1.1. Right administration of a household demands in the first place familiarity with the sphere of one’s action; in the second Place, good natural endowments; and in the third, an uprights and industrious way of life. For the lack of any one of these qualifications will involve many a failure in the task one takes in hand. Of such administrations there are four main types, under which all others may be classified. We have the administration of a king; of the governors under him; of a free state; and of a private citizen.
1.1. τὸν οἰκονομεῖν μέλλοντά τι κατὰ τρόπον τῶν τε τόπων, περὶ οὓς ἂν πραγματεύηται, μὴ ἀπείρως ἔχειν, καὶ τῇ φύσει εὐφυῆ εἶναι καὶ τῇ προαιρέσει φιλόπονόν τε καὶ δίκαιον· ὅ τι γὰρ ἂν ἀπῇ τούτων τῶν μερῶν, πολλὰ διαμαρτήσεται περὶ τὴν πραγματείαν ἣν μεταχειρίζεται. οἰκονομίαι δέ εἰσι τέσσαρες, ὡς ἐν τύπῳ διελέσθαι ʽτὰς γὰρ ἄλλας εἰς τοῦτο ἐμπιπτούσας εὑρήσομεν̓, βασιλική σατραπική πολιτική ἰδιωτική.
1.2. Of these, that of a king is the most extensive, yet at the same time the simplest. A governor’s office is also very extensive, but divided into a great variety of departments. The administration of a free state is again very varied, but it is the easiest to conduct; while that, of a private individual presents the like variety, but within limits which are narrowest of all. For the most part, all four will of necessity cover the same ground; we will, however, take them in turn, and see what is especially characteristic of each. Taking first the royal administration, we see that while theoretically its power is unlimited, it is in practice concerned with four departments, namely currency, exports, imports, and expenditure.
1.2. τούτων δὲ μεγίστη μὲν καὶ ἁπλουστάτη ἡ βασιλική, …, ποικιλωτάτη δὲ καὶ ῥᾴστη ἡ πολιτική, ἐλαχίστη δὲ καὶ ποικιλωτάτη ἡ ἰδιωτική. ἐπικοινωνεῖν μὲν τὰ πολλὰ ἀλλήλαις ἀναγκαῖόν ἐστιν· ὅσα δὲ μάλιστα διʼ αὐτῶν ἑκάστῃ συμβαίνει, ταῦτα ἐπισκεπτέον ἡμῖν ἐστιν. πρῶτον μὲν τοίνυν τὴν βασιλικὴν ἴδωμεν. ἔστι δὲ αὕτη δυναμένη μὲν τὸ καθόλου, εἴδη δὲ ἔχουσα τέσσαρα· περὶ νόμισμα, περὶ τὰ ἐξαγώγιμα, περὶ τὰ εἰσαγώγιμα, περὶ τὰ ἀναλώματα.
1.3. Taking these severally, I assign to that of currency the seasonable regulation of prices; to imports and exports, the profitable disposition, at any given time, of the dues received from provincial governors; and to expenditure, the reduction of outgoings as occasion may serve, and the question of meeting expenses by currency or by commodities.
1.3. τούτων δὲ ἕκαστον [μὲν] περὶ … τὸ νόμισμα λέγω ποῖον καὶ πότε τίμιον ἢ εὔωνον ποιητέον, περὶ δὲ τὰ ἐξαγώγιμα καὶ εἰσαγώγιμα πότε καὶ τίνα παρὰ τῶν σατραπῶν ἐν τῇ ταγῇ ἐκλαβόντι αὐτῷ λυσιτελήσει διατίθεσθαι, περὶ δὲ τὰ ἀναλώματα τίνα περιαιρετέον καὶ πότε, καὶ πότερον δοτέον νόμισμα εἰς τὰς δαπάνας ἢ ἃ τῷ νομίσματι ὤνια.
1.4. The second kind of administration, that of the governor, is concerned with six different classes of revenue; those, namely, arising from agriculture, from the special products of the country, from markets, from taxes, from cattle, and from other sources. Taking these in turn, the first and most important of them is revenue from agriculture, which some call tithe and some produce-tax. The second is that from special products; in one place gold, in another silver, in another copper, and so on. Third in importance is revenue from markets, and fourth that which arises from taxes on land and on sales. In the fifth place we have revenue from cattle, called tithe or first-fruits; and in the sixth, revenue from other sources, which we term poll-tax, or tax on industry.
1.4. δεύτερον δὲ τὴν σατραπικήν. ἔστι δὲ ταύτης εἴδη ἓξ τῶν προσόδων ἀπὸ γῆς, ἀπὸ τῶν ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ ἰδίων γινομένων, ἀπὸ ἐμπορίων, ἀπὸ τελῶν, ἀπὸ βοσκημάτων, ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων. αὐτῶν δὲ τούτων πρώτη μὲν καὶ κρατίστη ἡ ἀπὸ τῆς γῆς ʽαὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἣν οἱ μὲν ἐκφόριον, οἱ δὲ δεκάτην προσαγορεύουσιν̓, δευτέρα δὲ ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδίων γινομένη, οὗ μὲν χρυσίον, οὗ δὲ ἀργύριον, οὗ δὲ χαλκός, οὗ δὲ ὁπόσα δύναται γίνεσθαι, τρίτη δὲ καὶ ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐμπορίων τετάρτη δὲ καὶ ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν κατὰ γῆν τε καὶ ἀγοραίων τελῶν γινομένη, πέμπτη δὲ ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν βοσκημάτων, ἐπικαρπία τε καὶ δεκάτη καλουμένη, ἕκτη δὲ ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων, ἐπικεφάλαιόν τε καὶ χειρωνάξιον προσαγορευομένη.
1.5. Of our third kind of administration, that of a free state, the most important revenue is that arising from the special products of the country. Next follows revenue from markets and occupations; and finally that from every-day transactions.
1.5. τρίτον δὲ τὴν πολιτικήν. ταύτης δὲ κρατίστη μὲν πρόσοδος ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἰδίων ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ γινομένων, εἶτα ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐμπορίων καὶ διαγωγῶν, εἶτα ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐγκυκλίων.
1.6. Fourthly and lastly, we must consider the administration of a private citizen. It is difficult to reduce this to rules owing to the necessary variety of its aims; yet it is the most limited of the four, because both revenues and expenses are 〈comparatively〉 small. Taking its revenues in turn, the chief are those from agriculture; next in importance, those from other every-day occupations; while third comes interest on money. Apart from all these, there is a matter common to all kinds of administration which is best considered at this particular point, and deserves more than cursory attention. This is the importance of keeping expenditure within the limits of revenue.
1.6. τέταρτον δὲ καὶ τελευταῖον τὴν ἰδιωτικήν. αὕτη δέ ἐστιν ἀνώμαλος μὲν διὰ τὸ δεῖν μὴ πρὸς ἕνα σκοπὸν οἰκονομεῖν, ἐλαχίστη δὲ διὰ τὸ καὶ τὰς προσόδους καὶ τὰ ἀναλώματα βραχέα γίνεσθαι. αὐτῆς δὲ ταύτης κρατίστη μὲν πρόσοδος ἡ ἀπὸ γῆς γινομένη, δευτέρα δὲ ἡ ἀπὸ τῶν ἄλλων ἐγκλημάτων, τρίτη δὲ ἡ ἀπὸ ἀργυρίου. χωρὶς δὲ τούτων ὃ πάσαις μὲν ἐπικοινωνεῖται ταῖς οἰκονομίαις καὶ προσήκει σκοπεῖν αὐτὸ μὴ παρέργως, μάλιστα δὲ ταύτῃ, τὸ τἀναλώματα μὴ μείζω τῶν προσόδων γίνεσθαι.
1.7. Having thus enumerated the divisions of our subject, we must next consider whether the province or the free state with which we are concerned is able to produce all the forms of revenue we have just detailed or at least the chief of them; 〈and this being known〉 must make the best use of what we have. Next we must inquire what kinds of revenue, at present wholly lacking, are yet potentially existent; what kinds, though now small, may with care be increased, and how far certain items of present expenditure may without prejudice to the commonwealth be diminished.
1.7. ἐπεὶ τοίνυν τὰς διαιρέσεις εἰρήκαμεν, μετὰ τοῦτο πάλιν νοητέον ἡμῖν, ἡ σατραπεία, περὶ ἣν ἂν πραγματευώμεθα, ἢ πόλις, πότερον ἃ πάντα ἄρτι διειλόμεθα ἢ τὰ μέγιστα τούτων εἰ δυνατὴ φέρειν ἐστί, … τούτοις χρηστέον· μετὰ δὲ τοῦτο ποῖαι τῶν προσόδων ἢ τὸ παράπαν οὐκ εἰσί, δυναταὶ δʼ εἰσὶ γενέσθαι, ἢ μικραὶ νῦν οὖσαι μείζους οἷαί τινες κατασκευασθῆναι, ἢ τῶν ἀναλωμάτων τῶν νῦν ἀναλουμένων, τίνα τε καὶ πόσα περιαιρεθέντα ⟨τὰ⟩ ὅλα μηθὲν βλάψει.
1.8. Having spoken thus of administrations and their various departments, we have further proceeded to collect such instances as we deemed noteworthy of the means adopted by certain statesmen in times past for the replenishment of the treasury, and also of their skill in administration. These anecdotes 〈which follow〉, seemed to us by no means lacking in utility; being capable from time to time of application by others to the business they themselves have in hand.
1.8. τὰ μὲν οὖν περὶ τὰς οἰκονομίας τε καὶ τὰ μέρη τὰ τούτων εἰρήκαμεν· ὅσα δέ τινες τῶν πρότερον πεπράγασιν εἰς πόρον χρημάτων ἢ τεχνικῶς τι διῴκησαν, ἃ ὑπελαμβάνομεν ἀξιόλογα αὐτῶν εἶναι, συναγηόχαμεν. οὐδὲ γὰρ ταύτην τὴν ἱστορίαν ἀχρεῖον ὑπολαμβάνομεν εἶναι. ἔστι γὰρ ὅτε τούτων ἐφαρμόσει τοῖς οἷα ἂν αὐτὸς πραγματεύηται.
2.1. Cypselus of Corinth had made a vow that if he became master of the city, he would offer to Zeus the entire property of the Corinthians. Accordingly he commanded them to make a return of their possessions; which done, he took from each a tenth part, and told them to employ the remainder in trading. A year later, he repeated the process. And so in ten years’ time it came to pass that Cypselus received the entire amount which he had dedicated; while the Corinthians on their part had replaced all that they had paid him.
2.1. Κύψελος ὁ Κορίνθιος εὐξάμενος τῷ Διί, ἐὰν κύριος γένηται τῆς πόλεως, τὰ ὄντα Κορινθίοις πάντα ἀναθήσειν, ἐκέλευσεν αὐτοὺς ἀπογράψασθαι. ἀπογραψαμένων δὲ τούτων τὸ δέκατον μέρος παρʼ ἑκάστου ἔλαβε, τοῖς δὲ λοιποῖς ἐκέλευσεν ἐργάζεσθαι. περιελθόντος δὲ τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐποίησεν, ὥστε συνέβαινεν ἐν δέκα ἔτεσι κεῖνόν τε ἅπαντα ἔχειν, ἅπερ ἀνιέρωσεν, τούς τε Κορινθίους ἕτερα κεκτῆσθαι.
2.2. Lygdamis of Naxos, after driving into exile a party of the inhabitants, found that no one would give him a fair price for their property. He therefore sold it to the exiled owners. The exiles had left behind them a number of works of art destined for temple offerings, which lay in certain workshops in an unfinished condition. These Lygdamis proceeded to sell to the exiles and whoso else would buy them; allowing each purchaser to have his name engraved on the offering.
2.2. Λύγδαμις Νάξιος ἐκβαλὼν φυγάδας, ἐπειδὴ τὰ κτήματα αὐτῶν οὐθεὶς ἠθέλησεν ἀλλʼ ἢ βραχέος ἀγοράζειν, αὐτοῖς τοῖς φυγάσιν ἀπέδοτο. τά τε ἀναθήματα, ὅσα ἦν αὐτῶν ἔν τισιν ἐργαστηρίοις ἡμίεργα ἀνακείμενα, ἐπώλει τοῖς τε φυγάσι καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῷ βουλομένῳ ὥστʼ ἐπιγραφῆναι τὸ τοῦ πριαμένου ὄνομα.
2.3. The people of Byzantium, being in need of funds, sold such dedicated lands as belonged to the State; those under crops, for a term of years, and those uncultivated, in perpetuity. In like manner they sold lands appropriated to religious celebrations or ancestral cults, not excepting those that were on private estates; for the owners of the surrounding land were ready to give a high price for them. To the dispossessed celebrants 〈they assigned〉 such other public lands surrounding the gymnasium, the agora, or the harbor, as belonged to the State. Moreover they claimed as public property all open spaces where anything was sold, together with the sea-fisheries, the traffic in salt, and the trade of professional conjurors, soothsayers, charm-sellers, and the like; exacting from all these one-third of their gains. The right of changing money they sold to a single bank, whose proprietor was given a monopoly of the sale and purchase of coin, protected under penalty of confiscation. And whereas previously the rights of citizenship were by law confined to those whose parents were both citizens, lack of funds, induced them to offer citizenship to him who had one citizen parent on payment of the sum of thirty minae. On another occasion, when food and funds were both scarce, they called home all vessels that were trading in the Pontus. On the merchants protesting, they were at length allowed to trade on payment of a tithe of their profits. This tax of 10 per cent was also extended to purchases of every kind. It happened that certain aliens residing in the city had lent money on the security of citizens’ property. As these aliens did not possess the right of holding such property, the people offered to recognize the title of anyone who chose to pay into the treasury one third of the amount secured.
2.3. Βυζάντιοι δὲ δεηθέντες χρημάτων τὰ τεμένη τὰ δημόσια ἀπέδοντο, τὰ μὲν κάρπιμα χρόνον τινά, τὰ δὲ ἄκαρπα ἀεννάως· τά τε θιασωτικὰ καὶ τὰ πατριωτικὰ ὡσαύτως, καὶ ὅσα ἐν χωρίοις ἰδιωτικοῖς ἦν· ὠνοῦντο γὰρ πολλοῦ ὧν ἦν καὶ τὸ ἄλλο κτῆμα. τοῖς δὲ θιασώταις ἕτερα χωρία, τὰ δημόσια, ὅσα ἦν περὶ τὸ γυμνάσιον ἢ τὴν ἀγορὰν ἢ τὸν λιμένα, τούς τε τόπους τοὺς ἀγοραίους, ἐν οἷς ἐπώλει τίς τι· καὶ τῆς θαλάττης τὴν ἁλιείαν, καὶ τὴν τῶν ἁλῶν ἁλ[ατ]οπωλίαν, τῶν τʼ ἐργαζομένων θαυματοποιῶν καὶ μάντεων καὶ φαρμακοπωλῶν καὶ τῶν ἄλλων τῶν τοιουτοτρόπων …· τὸ τρίτον δὲ μέρος τοῦ ἐργαζομένου ἀποτελεῖν ἔταξαν. τῶν τε νομισμάτων τὴν καταλλαγὴν ἀπέδοντο μιᾷ τραπέζῃ, ἑτέρῳ δὲ οὐκ ἦν οὐθενὶ οὔτε ἀποδόσθαι ἑτέρῳ οὔτε πρίασθαι παρʼ ἑτέρου· εἰ δὲ μή, στέρησις ἦν. ὄντος δὲ νόμου αὐτοῖς μὴ εἶναι πολίτην ὃς ἂν μὴ ἐξ ἀστῶν ἀμφοτέρων ᾖ, χρημάτων δεηθέντες ἐψηφίσαντο τὸν ἐξ ἑνὸς ὄντα ἀστοῦ καταβαλόντα μνᾶς τριάκοντα εἶναι πολίτην. ἐν σιτοδείᾳ δὲ γενόμενοι καὶ ἀποροῦντες χρημάτων κατήγαγον τὰ πλοῖα τὰ ἐκ τοῦ Πόντου· χρόνου δὲ γενομένου, τῶν ἐμπόρων ἀγανακτούντων, ἐτέλουν αὐτοῖς τόκους ἐπιδεκάτους, τοῖς δʼ ὠνουμένοις τι ἔταξαν χωρὶς τῆς τιμῆς διδόναι τὸ ἐπιδέκατον. μετοίκων δέ τινων ἐπιδεδανεικότων ἐπὶ κτήμασιν, οὐκ οὔσης αὐτοῖς ἐγκτήσεως ἐψηφίσαντο τὸ τρίτον μέρος εἰσφέροντα τοῦ δανείου τὸν βουλόμενον κυρίως ἔχειν τὸ κτῆμα.
2.4. Hippias of Athens offered for sale upper stories that projected over the public streets, together with flights of steps, railings, and doors that opened outwards. The owners of the buildings bought them, and in this way a large sum of money was collected. He also called in the existing currency, promising to pay the holders at a fixed rate. But when they came to receive the new mintage, he reissued the old coins. Those who were expecting to equip a war-vessel or preside over a tribe or train a chorus or undertake the expense of some other public service of the kind, he allowed, if they chose, to commute the service for a moderate sum, and to be enrolled on the list of those who had performed it. Moreover, whenever a citizen died, the priestess of the temple of Athena on the Acropolis was to receive one quart measure of barley, one of wheat, and a silver obolus. And when a child was born, the father paid the same dues.
2.4. Ἱππίας [ὁ] Ἀθηναῖος τὰ ὑπερέχοντα τῶν ὑπερῴων εἰς τὰς δημοσίας ὁδοὺς καὶ τοὺς ἀναβαθμοὺς καὶ τὰ προφράγματα καὶ τὰς θύρας τὰς ἀνοιγομένας ἔξω ἐπώλησεν· ὠνοῦντο οὖν ὧν ἦν τὰ κτήματα, καὶ συνελέγη χρήματα οὕτω συχνά. τό τε νόμισμα τὸ ὂν Ἀθηναίοις ἀδόκιμον ἐποίησε, τάξας δὲ τιμὴν ἐκέλευσε πρὸς αὑτὸν ἀνακομίζειν· συνελθόντων δὲ ἐπὶ τῷ κόψαι ἕτερον χαρακτῆρα, ἐξέδωκε τὸ αὐτὸ ἀργύριον. ὅσοι τε τριηραρχεῖν ἢ φυλαρχεῖν ἢ χορηγεῖν ἤ τινα εἰς ἑτέραν λειτουργίαν τοιαύτην ἤμελλον δαπανᾶν, τίμημα τάξας μέτριον ἐκέλευσε τὸν βουλόμενον ἀποτίσαντα τοῦτο ἐγγράφεσθαι εἰς τοὺς λελειτουργηκότας. τῇ τε ἱερείᾳ τῇ τῆς Ἀθηνᾶς τῆς ἐν ἀκροπόλει ὑπὲρ τοῦ ἀποθανόντος φέρειν χοίνικα κριθῶν καὶ πυρῶν ἑτέραν καὶ ὀβολόν, καὶ ὅτῳ ἂν παιδάριον γένηται, τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο.
2.5. The Athenian colonists at Potidaea, being in need of funds for the war, agreed that all should make a return of their property for assessment of tax. But instead of each returning the entire amount to his own parish, properties were to be assessed separately, each in its own locality, so that the poor might propose a reduced assessment; while those without any 〈landed〉 property were assessed at two minae a head. On these assessments each man paid the State the full amount of the war-tax.
2.5. Ἀθηναῖοι δὲ οἱ ἐν Ποτιδαίᾳ οἰκοῦντες δεόμενοι χρημάτων εἰς τὸν πόλεμον ἀπογράψασθαι ἅπασι συνέταξαν τὰς οὐσίας, μὴ ἁθρόας εἰς τὸν αὑτοῦ δῆμον ἕκαστον, ἀλλὰ κατὰ κτῆμα ἐν ᾧ τόπῳ ἕκαστον εἴη, ἵνα οἱ πένητες δύνωνται ὑποτιμᾶσθαι· ὅτῳ δὲ μὴ ἦν κτῆμα μηθέν, τὸ σῶμα διμναῖον τιμήσασθαι. ἀπὸ τούτων οὖν εἰσέφερον τὸ ἐπιγραφὲν ἕκαστος σῷον τῇ πόλει.
2.6. The city of Antissa had been accustomed to celebrate the festival of Dionysus with great magnificence. Year by year great provision was made for the occasion, and costly sacrifices were prepared. Now one year the city found itself in need of funds; and shortly before the festival, on the proposal of a citizen named Sosipolis, the people after vowing that they would next year offer to Dionysus a double amount, collected all that had been provided and sold it. In this way they realized a large sum of money to meet their necessity.
2.6. ⟨Σωσίπολις⟩ Ἀντισσαῖος [δέ], δεηθείσης τῆς πόλεως χρημάτων, εἰθισμένων [δὲ] αὐτῶν λαμπρῶς ἄγειν Διονύσια, ἐν οἷς ἄλλα τε πολλὰ ἀνήλισκον ἐξ ἐνιαυτοῦ παρασκευάζοντες καὶ ἱερεῖα πολυτελῆ, ὑπογύου δὲ οὔσης ταύτης τῆς ἑορτῆς, ἔπεισεν αὐτοὺς τῷ μὲν Διονύσῳ εὔξασθαι ἐς νέωτα ἀποδώσειν διπλάσια, ταῦτα δὲ συναγαγόντας ἀποδόσθαι. συνελέγη οὖν αὐτοῖς χρήματα οὐκ ὀλίγα πρὸς τὴν χρείαν.
2.7. On one occasion the people of Lampsacus were expecting to be attacked by a large fleet of triremes. The price of barley meal being then four drachmae for a bushel and a half, they instructed the retailers to sell it at six drachmae. Oil, which was at three drachmae for six pints, was to be sold at four drachmae and a half, and wine and other commodities at a proportionate increase. In this way the retailer got the original price, while the State took the addition and filled its treasury.
2.7. Λαμψακηνοὶ δὲ προσδοκίμων οὐσῶν τριηρῶν πολλῶν πρὸς αὐτούς, ὄντος μεδίμνου τῶν ἀλφίτων τετραδράχμου, προσέταξαν τοῖς ἀγοραίοις πωλεῖν ἑξάδραχμον, καὶ τοῦ ἐλαίου τὸν χοᾶ ὄντα δραχμῶν ⟨τριῶν⟩, τεττάρων καὶ τριωβόλου, τοῦ τε οἴνου καὶ τῶν ἄλλων ὡσαύτως. τὴν μὲν οὖν ἀρχαίαν τιμὴν ἐλάμβανεν ὁ ἰδιώτης, τὸ δὲ πλέον ἡ πόλις, καὶ εὐπόρησε χρημάτων.
2.8. The people of Heraclea, being about to dispatch a fleet of forty ships against the lords of Bosporus, were at a loss for the necessary funds. They therefore bought up all the merchants’ stock of corn and oil and wine and other marketable commodities, agreeing to pay at a future date. The merchants were well satisfied that they had disposed of their cargoes without breaking bulk; and the people, advancing two months’ pay to their armament, sent along with it a fleet of merchant-vessels laden with the commodities, every ship being in charge of a public official. When the expedition reached its goal, the men purchased from these officials all they needed. In this way, the money was collected before the leaders again paid their men; so that the same payment sufficed until the expedition returned home.
2.8. Ἡρακλεῶται πέμποντες ναῦς τετταράκοντα ἐπὶ τοὺς ἐν Βοσπόρῳ τυράννους, οὐκ εὐπορούμενοι χρημάτων παρὰ τῶν ἐμπόρων συνηγόρασαν τόν τε σῖτον πάντα καὶ τὸ ἔλαιον καὶ τὸν οἶνον καὶ τὴν ἄλλην ἀγοράν χρόνου διισταμένου ἐν ᾧ ἔμελλον ἀποδώσειν τὴν τιμήν. τοῖς δὲ δὴ ἐμπόροις καλῶς εἶχε μὴ κοτυλίζειν, ἀλλʼ ἁθρόα τὰ φορτία πεπρᾶσθαι, ἐκεῖνοί τε διδόντες διʼ ἄλλην οὐ μισθὸν παρῆγον [ἀλλὰ] τὴν ἀγορὰν ἐν ὁλκάσι, ⟨καὶ⟩ ἄνδρα ταμίαν ἐπέστησαν ἐφʼ ἑκάστῃ τῶν νεῶν. ἀφικομένων δʼ εἰς τὴν πολεμίαν αὐτῶν ἠγόραζον οἱ στρατιῶται παρὰ τούτων ἅπαντα. πρότερον ⟨οὖν⟩ συνελέγη ἀργύριον ἤ ἐδίδοσαν οἱ στρατηγοὶ πάλιν τὸν μισθόν, ὥστε συνέβαινε ταὐτὸ [τὸ] ἀργύριον δίδοσθαι ἕως εἰς οἶκον ἀπῆλθον.
2.9. When the Samians entreated the Lacedaemonians for money to enable them to return to their country, the Lacedaemonians passed a resolution that they and their servants and their beasts of burden should go without food for one day; and that the expense each one thus saved should be given to the Samians.
2.9. Λακεδαιμόνιοι Σαμίων δεηθέντων χρήματα αὐτοῖς εἰς τὴν κάθοδον δοῦναι, ἐψηφίσαντο μίαν ἡμέραν καὶ αὐτοὺς καὶ τοὺς οἰκέτας καὶ τὰ ὑποζύγια νηστεῦσαι, ὅσον δὲ ἐδαπάνα ἕκαστος, τοσοῦτον δοῦναι τοῖς Σαμίοις.
2.10. The people of Chalcedon had a large number of mercenary troops in their city, to whom they could not pay the wages they owed. Accordingly they made proclamation that anyone, either citizen or alien, who had right of reprisal against any city or individual, and wished to exercise it, should have his name entered on a list. A large number of names was enrolled, and the people thus obtained a specious pretext for exercising reprisal upon ships that were passing on their way to the Pontus. They accordingly arrested the ships and fixed a period within which they would consider any claims that might be made in respect of them. Having now a large fund in hand, they paid off the mercenaries, and set up a tribunal to decide the claims; and those whose goods had been unjustly seized were compensated out of the revenues of the state.
2.10. Χαλκηδόνιοι δέ, ξένων ἐν τῇ πόλει συχνῶν παρʼ αὐτοῖς γινομένων, ὀφείλοντες αὐτοῖς μισθὸν οὐκ ἠδύναντο διαλῦσαι. ἀνήγγειλαν οὖν, εἴ τις τῶν πολιτῶν ἢ μετοίκων σῦλον ἔχει κατὰ πόλεως ἢ ἰδιώτου καὶ βούλεται λαβεῖν, ἀπογράψασθαι. ἀπογραψαμένων δὲ συχνῶν, τὰ πλοῖα τὰ πλέοντα εἰς τὸν Πόντον ἐσύλων μετὰ προφάσεως εὐλόγου. ἔταξαν δὲ χρόνον ἐν ᾧ λόγον ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἔφασαν ποιήσασθαι. συλλεγέντων δὲ χρημάτων συχνῶν, τοὺς μὲν στρατιώτας ἀπήλλαξαν, ὑπὲρ δὲ τῶν σύλων διεδικάσαντο. τοῖς δὲ μὴ δικαίως συληθεῖσιν ἡ πόλις ἀπὸ τῶν προσόδων ἀπεδίδου.
2.11. At Cyzicus, civil strife broke out between the democratic and oligarchic parties. The former proved victorious, and the rich citizens were placed under arrest. But as the city owed money to its troops, a resolution was passed that the lives of those under arrest should be spared, and that they should be allowed to depart into exile on paying a sum of money to the state.
2.11. Κυζικηνοὶ δὲ στασιάσαντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους, ἐπικρατήσαντος τοῦ δήμου, τῶν δὲ πλουσίων συνειλημμένων, ὀφείλοντες χρήματα στρατιώταις ἐψηφίσαντο μὴ θανατῶσαι τοὺς συνειλημμένους, ἀλλὰ χρήματα πραξαμένους φυγαδεῦσαι.
2.12. At Chios there was a law that all debts should be entered on a public register. Being in need of funds, the people resolved that debtors should pay their debts into the treasury, and that the state should meet the creditors’ interest out of its revenues until its former prosperity returned.
2.12. Χῖοι δέ, νόμου ὄντος αὐτοῖς ἀπογράφεσθαι τὰ χρέα εἰς τὸ δημόσιον, δεηθέντες χρημάτων ἐψηφίσαντο τοὺς ὀφείλοντας μὲν ἀποδοῦναι τῇ πόλει τὰ δάνεια, τὴν δὲ πόλιν ἐκ τῶν προσόδων τοὺς τόκους τοῖς δεδανεικόσι καταφέρειν, ἕως ἂν καὶ τὸ ἀρχαῖον εὐπορήσωσιν.
2.13. Mausolus lord of Caria received from the King of Persia a demand for tribute. Therefore he summoned the wealthiest men in his dominion, and told them that the King was asking for the tribute, and he had not the means of paying it. Men whom he had previously suborned at once came forward and declared what each was ready to contribute. With this example before them, they who were wealthier than these, partly in shame and partly in alarm, promised and paid much larger sums than the others. Being again in lack of funds, Mausolus summoned a public meeting of the people of Mylassa and told them that the King of Persia was preparing to attack him; and that Mylassa his capital city was unfortified. He therefore bade the citizens contribute each as liberally as he could, saying that what they now paid in would afford security to the rest of their possessions. By these means he obtained large contributions. But though he kept the money, he declared that heaven, for the present, forbade the building of the walls.
2.13. Μαύσωλος ὁ Καρίας τύραννος, πέμποντος βασιλέως πρὸς αὐτὸν ἐπὶ τῷ τοὺς φόρους δοῦναι, συναγαγὼν τοὺς εὐπορωτάτους ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ ἔλεγεν ὅτι ὁ βασιλεὺς αἰτεῖ τοὺς φόρους, αὐτὸς δὲ οὐκ εὐπορεῖται. κατασκευαστοὶ δʼ ἄνδρες αὐτῷ εὐθέως ἐπηγγέλλοντο ὅσον εἰσοίσει ἕκαστος. τούτων δὲ τοῦτο πραξάντων, οἱ εὐπορώτεροι τὰ μὲν αἰσχυνόμενοι τὰ δὲ φοβούμενοι πολλῷ τούτων ⟨πλείω⟩ ἐπηγγέλλοντο καὶ εἰσέφερον. πάλιν δεηθεὶς χρημάτων ἐξεκκλησιάσας τοῖς Μυλασσεῦσιν ἔλεγεν ὅτι μητρόπολις οὖσα ἡ πόλις αὐτοῦ αὕτη ἀτείχιστός ἐστιν, ὁ δὲ βασιλεὺς ἐπʼ αὐτὸν στρατεύει. ἐκέλευσεν οὖν τοὺς Μυλασσεῖς φέρειν ἕκαστον ὅτι πλεῖστα χρήματα, φάσκων αὐτοὺς τοῖς νῦν εἰσενεχθεῖσι καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ σῴζειν. εἰσενεχθέντων δὲ πολλῶν τὰ μὲν χρήματα εἶχε, τὸ δὲ τεῖχος οὐκ ἔφη τὸν θεὸν ⟨ἐᾶν⟩ ἐν τῷ παρόντι οἰκοδομεῖν.
2.14. Condalus, who was a lieutenant-governor under Mausolus, whenever on his progress through the country he was presented with a sheep, a pig, or a calf, had a record made of the donor’s name and of the date. He then bade the man take the beast home and keep it until he should again pass that way. After what he considered a sufficient interval, he would demand the beast together with such profits as he reckoned it had produced. All trees, too, which projected over the king’s highway, or fell thereon, he sold as profits accruing to the State. When one of his soldiers died, he charged a drachma for the right of passing the body through the gates. This was not only a source of revenue, but a check on the commanders, who were thus prevented from falsifying the date of the man’s death. Noticing that the Lycians were fond of wearing their hair long, Condalus proclaimed that a dispatch had arrived from the King ordering him to send hair to make forelocks for his horses; and that Mausolus had therefore instructed him to shave their heads. However, if they would pay him a fixed sum per head, he would send to Greece for hair. They were glad to comply with his demand, and a large sum was collected, the number of those taxed being great.
2.14. Κόνδαλος Μαυσώλου ὕπαρχος, ὁπότε διαπορευομένῳ αὐτῷ διὰ τῆς χώρας προσενέγκοι τις πρόβατον ἢ ὗν ἢ μόσχον, ἀπογραψάμενος τὸν δόντα καὶ τὸν χρόνον, ἀπαγαγόντα εἰς οἶκον ἐκέλευε τρέφειν ἕως ἂν ἐπανέλθοι· ὁπότε δὲ δοκοίη χρόνος ἱκανὸς εἶναι, αὐτό τε τὸ τραφὲν καὶ τὴν ἐπικαρπίαν λογισάμενος ἀπῄτει. τῶν τε δένδρων τὰ ὑπερέχοντα ἢ πίπτοντα εἰς τὰς ὁδοὺς τὰς βασιλικὰς ἐπώλει ὡς τὰς ἐπικαρπίας. τῶν δὲ στρατιωτῶν εἴ τις τελευτήσειε, διαπύλιον ἀπῄτει δραχμὴν τοῦ σώματος· ἅμα τε οὖν ἐντεῦθεν καὶ ἀργύριον ἐλάμβανεν, ἅμα τε οἱ ἡγεμόνες οὐ παρεκρούοντο αὐτόν, πότε τετελεύτηκεν ὁ στρατιώτης. τούς τε Λυκίους ὁρῶν ἀγαπῶντας τὸ τρίχωμα φορεῖν, ἔφησε γράμματα ἥκειν παρὰ βασιλέως, κόμας ἀποστεῖλαι εἰς προκόμια, προστετάχθαι οὖν αὐτῷ ὑπὸ Μαυσώλου ἀποκεῖραι αὐτούς. ἔφησεν οὖν, εἰ βούλονται ἐπικεφάλαιον τακτὸν αὐτῷ δοῦναι, μεταπέμψασθαι ἐκ τῆς Ἑλλάδος κόμην, οἱ δὲ ἀσμένως ἔδοσαν ὃ ᾔτει, καὶ συνελέγη χρήματα πολλὰ ἀπὸ ὄχλου πολλοῦ.
2.15. Aristoteles of Rhodes, when governor of Phocaea, found himself in need of funds. Noticing that there were at Phocaea two opposing parties, he held a secret conference with one of them, at which he declared that the other party was offering him money if he would favor their pretensions; that he, however, preferred to receive from those now before him, and to entrust to them the administration of the city. On hearing this, they immediately contributed the money he asked, and gave it him. Thereupon he told the other party what he had received from them; and they in turn promised him at least an equal amount. Having thus taken the money of both factions, he effected a reconciliation between them. He also observed that there were many law-suits pending between the citizens, and that they had grave and long-standing plaints against one another which had arisen in course of war. He therefore appointed a tribunal, and made proclamation that all who failed to appear before it within a stated period should lose the right to a legal decision of their outstanding claims. Then, by taking into his own hands the court-fees for a number of suits, and also those appeal-cases which involved penalties, and receiving [through others] money from both sides, he obtained altogether a very considerable sum.
2.15. Ἀριστοτέλης Ῥόδιος ἄρχων Φωκαίας, ἀπορῶν χρημάτων, ὁρῶν στάσεις οὔσας δύο τῶν Φωκαίων, λόγους ἐποιήσατο πρὸς τὴν ἑτέραν στάσιν ἐν ἀπορρήτοις, φάσκων αὑτῷ διδόναι χρήματα τοὺς ἑτέρους ἐφʼ ᾧ αὐτοῖς τὰ πράγματα ἐγκλῖναι, αὐτὸς δὲ μᾶλλον βούλεσθαι παρὰ τούτων λαβεῖν καὶ τὰ περὶ τὴν πόλιν τούτοις διοικεῖν παραδοῦναι. ἀκούσαντες δὲ ταῦτα εὐθέως τὰ χρήματα οἱ παρόντες πορίσαντες ὅσα ἐκέλευσεν ἔδωκαν. ὁ δὲ τοῖς ἑτέροις πάλιν ἔδειξεν ἃ εἰληφὼς εἴη παρὰ τῶν ἑτέρων· οἱ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ ἔφασαν οὐκ ἐλάττω δώσειν. λαβὼν δὲ παρʼ ἀμφοτέρων κατήλλαξεν αὐτοὺς πρὸς ἀλλήλους. τοῖς τε πολίταις κατιδὼν οὔσας δίκας πολλὰς, καὶ μεγάλας ἐκ πολλοῦ χρόνου ἀδικίας τουτοῖς διὰ πολέμου, δικαστήριον καθίσας προεῖπεν, ὅσοι ἂν μὴ δικάσωνται χρόνῷ ὃν ἐθηκε, μηκέτι εἶναι ὑπὲρ τῶν προτέρων ἐγκλημάτων κρίσεις. τότε δὴ παραβόλιον πολλῶν δικῶν καὶ τὰς ἐκκλήτους μετʼ ἐπιτιμίων ἐφʼ αὑτὸν ποιούμενος καὶ παρʼ ἑκατέρων ἀργύριον διʼ ἑτέρων λαμβάνων, συνήγαγεν οὐκ ὀλίγα χρήματα.
2.16. The people of Clazomenae, suffering from dearth of grain and scarcity of funds, passed a resolution that any private citizens who had stores of oil should lend it to the State at interest; this being a produce which their land bears in abundance. The loan arranged, they hired vessels and sent them to the depots whence they obtained their grain, 〈and bought a consignment〉 on security of the value of the oil. The same people, owing their mercenaries twenty talents of pay and being unable to find it, were giving the leaders of the troop four talents of interest each year. But failing to reduce the capital debt, and committed to this fruitless drain on their revenue, they struck an iron coinage of twenty talents, bearing the face-value of the silver. This they distributed proportionately among the wealthiest citizens, and received from them silver to the same amount. Through this expedient, the private citizens possessed a currency which was good for their daily needs, and the state was relieved of its debt. Next, they proceeded to pay interest out of revenue to those who had advanced the silver; and little by little distributed repayment among them, recalling at the same time the currency of iron.
2.16. Κλαζομένιοι δʼ ἐν σιτοδείᾳ ὄντες χρημάτων τε ἀποροῦντες ἐψηφίσαντο, παρʼ οἷς ἔλαιόν ἐστι τῶν ἰδιωτῶν, δανεῖσαι τῇ πόλει ἐπὶ τόκῳ· γίνεται δὲ πολὺς οὗτος ὁ καρπὸς ἐν τῇ χώρᾳ αὐτῶν. δανεισάντων δὲ μισθωσάμενοι πλοῖα ἀπέστειλαν εἰς τὰ ἐμπόρια, ὅθεν αὐτοῖς ἧκε σῖτος, ὑποθήκης γενομένης τῆς τοῦ ἐλαίου τιμῆς. ὀφείλοντές στρατιώταις μισθὸν εἴκοσι τάλαντα καὶ οὐ ⟨δοῦναι⟩ δυνάμενοι τόκον ἔφερον τοῖς ἡγεμόσι τέτταρα τάλαντα τοῦ ἐνιαυτοῦ· ἐπεὶ δὲ τοῦ μὲν ἀρχαίου ἀπέκοπτον οὐθέν, ἀεὶ δὲ μάτην ἐδαπάνων, νόμισμα ἔκοψαν σιδηροῦν εἰς ἀργυρίου λόγον εἴκοσι ταλάντων, εἶτα διδόντες τοῖς εὐπορωτάτοις ἐν τῇ πόλει κατὰ λόγον ἑκάστῳ ἀργύριον παρʼ ἐκείνων ἔλαβον ἴσον. οἵ τε οὖν ἰδιῶται εἶχον εἰς τὰς καθʼ ἡμέραν χρείας ἀναλίσκειν καὶ ἡ πόλις τοῦ χρέους ἀπηλλάγη. δεύτερον δὲ ἐκ τῶν προσόδων ἐκείνοις τόν τε τόκον κατέφερον ⟨καὶ⟩ ἀεὶ διαιροῦντες ἑκάστῳ πρὸς μέρος διεδίδοσαν, τοὺς δὲ σιδηροῦς ἐκομίζοντο.
2.17. The people of Selybria had a law, passed in time of famine, which forbade the export of grain. On one occasion, however, they were in need of funds; and as they possessed large stores of grain, they passed a resolution that citizens should deliver up their corn to the state at the regular fixed price, each retaining for himself a year’s supply. They then granted right of export to any who desired it, fixing what they deemed a suitable price.
2.17. Σηλυβριανοὶ δὲ δεηθέντες χρημάτων, νόμου ὄντος αὐτοῖς σίτου μὴ ἐξάγειν … ἐν λιμῷ γενομένοις, ἐκείνοις δὲ ὑπάρχοντος σίτου παλαιοῦ, ἐψηφίσαντο τῇ πόλει παραδοῦναι τοὺς ἰδιώτας τὸν σῖτον τῆς τεταγμένης τιμῆς, ὑπολειπόμενον ἕκαστον ἐνιαυτοῦ τροφήν· εἶτα ἐξαγωγὴν ἔδωκαν τῷ βουλομένῳ, τάξαντες τιμὴν ἣν ἐδόκει καλῶς ἔχειν αὐτοῖς.
2.18. At Abydos civil strife had caused the land to remain uncultivated; while the resident aliens, to whom the city was already indebted, refused to make any further advances. A resolution was accordingly passed that anyone who would might lend money to enable the farmers to cultivate their land, on the understanding that the lender had the first claim on its produce; others taking from what was then left.
2.18. Ἀβυδηνοὶ δέ, διὰ στασιασμὸν τῆς χώρας ἀργοῦ γενομένης, καὶ τῶν μετοίκων οὐ προϊεμένων αὐτοῖς οὐδὲν διὰ τὸ καὶ ἔτι ὀφείλειν, ἐψηφίσαντο τὸν βουλόμενον τοῖς γεωργοῖς δανείζειν, ὡς ἐργάσωνται, ὡς πρώτοις αὐτοῖς ἐσομένης τῆς κομιδῆς ἐκ τοῦ καρποῦ, τοῖς δὲ ἄλλοις ἐκ τῶν λειπομένων.
2.19. The people of Ephesus, being in need of funds, passed a law forbidding their women to wear gold, and ordering them to lend the State what gold they had in their possession. They also offered to any citizen who was willing to pay a fixed sum the right of having his name inscribed on a certain pillar of their temple as the donor thereof.
2.19. Ἐφέσιοι δεηθέντες χρημάτων νόμον ἔθεντο μὴ φορεῖν χρυσὸν τὰς γυναῖκας, ὅσον δὲ νῦν ἔχουσι δανεῖσαι τῇ πόλει. τῶν τε κιόνων ⟨τισὶ⟩ τῶν ἐν τῷ νεῷ τάξαντες ἀργύριον ὃ δεῖ καταβαλεῖν εἴων ἐπιγράφεσθαι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ δόντος τὸ ἀργύριον ὡς ἀνατεθεικότος.
2.20. Dionysius of Syracuse, being desirous of collecting funds, called a public assembly, and declared that Demeter had appeared to him, and bade him convey all the women’s ornaments into her temple. That he himself had done so with the ornaments of his own household; and the others must now follow his example, and thereby avoid any visitation of the goddess’s anger. Anyone who failed to comply would, he declared, be guilty of sacrilege. Through fear of the goddess as well as of the despot, all the citizens brought in whatever they had. Then Dionysius, after sacrificing to the goddess, removed the ornaments to his own treasury as a loan which he had borrowed from her. As time went on, the women again appeared with precious ornaments. Dionysius thereupon issued a decree that any woman who desired to wear gold should make an offering of a fixed amount in the temple. Intending to build a fleet of triremes, Dionysius knew that he should require funds for the purpose. He therefore called an assembly and declared that a certain city was offered to him by traitors, and he needed money to pay them. The citizens therefore must contribute two staters apiece. The money was paid; but after two or three days, Dionysius, pretending that the plot had failed, thanked the citizens and returned to each his contribution. In this way he won the confidence of the citizens; so that when he again asked for money, they contributed in the expectation that they would receive it back. But this time he kept it for building the fleet. On another occasion being in straits for silver he minted a coinage of tin, and summoning a public assembly, spoke at length in its favor. The citizens perforce voted that everyone should regard as silver, and not as tin, whatever he received. Again being in need of funds, he requested the citizens to contribute. On their declaring that they had not the wherewithal, he brought out the furnishings of his palace and offered them for sale, pretending to be compelled through lack of money. At the sale, he had a list made of the articles and their purchasers; and when they had all paid, he commanded every one to bring back the article he had bought. Finding that because of his imposts the citizens were ceasing to rear sheep and cattle, he made proclamation that he needed no more money until a certain 〈date〉; so that those who now became possessed of any stock would not be liable to taxation. A large number of citizens lost no time in acquiring a quantity of sheep and cattle, on the understanding that they would be free of impost. But Dionysius, when he thought the fitting time was come, had them all valued and imposed a tax. The citizens were angry at being thus deceived, and proceeded to kill and sell their beasts. On Dionysius’s making a decree that only such beasts should be slain as were needed each day, the owners retorted by offering their animals as sacrifices; whereupon the despot forbade the sacrifice of female beasts. Once more funds were lacking, and Dionysius ordered a list to be made for him of all houses whose heirs were orphan. Having obtained a complete list, he made use of the orphans’ property until each should come of age. After the capture of Rhegium, he summoned a meeting of the citizens, and told them why he had a good right to sell them as slaves. If, however, they would pay him the expenses of the war and three minae a head besides, he would release them. The people of Rhegium brought forth all their hoards; the poor borrowed from the wealthier and from the foreigners resident in the city; and so the amount demanded was paid. But though he received this money from them, none the less he sold them all for slaves, having succeeded 〈by his trick〉 in bringing to light the hoarded goods which they had previously concealed. On another occasion he had borrowed money from the citizens, promising to repay it. On their demanding its return, he bade each bring him, under pain of death, whatever silver he possessed. This silver when brought he coined into drachmae each bearing the face value of two: with these he repaid the 〈previous〉 debt and also what had just been brought in. He also made a raid on Tyrrhenia with a hundred ships, and rifled the temple of Leucothea of a large amount of gold and silver, besides a quantity of works of art. But being aware that his sailors too had taken much plunder, he made proclamation that each should bring him, under pain of death, one-half of what he had; the remainder of their takings they might keep. On the understanding that if they brought in half their plunder they would retain the rest in security, they obeyed. But when Dionysius had got the treasure into his hands, he commanded them to bring him the other half as well.
2.20. Διονύσιος Συρακούσιος βουλόμενος χρήματα συναγαγεῖν, ἐκκλησίαν ποιήσας ἔφησεν ἑωρακέναι τὴν Δήμητραν, καὶ κελεύειν τὸν τῶν γυναικῶν κόσμον εἰς τὸ ἱερὸν ἀποκομίζειν. αὐτὸς μὲν οὖν τῶν παρʼ αὑτῷ γυναικῶν τὸν κόσμον τοῦτο πεποιηκέναι· ἠξίου δὲ καὶ τοὺς ἄλλους, μή τι μήνιμα παρὰ τῆς θεοῦ γένηται· τὸν δὲ μὴ τοῦτο ποιήσαντα ἔνοχον ἔφησεν ἱεροσυλίας ἔσεσθαι. ἀνενεγκάντων δὲ πάντων ἃ εἶχον διά τε τὴν θεὸν καὶ διʼ ἐκεῖνον, θύσας τῇ θεῷ τὸν κόσμον ἀπηνέγκατο ὡς παρὰ τῆς θεοῦ δεδανεισμένος. προελθόντος δὲ χρόνου καὶ τῶν γυναικῶν πάλιν φορουσῶν, ἐκέλευσε τὴν βουλομένην χρυσοφορεῖν τάγμα τι ἀνατιθέναι ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ. τριηρεῖς τε ναυπηγεῖσθαι μέλλων ᾔδει ὅτι δεήσοιτο χρημάτων. ἐκκλησίαν οὖν συναγαγὼν ἔφη πόλιν αὑτῷ τινα προδίδοσθαι, εἰς ἣν δεῖσθαι χρημάτων, ἠξίου τε αὑτῷ τοὺς πολίτας εἰσενέγκαι δύο στατῆρας ἕκαστον· οἳ δʼ εἰσήνεγκαν. διαλιπὼν δὲ δύο ἢ τρεῖς ἡμέρας, ὡς διημαρτηκὼς τῆς πράξεως, ἐπαινέσας αὐτοὺς ἀπέδωκεν ἑκάστῳ ὃ εἰσήνεγκαν. ποιήσας δὲ τοῦτο ἀνεκτήσατο τοὺς πολίτας. εἶτα πάλιν … οἰόμενοι ἀπολήψεσθαι εἰσήνεγκαν· ὃ δὲ λαβὼν εἶχεν εἰς τὴν ναυπηγίαν. οὐκ εὐπορῶν δὲ ἀργυρίου νόμισμα ἔκοψε καττιτέρου, καὶ συναγαγὼν ἐκκλησίαν πολλὰ τοῦ κεκομμένου νομίσματος ὑπερεῖπεν· οἳ δὲ ἐψηφίσαντο καὶ μὴ βουλόμενοι ἕκαστος ὃ ἂν εἵλετο ἔχειν ὡς ἀργυροῦν ἀλλὰ μὴ καττιτέρινον. πάλιν τε δεηθεὶς χρημάτων ἠξίου τοὺς πολίτας εἰσενεγκεῖν αὑτῷ· οἳ δʼ οὐκ ἔφασαν ἔχειν. ἐξενέγκας οὖν τὰ σκεύη τὰ παρʼ αὑτοῦ ἐπώλει, ὡς δὴ διʼ ἀπορίαν τοῦτο ποιῶν· ἀγοραζόντων δὲ Συρακουσίων ἀπεγράφετο τί ἕκαστος ἀγοράσειεν· ἐπεὶ δὲ τὴν τιμὴν κατέβαλον, ἐκέλευσε τὸ σκεῦος ἀναφέρειν ἕκαστον ὃ ἠγόρασεν. τῶν τε πολιτῶν διὰ τὰς εἰσφορὰς οὐ τρεφόντων βοσκήματα, εἶπεν ὅτι ἱκανὰ ἦν αὑτῷ πρὸς τοσοῦτον· τοὺς οὖν νῦν τι κτησαμένους ἀτελεῖς ἔσεσθαι. πολλῶν δὲ ταχὺ κτησαμένων πολλὰ βοσκήματα, ὡς ἀτελῆ ἑξόντων, ἐπεὶ καιρὸν ᾤετο εἶναι, τιμήσασθαι κελεύσας ἐπέβαλε τέλος. οἱ οὖν πολῖται ἀγανακτήσαντες ἐπὶ τῷ ἐξηπατῆσθαι, σφάζοντες ἐπώλουν. ὡς δὲ πρὸς τοῦτο ἔταξε σφάζεσθαι ὅσα δεῖ τῆς ἡμέρας, οἱ δὲ πάλιν ἱερόθυτα ἐποίουν· ὁ δὲ ἀπεῖπε θῆλυ μὴ θύειν. πάλιν τε δεηθεὶς χρημάτων ἐκέλευσεν ἀπογράψασθαι [χρημάτων] πρὸς αὑτὸν ὅσοι οἶκοί εἰσιν ὀρφανικοί. ἀπογραψαμένων δὲ ἄλλων τὰ τούτων χρήματα ἀπεχρᾶτο, ἕως ἕκαστος εἰς ἡλικίαν ἔλθοι. Ῥήγιόν τε καταλαβών, ἐκκλησίαν συναγαγὼν εἶπε διότι δικαίως μὲν ἂν ἐξανδραποδισθεῖεν ὑπʼ αὐτοῦ, νῦν μέντοι τὰ εἰς τὸν πόλεμον ἀνηλωμένα χρήματα κομισάμενος καὶ ὑπὲρ ἑκάστου σώματος τρεῖς μνᾶς ἀφήσειν αὐτούς. οἱ δὲ Ῥηγῖνοι ὅσα ποτʼ ἦν αὐτοῖς ἀποκεκρυμμένα ἐμφανῆ ἐποίουν καὶ οἱ ἄποροι παρὰ τῶν εὐπορωτέρων καὶ παρὰ τῶν ξένων δανειζόμενοι ἐπόρισαν ἃ ἐκέλευσε χρήματα. λαβὼν δὲ ταῦτα παρʼ αὐτῶν τά τε σώματα πάντα οὐδὲν ἧττον ἀπέδοτο τά τε σκεύη, ἃ τότε ἦν ἀποκεκρυμμένα, ἐμφανῆ ἅπαντα ἔλαβε. δανεισάμενός τε παρὰ τῶν πολιτῶν χρήματα ἐπʼ ἀποδόσει, ὡς ἀπῄτουν αὐτόν, ἐκέλευσεν ἀναφέρειν ὅσον ἔχει τις ἀργύριον πρὸς αὐτόν· εἰ δὲ μή, θάνατον ἔταξε τὸ ἐπιτίμιον. ἀνενεχθέντος δὲ τοῦ ἀργυρίου, ἐπικόψας χαρακτῆρα ἐξέδωκε τὴν δραχμὴν δύο δυναμένην δραχμὰς καὶ τό τε ὀφειλόμενον πρότερον … ἀνήνεγκαν πρὸς αὐτόν. εἰς Τυρρηνίαν τε πλεύσας ναυσὶν ἑκατόν, ἔλαβεν ἐκ τοῦ τῆς Λευκοθέας ἱεροῦ χρυσίον τε καὶ ἀργύριον πολὺ καὶ τὸν ἄλλον κόσμον οὐκ ὀλίγον. εἰδὼς δὲ ὅτι καὶ οἱ ναῦται πολλὰ ἔχουσι, κήρυγμα ἐποιήσατο τὰ ἡμίσεα ὧν ἔχει ἕκαστος ἀναφέρειν πρὸς αὑτόν, τὰ δʼ ἡμίσεα ἔχειν τὸν λαβόντα· τῷ δὲ μὴ ἀνενέγκαντι θάνατον ἔταξε τὸ ἐπιτίμιον. ὑπολαβόντες δὲ οἱ ναῦται ἀνενεγκόντες τὰ ἡμίσεα τὰ κατάλοιπα ἔχειν, ἀδεῶς ἀνήνεγκαν· ὃ δʼ ἐπείπερ ἐκεῖνα ἔλαβεν, ἐκέλευσε πάλιν τὰ ἡμίσεα ἀναφέρειν.