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anything from the profession； but against the very notion of having studied
medicine at all。 If； however； you will be so good as to confer on me this
post； I promise I will do my best to acquire skill by experimenting on your
persons。〃 Every one present laughed at the exordium （and there the matter
dropped）。
＇9＇ Or； 〃the pretty exordium 。 。 。 now in course of conposition。 He
must at all hazards avoid the suspicion of having picked up any
crumb of learning from anybody； how can he help therefore
beginning his speech thus？〃
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＇10＇ Or； 〃scientific experts。〃
＇11＇ Al。 〃Just as if one seeking the office of state physician were to
begin with a like exordium。〃 ｛armoseie｝ = 〃it would be consistent
（with what has gone before）。〃
＇12＇ Schneider cf。 Plat。 〃Laws；〃 iv。 720 A； 〃Gorg。〃 456 A； and for
〃the parish doctor；〃 〃Polit。〃 259 A； Arist。 〃Acharn。〃 1030。
Presently； when it became apparent that Euthydemus had got so far
that he was disposed to pay attention to what was said； though he was still
at pains not to utter a sound himself； as if he hoped by silence to attach to
himself some reputation for sagacity； Socrates； wishing to cure him of that
defect； proceeded。
Soc。 Is it not surprising that people anxious to learn to play the harp or
the flute； or to ride； or to become proficient in any like accomplishment；
are not content to work unremittingly in private by themselves at whatever
it is in which they desire to excel； but they must sit at the feet of the best…
esteemed teachers； doing all things and enduring all things for the sake of
following the judgment of those teachers in everything； as though they
themselves could not otherwise become famous； whereas； among those
who aspire to become eminent politically as orators and statesmen；＇13＇
there are some who cannot see why they should not be able to do all that
politics demand； at a moment's notice； by inspiration as it were； without
any preliminary pains or preparations whatever？ And yet it would appear
that the latter concerns must be more difficult of achievement than the
former； in proportion as there are more competitors in the field but fewer
who reach the goal of their ambition； which is as much as to say that a
more sustained effort of attention is needed on the part of those who
embark upon the sea of politics than is elsewhere called for。
＇13＇ Or； more lit。 〃powerful in speech and action within the sphere of
politics。〃
Such were the topics on which Socrates was wont in the early days of
their association to dilate in the hearing of Euthydemus； but when the
philosopher perceived that the youth not only could tolerate the turns of
the discussion more readily but was now become a somewhat eager
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listener； he went to the saddler's shop alone；＇14＇ and when Euthydemus
was seated by his side the following conversation took place。
＇14＇ The question arises： how far is the conversation historical or
imaginary？
Soc。 Pray tell me； Euthydemus； is it really true what people tell me；
that you have made a large collection of the writings of 〃the wise；〃 as they
are called？＇15＇
＇15＇ Or； 〃have collected several works of our classical authors and
philosophers。〃
Euthydemus answered： Quite true； Socrates； and I mean to go on
collecting until I possess all the books I can possibly lay hold of。
Soc。 By Hera！ I admire you for wishing to possess treasures of wisdom
rather than of gold and silver； which shows that you do not believe gold
and silver to be the means of making men better； but that the thoughts＇16＇
of the wise alone enrich with virtue their possessions。
＇16＇ Lit。 〃gnomes；〃 maxims； sententiae。 Cf。 Aristot。 〃Rhet。〃 ii。 21。
And Euthydemus was glad when he heard that saying； for； thought he
to himself； 〃In the eyes of Socrates I am on the high road to the acquisition
of wisdom。〃 But the latter； perceiving him to be pleased with the praise；
continued。
Soc。 And what is it in which you desire to excel； Euthydemus； that you
collect books？
And when Euthydemus was silent； considering what answer he should
make； Socrates added： Possibly you want to be a great doctor？ Why； the
prescriptions＇17＇ of the Pharmacopoeia would form a pretty large library
by themselves。
＇17＇ ｛suggrammata｝； 〃medical treatises。〃 See Aristot。 〃Eth。〃 x。 9； 21。
No； indeed； not I！ （answered Euthydemus）。
Soc。 Then do you wish to be an architect？ That too implies a man of
well…stored wit and judgment。＇18＇
＇18＇ Or； 〃To be that implies a considerable store of well…packed
wisdom。〃
I have no such ambition （he replied）。
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Soc。 Well； do you wish to be a mathematician； like Theodorus？＇19＇
＇19＇ Of Cyrene （cf。 Plat。 〃Theaet。〃） taught Plato。 Diog。 Laert。 ii。 8；
19。
Euth。 No； nor yet a mathematician。
Soc。 Then do you wish to be an astronomer？＇20＇ or （as the youth
signified dissent） possibly a rhapsodist？＇21＇ （he asked）； for I am told you
have the entire works of Homer in your possession。＇22＇
＇20＇ Cf。 below； IV。 vii。 4。
＇21＇ See 〃Symp。〃 iii。 6； Plat。 〃Ion。〃
＇22＇ See Jowett； 〃Plato；〃 i。 229； Grote； 〃Plato；〃 i。 455。
Nay； God forbid！ not I！ （ejaculated the youth）。 Rhapsodists have a very
exact acquaintance with epic poetry； I know； of course； but they are
empty…pated creatures enough themselves。＇23＇
＇23＇ Or； 〃are simply perfect in the art of reciting epic poetry； but
are apt to be the veriest simpletons themselves。〃
At last Socrates said： Can it be； Euthydemus； that you are an aspirant
to that excellence through which men become statesmen and
administrators fit to rule and apt to benefit＇24＇ the rest of the world and
themselves？
＇24＇ Or； 〃statesmen； and economists； and rules； and benefactors of
the rest of the world and themselves。〃
Yes （replied he）； that is the excellence I desirebeyond measure。