§4.40οὕτως ἔμοιγε δοκεῖ, ᾗπερ ῥᾷστον, ταύτῃ καὶ ἄριστον εἶναι ταῦτα πράττειν.
Thus it seems to me, in the way that is easiest, in this way too it is best to do these things.
εἰ δʼ αὖ διὰ τὰς ἐν τῷ νῦν πολέμῳ γεγενημένας εἰσφορὰς νομίζετʼ ἂν μηδʼ ὁτιοῦν δύνασθαι εἰσενεγκεῖν, ὑμεῖς δὴ ὅσα μὲν πρὸ τῆς εἰρήνης χρήματα ηὕρισκε τὰ τέλη, ἀπὸ τοσούτων καὶ τὸ ἐπιὸν ἔτος διοικεῖτε τὴν πόλιν, ὅσα δʼ ἂν ἐφευρίσκῃ διὰ τὸ εἰρήνην τε εἶναι καὶ διὰ τὸ θεραπεύεσθαι μετοίκους καὶ ἐμπόρους καὶ διὰ τὸ πλειόνων ἀνθρώπων πλείω εἰσάγεσθαι καὶ ἐξάγεσθαι καὶ διὰ τὸ τὰ ἐλλιμένια καὶ τὰς ἀγορὰς αὐξάνεσθαι, ταῦτα λαμβάνοντες κατασκευάζεσθε ὡς ἂν πλεῖσται αἱ πρόσοδοι γίγνοιντο.
If, on the other hand, because of the property taxes that have occurred during the present war, you think you cannot contribute even anything at all, you should administer the city for the coming year from as much money as the taxes used to find before the peace; and whatever extra revenue is found owing to there being peace, to the care shown to resident aliens and merchants, to more goods being imported and exported by more people, and to the increase of harbor dues and markets—receiving these, you should equip the state so that the revenues may become as great as possible.
§4.41εἰ δέ τινες αὖ φοβοῦνται μὴ ματαία ἂν γένοιτο αὕτη ἡ κατασκευή, εἰ πόλεμος ἐγερθείη, ἐννοησάτωσαν ὅτι τούτων γιγνομένων πολὺ φοβερώτερος ὁ πόλεμος τοῖς ἐπιφέρουσιν ἢ τῇ πόλει.
But if, on the other hand, some fear lest this equipment should become useless if war should break out, let them reflect that, if these things are done, war will be much more fearsome to those who bring it than to the city.
§4.42τί γὰρ δὴ εἰς πόλεμον κτῆμα χρησιμώτερον ἀνθρώπων;
For what possession is more useful for war than men?
πολλὰς μὲν γὰρ ναῦς πληροῦν ἱκανοὶ ἂν εἶεν δημοσίᾳ· πολλοὶ δʼ ἂν καὶ πεζοὶ δύναιντʼ ἂν βαρεῖς εἶναι τοῖς πολεμίοις, εἴ τις αὐτοὺς θεραπεύοι.
For they would be able to man many ships at public expense; and many foot soldiers also, if someone should care for them, could be heavy to the enemies.
§4.43λογίζομαι δʼ ἔγωγε καὶ πολέμου γιγνομένου οἷόν τʼ εἶναι μὴ ἐκλείπεσθαι τὰ ἀργύρεια.
And I, for my part, calculate that even if war occurs, it is possible for the silver mines not to be abandoned.
ἔστι μὲν γὰρ δήπου περὶ τὰ μέταλλα ἐν τῇ πρὸς μεσημβρίαν τεῖχος ἐν Ἀναφλύστῳ, ἔστι δʼ ἐν τῇ πρὸς ἄρκτον τεῖχος ἐν Θορικῷ· ἀπέχει δὲ ταῦτα ἀπʼ ἀλλήλων ἀμφὶ τὰ ἑξήκοντα στάδια.
For there is, surely, around the mines, a fortress at Anaphlystus on the south side, and a fortress at Thoricus on the north side; and these are distant from one another about sixty stades.
§4.44εἰ οὖν καὶ ἐν μέσῳ τούτων γένοιτο ἐπὶ τῷ ὑψηλοτάτῳ Βήσης τρίτον ἔρυμα, συνήκοι τʼ ἂν τὰ ἔργα εἰς ἓν ἐξ ἁπάντων τῶν τειχῶν, καὶ εἴ τι αἰσθάνοιτο πολεμικόν, βραχὺ ἂν εἴη ἑκάστῳ εἰς τὸ ἀσφαλὲς ἀποχωρῆσαι.
If, therefore, a third stronghold should be built in the middle of these, on the highest point of Besa, the works would be connected into one from all the fortresses, and if anyone should perceive any hostile movement, it would be a short distance for each to retreat to safety.
§4.45εἰ δὲ καὶ ἔλθοιεν πλείους οἱ πολέμιοι, δῆλον ὅτι εἰ μὲν σῖτον ἢ οἶνον ἢ πρόβατα ἔξω εὕροιεν, ἀφέλοιντʼ ἂν ταῦτα· ἀργυρίτιδος δὲ κρατήσαντες τί ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ λίθοις ἔχοιεν χρῆσθαι;
And even if the enemies should come in greater numbers, it is clear that if they should find corn or wine or sheep outside, they would carry these off; but if they got possession of silver ore, what more could they do with it than with stones?
§4.46πῶς δὲ καὶ ὁρμήσειαν ἄν ποτε πολέμιοι πρὸς τὰ μέταλλα;
And how indeed could enemies ever make an onset against the mines?
ἀπέχει μὲν γὰρ δήπου τῶν ἀργυρείων ἡ ἐγγύτατα πόλις Μέγαρα πολὺ πλέον τῶν πεντακοσίων σταδίων· ἀπέχει δὲ ἡ μετὰ ταῦτα πλησιαίτατα Θῆβαι πολὺ πλέον τῶν ἑξακοσίων.
For surely the nearest city to the silver mines, Megara, is distant much more than five hundred stades; and the next nearest after this, Thebes, is distant much more than six hundred.
§4.47ἢν οὖν πορεύωνται ἐντεῦθέν ποθεν ἐπὶ τὰ ἀργύρεια, παριέναι αὐτοὺς δεήσει τὴν πόλιν· κἂν μὲν ὦσιν ὀλίγοι, εἰκὸς αὐτοὺς ἀπόλλυσθαι καὶ ὑπὸ ἱππέων καὶ ὑπὸ περιπόλων.
If, then, they march from some of these places against the silver mines, they will have to pass by the city; and if they are few, it is likely that they will be destroyed both by the cavalry and by the patrol-guards.
πολλῇ γε μὴν δυνάμει πορεύεσθαι ἐξερημοῦντας τὰ ἑαυτῶν χαλεπόν· πολὺ γὰρ ἐγγύτερον ἂν εἴη ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν τὸ τῶν Ἀθηναίων ἄστυ ἢ αὐτοὶ πρὸς τοῖς μετάλλοις ὄντες.
But to march with a large force, leaving their own lands desolate, is difficult; for the city of the Athenians would be much nearer to their own cities than they themselves would be when at the mines.
§4.48εἰ δὲ καὶ ἔλθοιεν, πῶς ἂν καὶ δύναιντο μένειν μὴ ἔχοντες τὰ ἐπιτήδεια;
And even if they should come, how indeed could they remain without having provisions?
ἐπισιτίζεσθαί γε μὴν μέρει μὲν κίνδυνος καὶ περὶ τῶν μετιόντων καὶ περὶ ὧν ἀγωνίζονται· πάντες δὲ ἀεὶ μετιόντες πολιορκοῖντʼ ἂν μᾶλλον ἢ πολιορκοῖεν.
To forage, indeed, with a part of their force is a danger both for those who go and for those for whom they fight; but if they all go for food always, they would be besieged rather than besieging.
§4.49οὐ τοίνυν μόνον ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀνδραπόδων ἀποφορὰ τὴν διατροφὴν τῇ πόλει αὔξοι ἄν, ἀλλὰ πολυανθρωπίας περὶ τὰ μέταλλα ἁθροιζομένης καὶ ἀπʼ ἀγορᾶς τῆς ἐκεῖ καὶ ἀπʼ οἰκιῶν περὶ τἀργύρεια δημοσίων καὶ ἀπὸ καμίνων καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἁπάντων πρόσοδοι ἂν πολλαὶ γίγνοιντο.
Not only, therefore, would the tax from the slaves increase the maintenance for the city, but with a large population gathering around the mines, many revenues would arise both from the market there, and from the public houses around the silver mines, and from smelting furnaces, and from all other sources.
§4.50ἰσχυρῶς γὰρ καὶ αὐτὴ πολυάνθρωπος ἂν γένοιτο πόλις, εἰ οὕτως κατασκευασθείη· καὶ οἵ γε χῶροι οὐδὲν ἂν εἶεν μείονος ἄξιοι τοῖς κεκτημένοις ἐνταῦθα ἢ τοῖς περὶ τὸ ἄστυ.
For if it is equipped in this way, a highly populous city would itself arise there; and the plots of land would be worth no less to those who possess them there than to those around the city.
§4.51πραχθέντων γε μὴν ὧν εἴρηκα φημὶ ἐγὼ οὐ μόνον ἂν χρήμασιν εὐπορωτέραν τὴν πόλιν εἶναι, ἀλλὰ καὶ εὐπειθεστέραν καὶ εὐτακτοτέραν καὶ εὐπολεμωτέραν γενέσθαι.
Indeed, if what I have said is carried out, I assert that the city will not only be wealthier in money, but also become more obedient, more orderly, and more fit for war.
§4.52οἵ τε γὰρ ταχθέντες γυμνάζεσθαι πολὺ ἂν ἐπιμελέστερον τοῦτο πράττοιεν ἐν τοῖς γυμνασίοις τὴν τροφὴν ἀπολαμβάνοντες ἢ ἐν ταῖς λαμπάσι γυμνασιαρχούμενοι· οἵ τε φρουρεῖν ἐν τοῖς φρουρίοις οἵ τε πελτάζειν καὶ περιπολεῖν τὴν χώραν πάντα ταῦτα μᾶλλον ἂν πράττοιεν, ἐφʼ ἑκάστοις τῶν ἔργων τῆς τροφῆς ἀποδιδομένης.
For those who are ordered to train would do this much more carefully in the gymnasia, receiving their maintenance, than those who are trained under gymnasiarches for torch-races; and those who guard in the fortresses, and those who serve as peltasts and patrol the country, would do all these things more, since maintenance is paid for each of these works.