BOOK I. VIII. 15-18 



part of the master, I -would even jest with them at 

 times and allow them also to j est more freely. Nowa- 

 days I make it a practice to call them into consultation 

 on any new work, as if they were more experienced, 

 and to discover by this means what sort of ability 

 is possessed by each of them and how intelligent 

 he is. Furthermore, I observe that they are more 

 willing to set about a piece of work on which they 

 think that their opinions have been asked and their 

 advice followed. Again, it is the estabUshed custom 16 

 of all men of caution to inspect the inmates of the 

 workhouse, to find out whether they are carefully 

 chained, whether the places of confinement are quite 

 safe and properly guarded, whether the overseer 

 has put anyone in fetters or removed his shackles 

 without the master's knowledge. For the overseer 

 should be most observant of both points — not to 

 release from shackles anyone whom the head of 

 the house has subjected to that kind of punish- 

 ment, except by his leave, and not to free one 

 whom he himself has chained on his own initiative 

 until the master knows the circumstances; and IT 

 the investigation of the householder should be the 

 more painstaking in the interest of slaves of this 

 sort, that they may not be treated unjustly in the 

 matter of clothing or other allowances, inasmuch 

 as, being liable to a greater number of people, such 

 as overseers, taskmasters, and jailers, they are 

 the more liable to unjust punishment, and again, 

 when smarting under cruelty and greed, they are 

 more to be feared. Accordingly, a careful master 18 

 inquires not only of them, but also of those who are 

 not in bonds, as being more worthy of belief, whether 

 they are receiving what is due to them under his in- 



93 



