Book 2, Chapter 9

At another time, as I am aware, he had heard a remark made by Crito ¹ that life at Athens was no easy matter for a man who wished to mind his own affairs.

On another occasion, as I know, he heard Crito ¹ say that life in Athens was difficult for a man who wanted to mind his own business.

As, for instance, at this moment (Crito proceeded) there are a set of fellows threatening me with lawsuits, not because they have any misdemeanour to allege against me, but simply under the conviction that I will sooner pay a sum of money than be troubled further.

For example, Crito continued, a group of men are threatening to sue me right now. They do not claim that I have done anything wrong. They simply believe I would rather pay them than face further trouble.

To which Socrates replied: Tell me, Crito, you keep dogs, do you not, to ward off wolves from your flocks?

Socrates replied: Tell me, Crito, don't you keep dogs to protect your flocks from wolves?

Cr. Certainly; it pays to do so.

Cr. Yes, it pays to do so.

Soc. Then why do you not keep a watchman willing and competent to ward off this pack of people who seek to injure you?

Soc. Then why don’t you keep a watchman who is willing and able to fend off this pack of people who want to harm you?

I should not at all mind (he answered), if I were not afraid he might turn again and rend his keeper.

I wouldn't mind at all, he answered, if I weren't afraid he might turn again and tear his keeper apart.

What! (rejoined Socrates), do you not see that to gratify a man like yourself is far pleasanter as a matter of self-interest than to quarrel with you? You may be sure there are plenty of people here who will take the greatest pride in making you their friend.

What! Socrates replied. Don’t you see that, for my own sake, pleasing someone like you is much more pleasant than quarreling with you? You can be sure that plenty of people here would take great pride in making you their friend.

Accordingly, they sought out Archedemus, ² a practical man with a clever tongue in his head ³ but poor; the fact being, he was not the sort to make gain by hook or by crook, but a lover of honesty and of too good a nature himself to make his living as a pettifogger. ⁴ Crito would then take the opportunity of times of harvesting and put aside small presents for Achedemus of corn and oil, or wine, or wool, or any other of the farm produce forming the staple commodities of life, or he would invite him to a sacrificial feast, and otherwise pay him marked attention. Archedemus, feeling that he had in Crito's house a harbour of refuge, could not make too much of his patron, and ere long he had hunted up a long list of iniquities which could be lodged against Crito's pettifogging persecutors themselves, and not only their numerous crimes but their numerous enemies; and presently he prosecuted one of them in a public suit, where sentence would be given against him "what to suffer or what to pay." ⁵ The accused, conscious as he was of many rascally deeds, did all he could to be quit of Archedemus, but Archedemus was not to be got rid of. He held on until he had made the informer not only loose his hold of Crito but pay himself a sum of money; and now that Archedemus had achieved this and other similar victories, it is easy to guess what followed. ⁶ It was just as when some shepherd has got a very good dog, all the other shepherds wish to lodge their flocks in his neighbourhood that they too may reap the benefit of him. So a number of Crito's friends came begging him to allow Archedemus to be their guardian also, and Archedemus was overjoyed to do something to gratify Crito, and so it came about that not only Crito abode in peace, but his friends likewise. If any of those people with whom Archedemus was not on the best of terms were disposed to throw it in his teeth that he accepted his patron's benefits and paid in flatteries, he had a ready retort: "Answer me this question—which is the more scandalous, to accept kindnesses from honest folk and to repay them, with the result that I make such people my friends but quarrel with knaves, or to make enemies of honourable gentlemen ⁷ by attempts to do them wrong, with the off-chance indeed of winning the friendship of some scamps in return for my co-operation, but the certainty of losing in the tone of my acquaintances?" ⁸

So they sought out Archedemus, ² a practical man who was clever with words ³ but poor. He was not the sort to make money by any means he could. He loved honesty and was too good-natured to make a living as a petty legal schemer. ⁴ At harvest time, Crito would set aside small gifts for Achedemus. These might be grain, oil, wine, wool, or other farm produce needed for everyday life. He would also invite him to a sacrificial feast and show him special attention in other ways. Archedemus felt that Crito’s house was a safe haven, and he could not do enough for his patron. Before long, he had uncovered a long list of wrongs that could be charged against Crito’s legal persecutors. He also discovered their many enemies. Soon he brought a public suit against one of them. If convicted, the man would be sentenced to suffer a punishment or pay a fine. ⁵ The accused knew he had committed many dishonest acts and did all he could to get rid of Archedemus. But Archedemus would not let go. He kept at the informer until the man not only left Crito alone but also paid Archedemus a sum of money. After Archedemus won this and other similar victories, it is easy to guess what followed. ⁶ When a shepherd has a very good dog, all the other shepherds want to keep their flocks nearby. They want to benefit from the dog too. In the same way, a number of Crito’s friends begged him to let Archedemus protect them as well. Archedemus was delighted to do something to please Crito. So not only Crito but his friends lived in peace. Some people who were not on good terms with Archedemus were inclined to accuse him of accepting his patron’s gifts and repaying him with flattery. He had a ready answer: “Tell me, which is more shameful? Is it accepting kindness from honest people and repaying them, so that I make them my friends but quarrel with scoundrels? Or is it trying to wrong honorable men ⁷ and making enemies of them? By doing that, I might win the friendship of some scoundrels in return for helping them, but I would certainly end up with worse company.” ⁸

The net result of the whole proceedings was that Archedemus was now Crito's right hand, ⁹ and by the rest of Crito's friends he was held in honour.

As a result, Archedemus became Crito's right-hand man, ⁹ and Crito's other friends held him in high regard.