crowning point of all your efforts, this same trusty person shows no
less delight, than you might take yourself, in laying at your feet[1]
earth's products, each in due season richly harvested--I need hardly
ask concerning such an one, whether aught else is lacking to him. It
is clear to me[2] an overseer of this sort would be worth his weight
in gold. But now, Ischomachus, I would have you not omit a topic
somewhat lightly handled by us in the previous argument.[3]

[1] {apodeiknuon}, i.e. in presenting the inventory of products for
the year. Cf. "Hell." V. iii. 17; "Revenues," ii. 7.

[2] {ede}, at this stage of the discussion.

[3] Or, "that part of the discussion which we ran over in a light and
airy fashion," in reference to xiii. 2.

What topic, pray, was that? (he asked).

Soc. You said, if I mistake not, that it was most important to learn
the methods of conducting the several processes of husbandry; for, you
added, unless a man knows what things he has to do and how to do them,
all the care and diligence in the world will stand him in no stead.

At this point[4] he took me up, observing: So what you now command me
is to teach the art itself of tillage, Socrates?

[4] Keeping the vulg. order of SS. 3-9, which many commentators would
rearrange in various ways. See Breit. ad loc.; Lincke, op. cit. p.
111 foll.