Soc. And are persons devoid of self-control in this respect the only people incapable of diligence and carefulness? or are there others in like case?
Isch. Certainly, people who are intemperate with regard to sleep, seeing that the sluggard with his eyes shut cannot do himself or see that others do what is right.
Soc. What then? (10) Are we to regard these as the only people incapable of being taught this virtue of carefulness? or are there others in a like condition?
(10) Or, "What then—is the list exhausted? Are we to suppose that
these are the sole people..."
Isch. Surely we must include the slave to amorous affection. (11) Your woeful lover (12) is incapable of being taught attention to anything beyond one single object. (13) No light task, I take it, to discover any hope or occupation sweeter to him than that which now employs him, his care for his beloved, nor, when the call for action comes, (14) will it be easy to invent worse punishment than that he now endures in separation from the object of his passion. (15) Accordingly, I am in no great hurry to appoint a person of this sort to manage (16) my affairs; the very attempt to do so I regard as futile.
(11) See "Mem." I. iii. 8 foll.; II. vi. 22.
(12) {duserotes}. Cf. Thuc. vi. 13, "a desperate craving" (Jowett).
(13) Cf. "Symp." iv. 21 foll.; "Cyrop." V. i. 7-18.
(14) Or, "where demands of business present themselves, and something
must be done."
(15) Cf. Shakesp. "Sonnets," passim.
(16) Or, "I never dream of appointing as superintendent." See above,
iv. 7.
Soc. Well, and what of those addicted to another passion, that of gain? Are they, too, incapable of being trained to give attention to field and farming operations?
Isch. On the contrary, there are no people easier to train, none so susceptible of carefulness in these same matters. One needs only to point out to them that the pursuit is gainful, and their interest is aroused.
Soc. But for ordinary people? Given they are self-controlled to suit your bidding, (17) given they possess a wholesome appetite for gain, how will you lesson them in carefulness? how teach them growth in diligence to meet your wishes?
(17) Or, "in matters such as you insist on."