lumanter}. For the sentiment cf. "Cyrop." III. i. 25.

And if you know anything of war, Simonides, and war's alarms; if it
was your fortune ever to be posted close to the enemy's lines,[9] try
to recall to mind what sort of meals you made at those times, with
what sort of slumber you courted rest. Be assured, there are no pains
you then experienced, no horrors to compare with those that crowd upon
the despot, who sees or seems to see fierce eyes of enemies glare at
him, not face to face alone, but from every side.

[9] Or, "in the van of battle, opposite the hostile lines."

He had spoken so far, when Simonides took up the thread of the
discourse, replying: Excellently put. A part I must admit, of what you
say; since war is terrible. Yet, Hiero, you forget. When we, at any
rate, are out campaigning, we have a custom; we place sentinels at the
outposts, and when the watch is set, we take our suppers and turn in
undauntedly.

And Hiero answered: Yes, I can well believe you, for the laws are the
true outposts,[10] who guard the sentinels, keeping their fears alive
both for themselves and in behalf of you. Whereas the tyrant hires his
guards for pay like harvest labourers.[11] Now of all functions, all
abilities, none, I presume, is more required of a guard than that of
faithfulness; and yet one faithful man is a commodity more hard to
find than scores of workmen for any sort of work you like to name;[12]
and the more so, when the guards in question are not forthcoming
except for money's sake;[13] and when they have it in their power to
get far more in far less time by murdering the despot than they can
hope to earn by lengthened service in protecting him.