Soc. But do not you recollect how just now in the discussion you would
hardly let me utter a syllable[9] while you laid down the law: if a
man did not know how to handle horses, horses were not wealth to him
at any rate; nor land, nor sheep, nor money, nor anything else, if he
did not know how to use them? And yet these are the very sources of
revenue from which incomes are derived; and how do you expect me to
know the use of any of them who never possessed a single one of them
since I was born?

[9] Cf. Aristoph. "Clouds," 945; "Plut." 17; Dem. 353; and Holden ad
loc.

Crit. Yes, but we agreed that, however little a man may be blest with
wealth himself, a science of economy exists; and that being so, what
hinders you from being its professor?

Soc. Nothing, to be sure,[10] except what would hinder a man from
knowing how to play the flute, supposing he had never had a flute of
his own and no one had supplied the defect by lending him one to
practise on: which is just my case with regard to economy,[11] seeing
I never myself possessed the instrument of the science which is
wealth, so as to go through the pupil stage, nor hitherto has any one
proposed to hand me over his to manage. You, in fact, are the first
person to make so generous an offer. You will bear in mind, I hope,
that a learner of the harp is apt to break and spoil the instrument;
it is therefore probable, if I take in hand to learn the art of
economy on your estate, I shall ruin it outright.

[10] Lit. "The very thing, God help me! which would hinder . . ."