Next we held it as proved that there was no better employment for a
gentleman--we described him as a man beautiful and good--than this of
husbandry, by which human beings procure to themselves the necessaries
of life. This same employment, moreover, was, as we agreed, at once
the easiest to learn[6] and the pleasantest to follow, since it gives
to the limbs beauty and hardihood, whilst permitting[7] to the soul
leisure to satisfy the claims of friendship and of civic duty.

[6] {raste mathein}. Vide infra, not supra.

[7] Lit. "least allowing the soul no leisure to care for friends and
state withal."

Again it seemed to us that husbandry acts as a spur to bravery in the
hearts of those that till the fields,[8] inasmuch as the necessaries
of life, vegetable and animal, under her auspices spring up and are
reared outside the fortified defences of the city. For which reason
also this way of life stood in the highest repute in the eyes of
statesmen and commonwealths, as furnishing the best citizens and those
best disposed to the common weal.[9]

[8] Cf. Aristot. "Oec." I. ii. 1343 B, {pros toutois k.t.l.}

[9] Cf. Aristoph. "Archarnians."

Crit. I think I am fully persuaded as to the propriety of making
agriculture the basis of life. I see it is altogether noblest, best,
and pleasantest to do so. But I should like to revert to your remark
that you understood the reason why the tillage of one man brings him