Book 2, Chapter 10

Again I may cite, as known to myself, ¹ the following discussion; the arguments were addressed to Diodorus, one of his companions. The master said:

I can also recall from my own experience ¹ the following discussion. The master addressed his arguments to Diodorus, one of his companions. He said:

Tell me, Diodorus, if one of your slaves runs away, are you at pains to recover him?

Tell me, Diodorus, if one of your slaves runs away, do you make an effort to get him back?

More than that (Diodorus answered), I summon others to my aid and I have a reward cried for his recovery.

More than that, Diodorus answered, I call on others to help me and have a reward announced for his recovery.

Soc. Well, if one of your domestics is sick, do you tend him and call in the doctors to save his life?

Soc. Well, if one of your servants is sick, do you care for him and call doctors to save his life?

Diod. Decidedly I do.

Diod. I certainly do.

Soc. And if an intimate acquaintance who is far more precious to you than any of your household slaves is about to perish of want, you would think it incumbent on you to take pains to save his life? Well! now you know without my telling you that Hermogenes ² is not made of wood or stone. If you helped him he would be ashamed not to pay you in kind. And yet—the opportunity of possessing a willing, kindly, and trusty assistant well fitted to do your bidding, and not merely that, but capable of originating useful ideas himself, with a certain forecast of mind and judgment—I say such a man is worth dozens of slaves. Good economists tell us that when a precious article may be got at a low price we ought to buy. And nowadays when times are so bad it is possible to get good friends exceedingly cheap.

Soc. And if a close friend, far more precious to you than any of your household slaves, were about to die of want, you would feel obliged to try to save his life? Well, you know without my telling you that Hermogenes ² is not made of wood or stone. If you helped him, he would be ashamed not to repay you in kind. And consider the opportunity to have a willing, kind, and trustworthy assistant who is well suited to do as you ask. More than that, he can also come up with useful ideas of his own, and he has foresight and judgment. I say such a man is worth dozens of slaves. Good economists tell us that when we can get something valuable at a low price, we should buy it. And nowadays, when times are so bad, it is possible to get good friends very cheaply.

Diodorus answered: You are quite right, Socrates; bid Hermogenes come to me.

Diodorus answered: You are quite right, Socrates. Tell Hermogenes to come to me.

Soc. Bid Hermogenes come to you!—not I indeed! since for aught I can understand you are no better entitled to summon him that to go to him yourself, nor is the advantage more on his side than your own.

Soc. Ask Hermogenes to come to you? I certainly will not! As far as I can see, you have no more right to summon him than to go to him yourself. Nor would the meeting benefit him more than you.

Thus Diodorus went off in a trice to seek Hermogenes, and at no great outlay won to himself a friend—a friend whose one concern it now was to discover how, by word or deed, he might help and gladden Diodorus.

So Diodorus quickly went to find Hermogenes and, at little expense, gained a friend. Hermogenes now cared only about finding ways to help and gladden Diodorus through words or deeds.