Eryxias | Page 4

full of small
imitations of Plato:--Phaeax returning from an expedition to Sicily
(compare Socrates in the Charmides from the army at Potidaea), the
figure of the game at draughts, borrowed from the Republic, etc. It has
also in many passages the ring of sophistry. On the other hand, the
rather unhandsome treatment which is exhibited towards Prodicus is
quite unlike the urbanity of Plato.
Yet there are some points in the argument which are deserving of
attention. (1) That wealth depends upon the need of it or demand for it,
is the first anticipation in an abstract form of one of the great principles
of modern political economy, and the nearest approach to it to be found
in an ancient writer. (2) The resolution of wealth into its simplest
implements going on to infinity is a subtle and refined thought. (3) That
wealth is relative to circumstances is a sound conception. (4) That the
arts and sciences which receive payment are likewise to be
comprehended under the notion of wealth, also touches a question of
modern political economy. (5) The distinction of post hoc and propter
hoc, often lost sight of in modern as well as in ancient times. These
metaphysical conceptions and distinctions show considerable power of

thought in the writer, whatever we may think of his merits as an
imitator of Plato.
ERYXIAS
by
Platonic Imitator (see Appendix II above)
Translated by Benjamin Jowett
PERSONS OF THE DIALOGUE: Socrates, Eryxias, Erasistratus,
Critias.
SCENE: The portico of a temple of Zeus.
It happened by chance that Eryxias the Steirian was walking with me in
the Portico of Zeus the Deliverer, when there came up to us Critias and
Erasistratus, the latter the son of Phaeax, who was the nephew of
Erasistratus. Now Erasistratus had just arrived from Sicily and that part
of the world. As they approached, he said, Hail, Socrates!
SOCRATES: The same to you, I said; have you any good news from
Sicily to tell us?
ERASISTRATUS: Most excellent. But, if you please, let us first sit
down; for I am tired with my yesterday's journey from Megara.
SOCRATES: Gladly, if that is your desire.
ERASISTRATUS: What would you wish to hear first? he said. What
the Sicilians are doing, or how they are disposed towards our city? To
my mind, they are very like wasps: so long as you only cause them a
little annoyance they are quite unmanageable; you must destroy their
nests if you wish to get the better of them. And in a similar way, the
Syracusans, unless we set to work in earnest, and go against them with
a great expedition, will never submit to our rule. The petty injuries
which we at present inflict merely irritate them enough to make them
utterly intractable. And now they have sent ambassadors to Athens, and
intend, I suspect, to play us some trick.--While we were talking, the
Syracusan envoys chanced to go by, and Erasistratus, pointing to one of
them, said to me, That, Socrates, is the richest man in all Italy and
Sicily. For who has larger estates or more land at his disposal to
cultivate if he please? And they are of a quality, too, finer than any
other land in Hellas. Moreover, he has all the things which go to make
up wealth, slaves and horses innumerable, gold and silver without end.
I saw that he was inclined to expatiate on the riches of the man; so I
asked him, Well, Erasistratus, and what sort of character does he bear

in Sicily?
ERASISTRATUS: He is esteemed to be, and really is, the wickedest of
all the Sicilians and Italians, and even more wicked than he is rich;
indeed, if you were to ask any Sicilian whom he thought to be the worst
and the richest of mankind, you would never hear any one else named.
I reflected that we were speaking, not of trivial matters, but about
wealth and virtue, which are deemed to be of the greatest moment, and
I asked Erasistratus whom he considered the wealthier,--he who was
the possessor of a talent of silver or he who had a field worth two
talents?
ERASISTRATUS: The owner of the field.
SOCRATES: And on the same principle he who had robes and bedding
and such things which are of greater value to him than to a stranger
would be richer than the stranger?
ERASISTRATUS: True.
SOCRATES: And if any one gave you a choice, which of these would
you prefer?
ERASISTRATUS: That which was most valuable.
SOCRATES: In which way do you think you would be the richer?
ERASISTRATUS: By choosing as I said.
SOCRATES: And he appears to you to be the richest who has goods of
the greatest value?
ERASISTRATUS: He does.
SOCRATES: And are not the healthy richer than