neglect her personal concerns! But to be obliged to fulfil the duty of
attending to her own domestic happiness,[23] that was easy. After all
it would seem to be but natural (added he); just as any honest[24]
woman finds it easier to care for her own offspring than to neglect
them, so, too, he could well believe, an honest woman might find it
pleasanter to care for than to neglect possessions, the very charm of
which is that they are one's very own.

[21] Lit. "By Hera!" Cf. the old formula "Marry!" or "By'r lakin!"

[22] Lit. "more painful had it been, had I enjoined her to neglect her
own interests than to be obliged . . ."

[23] {ton oikeion agathon}, cp. "charity begins at home." See Joel,
op. cit. p. 448.

[24] Or, "true and honest"; "any woman worthy of the name." {sophroni}
= with the {sophrosune} of womanhood; possibly transl. "discreet
and sober-minded."



X

So (continued Socrates), when I heard his wife had made this answer, I
exclaimed: By Hera, Ischomachus, a brave and masculine intelligence
the lady has, as you describe her.

(To which Ischomachus) Yes, Socrates, and I would fain narrate some
other instances of like large-mindedness on her part: shown in the