The man would have excused himself, because the contract
was so large, and would cost many talents; but Alcibiades, who at
that time a private pique against the existing farmers of the
revenue threatened to have him beaten if he refused. The next
morning, the stranger, coming to the market-place, offered a
talent more that the existing rate; upon which the farmers,
enraged and consulting together, called upon him to name his
sureties, concluding that he could find none. The poor man, being
startled at the proposal, began to retire; but ALCIBAIDES,
standing at a distance, cried out to the magistrates, "Set my name
down, he is a friend of mine; I will be security for him." When
the other bidders heard this, they perceived that all their
contrivance was defeated; for their way was, with the profits for
the second year to pay the rent for the year preceding; so that,
not seeing any other way to extricate themselves out of the
difficulty, they began to treat with the stranger, and offered him
a sum of money. Alcibiades would not suffer him to accept of less
than a talent; but when that was paid down, he commanded him to
relinquish the bargain, having by this device relieved his
necessity.
Though Socrates had many power rivals, yet the natural good
qualities of Alcibiades gave his affection the mastery.
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