CHAPTER VI.

HOW SOCRATES MOWED DOWN THE PRETENDERS TO PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, IN HIS DAYS. THE AUTHOR SETS AT LARGE AND IMPARTIALLY THE CHARACTER OF ALL THE TALENTS, ALIAS THE MEN IN BUCKRAM.

AMONG the wise Freelanders, every one was a statesman; Jack, Dick, Tom, the lord Harry, man or boy, so the sex was male: among the foolish Greeks, the case was quite the reverse.

"A man," says Xenophon, "must be very simple to believe that the mechanic arts are not to be acquired without the help of proper masters, and that the knowledge requisite in the government of states, which is the highest degree of human prudence, demands no previous labour and application." (The Freelanders, however, were simple enough to believe it!) "The great care which Socrates took in regard to

those who aspired to public employments, was to form their manners upon the solid principles of probity and justice; and especially to inspire them with a sincere love of their country; with the most ardent zeal for the public good, and a high idea of the power and beneficence of the gods; because, without these qualities, all other abilities serve only to render men more wicked and more capable of doing evil."

If Xenophon had written at the present day, and in Freeland, he could never have written any thing more to the purpose. Quære-Whether it might not have been deemed truth, and therefore a libel?

We are not only told that such was, in general, the practice of Socrates; but we have on record the following remarkable instance of the chastisement which that wise man inflicted upon one of the boy-statesmen of his day. - The young people of Athens, dazzled with the glory of Themistocles, Cimon, and Pericles, and full of a headstrong ambition, after having for some time received the lessons of the Sophists (the types of the Brushites), who promised to make them great politicians, conceived themselves VOL. III.

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capable of every thing, and aspired at the highest employments. One of them, named Glauco, had taken it so strongly into his head to enter upon the administration of public affairs, that none of his friends were able to divert him from a design so little consistent with his age and capacity. Socrates, meeting him one day, very civilly engaged him in a conversation upon the subject: "You are desirous, I have heard, of a share in the government of the republic?"— said Socrates.

"True," replied Glauco.

"You cannot have a more honourable design," continued Socrates; "for, if you succeed, you will have it in your power to serve your friends effectually; to aggrandize your family, and to extend the confines of your country. You will make yourself known not only to Athens, but throughout all Greece; and, perhaps, your renown, like that of Themistocles, may spread abroad among the barbarous nations."-

So smooth and insinuating a preface was extremely grateful to the youth, who seemed to pay great attention to it.

"Since you wish to be esteemed and honoured," continued Socrates, " undoubtedly your view is to be useful to the public?"

"Certainly."

"Tell me then, I beseech you, in the name of the gods! What is the first service you propose to render to the State?"

As Glauco appeared at a loss and meditating what to answer; -"I presume," continued Socrates, "that it is to enrich it, that is, to augment its revenues."

"My very idea!"

"You are, undoubtedly, very well versed, then, in the revenues of the state, and know exactly to what they amount; you have not failed to make them your peculiar study, in order that, if one fund should happen to fail by any unforeseen accident, you might be able to supply the deficiency by another?"

"I confess," replied Glauco, "that such a consideration never entered into my head."

"At least, then," said Socrates, " you can tell me to what the expenses of the republic amount; for you must know the importance of retrenching such as are superfluous?"

"I must own," answered Glauco," that I am as little informed on this head as on the other."

"You must, therefore," said Socrates, " put off your intention of enriching the state to a future time; for it is impossible that you should bring it about, whilst you are unac quainted with its revenues and expenses."

"But," cried Glauco, "there are still other methods which you have not touched upon: a state may be enriched by the ruin of its enemies."

"You are in the right," said Socrates; "but that depends upon its being the strongest, otherwise it will incur the danger of losing what it has. For which reason, he, who talks of engaging in a war, ought to know the strength on both sides, in order that if he finds his own party strongest, he may boldly advise the war, and, if weakest, dissuade the people from undertaking it. Now;-are you acquainted with the forces of our republic, and those of our enemies by sea and land? Have you a list of them in writing? -Pray show it to me."

"I have it not at present,"

Glauco.

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