by Xenophon

Translation by H. G. Dakyns




THE ECONOMIST[1]

A Treatise on the Science of the Household
in the form of a Dialogue



INTERLOCUTORS
Socrates and Critobulus

At Chapter VII. a prior discussion held between Socrates and
Ischomachus is introduced: On the life of a "beautiful and
good" man.

In these chapters (vii.-xxi.) Socrates is represented by the
author as repeating for the benefit of Critobulus and the rest
certain conversations which he had once held with the
beautiful and good Ischomachus on the essentials of economy. It
was a tete-a-tete discussion, and in the original Greek the
remarks of the two speakers are denoted by such phrases as
{ephe o 'Iskhomakhos--ephen egio}--"said (he) Ischomachus,"
"said I" (Socrates). To save the repetition of expressions
tedious in English, I have, whenever it seemed help to do so,