upon to offer many costly sacrifices, failing which, I take it,
neither gods nor men would tolerate you; and, in the next place, you
are bound to welcome numerous foreigners as guests, and to entertain
them handsomely; thirdly, you must feast your fellow-citizens and ply
them with all sorts of kindness, or else be cut adrift from your
supporters.[2] Furthermore, I perceive that even at present the state
enjoins upon you various large contributions, such as the rearing of
studs,[3] the training of choruses, the superintendence of gymnastic
schools, or consular duties,[4] as patron of resident aliens, and so
forth; while in the event of war you will, I am aware, have further
obligations laid upon you in the shape of pay[5] to carry on the
triearchy, ship money, and war taxes[6] so onerous, you will find
difficulty in supporting them. Remissness in respect of any of these
charges will be visited upon you by the good citizens of Athens no
less strictly than if they caught you stealing their own property. But
worse than all, I see you fondling the notion that you are rich.
Without a thought or care how to increase your revenue, your fancy
lightly turns to thoughts of love,[7] as if you had some special
license to amuse yourselef. . . . That is why I pity and compassionate
you, fearing lest some irremediable mischief overtake you, and you
find yourself in desperate straits. As for me, if I ever stood in need
of anything, I am sure you know I have friends who would assist me.
They would make some trifling contribution--trifling to themselves, I
mean--and deluge my humble living with a flood of plenty. But your
friends, albeit far better off than yourself, considering your
respective styles of living, persist in looking to you for assistance.

[2] See Dr. Holden ad loc., Boeckh [Bk. iii. ch. xxiii.], p. 465 f.

[3] Cf. Lycurg. "c. Leocr." 139.