On Revenues | Page 6

admit, it is different. For these I recognise the necessity of a capital[10]
to begin with. I am not, however, without good hope that the citizens of
this state will contribute heartily to such an object, when I reflect on the
large sums subscribed by the state on various late occasions, as, for
instance, when reinforcements were sent to the Arcadians under the
command of Lysistratus,[11] and again at the date of the generalship of
Hegesileos.[12] I am well aware that ships of war are frequently
despatched and that too[13] although it is uncertain whether the venture
will be for the better or for the worse, and the only certainty is that the
contributor will not recover the sum subscribed nor have any further
share in the object for which he gave his contribution.[14]
[10] "A starting-point."
[11] B.C. 366; cf. "Hell." VII. iv. 3.
[12] B.C. 362; cf. "Hell." VII. v. 15. See Grote, "H. G." x. 459; Ephor.
ap. Diog. Laert. ii. 54; Diod. Sic. xv. 84; Boeckh, ap. L. Dindorf.
Xenophon's son Gryllus served under him and was slain.
[13] Reading {kai tauta toutout men adelou ontos}, after Zurborg.
[14] Reading {[uper] on an eisenegkosi} with Zurborg. See his note,

"Comm." p. 25.
But for a sound investment[15] I know of nothing comparable with the
initial outlay to form this fund.[16] Any one whose contribution
amounts to ten minae[17] may look forward to a return as high as he
would get on bottomry, of nearly one-fifth,[18] as the recipient of three
obols a day. The contributor of five minae[19] will on the same
principle get more than a third,[20] while the majority of Athenians
will get more than cent per cent on their contribution. That is to say, a
subscription of one mina[21] will put the subscriber in possession of
nearly double that sum,[22] and that, moreover, without setting foot
outside Athens, which, as far as human affairs go, is as sound and
durable a security as possible.
[15] "A good substantial property."
[16] Or, "on the other hand, I affirm that the outlay necessary to form
the capital for my present project will be more remunerative than any
other that can be named." As to the scheme itself see Grote, "Plato," III.
ch. xxxix.; Boeckh, op. cit. (pp. 4, 37, 136, 600 seq. Eng. tr.) Cf.
Demosth. "de Sym." for another scheme, 354 B.C., which shows the
"sound administrative and practical judgment" of the youthful orator as
compared with "the benevolent dreams and ample public largess in
which Xenophon here indulges." --Grote, op. cit. p. 601.
[17] L40:12:4 = 1000 drachmae.
[18] I.e. exactly 18 or nearly 20 per cent. The following table will make
the arithmetic clear:--
6 ob. = 1 drachma 10 minae = 6000 ob. 100 dr. = 1 mina = 1000 dr.
600 ob. = 1 mina 1000 dr.:180 dr.::100:18 therefore nearly 1/5 3 ob. (a
day) x 360 = 1080 ob. p.a. = nearly 20 per cent. = 180 dr. p.a.
As to the 3 obols a day (= 180 dr. p.a.) which as an Athenian citizen he
is entitled to, see Grote, op. cit. p. 597: "There will be a regular
distribution among all citizens, per head and equally. Three oboli, or
half a drachma, will be allotted daily to each, to poor and rich alike"
[on the principle of the Theorikon]. "For the poor citizens this will
provide a comfortable subsistence, without any contribution on their
part; the poverty now prevailing will thus be alleviated. The rich, like
the poor, receive the daily triobolon as a free gift; but if they compute it
as interest for their investments, they will find that the rate of interest is
full and satisfactory, like the rate on bottomry." Zurborg, "Comm." p.

25; Boeckh, op. cit. IV. xxi. (p. 606, Eng. tr.); and Grote's note, op. cit.
p. 598.
[19] = L20:6:3 = 500 drachmae.
[20] = I.e. 36 per cent.
[21] = L4:1:3 = 100 drachmae.
[22] I.e. 180 per cent.
Moreover, I am of opinion that if the names of contributors were to be
inscribed as benefactors for all time, many foreigners would be induced
to contribute, and possibly not a few states, in their desire to obtain the
right of inscription; indeed I anticipate that some kings,[23] tyrants,[24]
and satraps will display a keen desire to share in such a favour.
[23] Zurborg suggests (p. 5) "Philip or Cersobleptes." Cf. Isocr. "On
the Peace," S. 23.
[24] I.e. despotic monarchs.
To come to the point. Were such a capital once furnished, it would be a
magnificent plan to build lodging-houses for the benefit of shipmasters
in the neighbourhood of the harbours, in addition to those which exist;
and again, on the same principle, suitable places of meeting for
merchants, for the purposes[25]