately employed." [5] Lit. "of all citizens alike," "every single member of the state."And next to speak of that which people hold to be the flower of institutions, a pursuit both noble in itself and best befitting a great man--I mean the art of breeding chariot-horses[6]--which would reflect the greater lustre on you, that you personally[7] should train and send to the great festal gatherings[8] more chariots than any Hellene else? or rather that your state should boast more racehorse- breeders than the rest of states, that from Syracuse the largest number should enter to contest the prize?
[6] Cf. Plat. "Laws," 834 B.
[7] Breit. cf. Pind. "Ol." i. 82; "Pyth." i. 173; ii. 101; iii. 96.
[8] "Our solemn festivals," e.g. those held at Olympia, Delphi, the Isthmus, Nemea.
Which would you deem the nobler conquest--to win a victory by virtue of a chariot, or to achieve a people's happiness, that state of which you are the head and chief? And for my part, I hold it ill becomes a tyrant to enter the lists with private citizens. For take the case he wins, he will not be admired, but be envied rather, when is is thought how many private fortunes go to swell the stream of his expenditure; while if he loses, he will become a laughing-stock to all mankind.[9]
