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Athenian
Ath. Then let this which I describe be laid down as one cause which hinders the States from adequately practicing either military operations or any other noble pursuits and which turns men who are of a quiet nature Cp. Plat. Laws 691b, Plat. Rep. 410c. into traders, ship-owners, and servants, while of the bold it makes pirates, burglars, temple-robbers, fighters and despots,—and that though, in some cases, they are not ill-natured, but merely ill-fortuned.
Athenian
Ath. Well, how could I describe otherwise than as utterly unfortunate men who are compelled to go through life with hungeri.e. for gold. Cp. Virgil’s auri sacra fames. always in their own souls?
Clinias
Clin. This, then, is one cause: what is the second cause you speak of, Stranger?
Athenian
Ath. You are right in reminding me.
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Megillus
Meg. One cause, as you assert, is this lifelong insatiable pursuit, which wholly engrosses each man, and hinders each and all from rightly practicing military operations. Be it so: now tell us the second cause.
Athenian
Ath. Do you think that I am delaying to do so because I am at a loss?
Megillus
Meg. No; but we think that, owing to a sort of hatred against the character you describe, you are castigating it more severely than is required by the argument now on hand.
Athenian
Ath. Your rebuke is just, Strangers; you want, it seems, to hear what comes next.
Clinias
Clin. Only say on.
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