Aspasia,[15] who will explain these matters to you in a far more
scientific way than I can. My belief is that a good wife, being as she
is the partner in a common estate, must needs be her husband's
counterpoise and counterpart for good; since, if it is through the
transactions of the husband, as a rule, that goods of all sorts find
their way into the house, yet it is by means of the wife's economy and
thrift that the greater part of the expenditure is checked, and on the
successful issue or the mishandling of the same depends the increase
or impoverishment of a whole estate. And so with regard to the
remaining arts and sciences, I think I can point out to you the ablest
performers in each case, if you feel you have any further need of
help.[16]

[15] Aspasia. See "Mem." II. vi. 36.

[16] Al. "there are successful performers in each who will be happy to
illustrate any point in which you think you need," etc.



IV

But why need you illustrate all the sciences, Socrates? (Critobulus
asked): it would not be very easy to discover efficient craftsmen of
all the arts, and quite impossible to become skilled in all one's
self. So, please, confine yourself to the nobler branches of knowledge
as men regard them, such as it will best befit me to pursue with
devotion; be so good as to point me out these and their performers,
and, above all, contribute as far as in you lies the aid of your own
personal instruction.