BOOK I. III. 3-6 



things in, as they are transported at lower cost to 

 a place which may be reached without great effort ; 

 and it means a great deal," too, to get transportation 4 

 at low cost if you make the trip ^vith hired draught- 

 animals, which is more expedient than looldng after 

 your own ; furthermore, that the slaves who are to 

 accompany the master will not be reluctant to begin 

 the journey on foot. As to the goodness of the water, 

 the point is so apparent to everyone that it needs no 

 further discussion ; for who can doubt that water — - 5 

 ^\ithout which none of us, whether of sound or delicate 

 health, can prolong his life — is most highly esteemed ? 

 As to the suitability of a neighbour, there is, as a 

 matter of fact, no fixed rule, since death and various 

 other circumstances sometimes change him in our 

 eyes. It is for this reason that some people reject 

 Cato's opinion, though they appear to be badly mis- 

 taken. For, as it is the part of a wise man to endvu'e 

 the blows of fortune with a stout heart, so it is the 

 mark of a madman to create misfortunes for himself 

 voluntarily ; and this is what he does who spends 

 his money in the purchase of a worthless neighbour, 

 even though he might have heard, from his first days 

 in the cradle, provided he comes of gentle stock, the 

 Greek proverb : 



Not even an ox would be lost but for an evil 

 neighbour.*' 



And this sajdng applies not only to the ox, but to all 6 

 parts of our estate ; to such an extent, in fact, that 

 many have preferred to forsake their household gods 

 and have quit their homes because of the wrong- 

 doing of their neighbours ; unless we attribute it to 



* Hesiod, Works and Days, 348. 



45 



