the land by help of such an overseer?

What (I exclaimed), can I believe my ears? You actually undertake to
teach them virtue! What really, justice!

Isch. To be sure, I do. but it does not follow therefore that I find
all equally apt to lend an ear to my instruction. However, what I do
is this. I take a leaf now out of the laws of Draco and again another
out of the laws of Solon,[3] and so essay to start my household on the
path of uprightness. And indeed, if I mistake not (he proceeded), both
those legislators enacted many of their laws expressly with a view to
teaching this branch of justice.[4] It is written, "Let a man be
punished for a deed of theft"; "Let whosoever is detected in the act
be bound and thrown in prison"; "If he offer violence,[5] let him be
put to death." It is clear that the intention of the lawgivers in
framing these enactments was to render the sordid love of gain[6]
devoid of profit to the unjust person. What I do, therefore, is to
cull a sample of their precepts, which I supplement with others from
the royal code[7] where applicable; and so I do my best to shape the
members of my household into the likeness of just men concerning that
which passes through their hands. And now observe--the laws first
mentioned act as penalties, deterrent to transgressors only; whereas
the royal code aims higher: by it not only is the malefactor punished,
but the righteous and just person is rewarded.[8] The result is, that
many a man, beholding how the just grow ever wealthier than the
unjust, albeit harbouring in his heart some covetous desires, is
constant still to virtue. To abstain from unjust dealing is engrained
in him.[9]

[3] Cobet, "Pros. Xen." cf. Plut. "Solon," xvii. {proton men oun tous