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may have experienced in the discussion about weaving； and
the reversal
of the universe； and in the discussion concerning the Sophist and
the being of not…being。 I know that they were felt to be too
long； and
I reproached myself with this； fearing that they might be not only
tedious but irrelevant； and all that I have now said is only
designed to prevent the recurrence of any such disagreeables for the
future。
Y。 Soc。 Very good。 Will you proceed？
Str。 Then I would like to observe that you and I； remembering what
has been said； should praise or blame the length or shortness of
discussions； not by comparing them with one another； but with what
is fitting； having regard to the part of measurement； which； as we
said； was to be borne in mind。
Y。 Soc。 Very true。
Str。 And yet； not everything is to be judged even with a view to
what is fitting； for we should only want such a length as is
suited to
give pleasure； if at all； as a secondary matter； and reason tells
us； that we should be contented to make the ease or rapidity of an
enquiry； not our first； but our second object； the first and highest
of all being to assert the great method of division according to
species…whether the discourse be shorter or longer is not to the
point。 No offence should be taken at length； but the longer and
shorter are to be employed indifferently； according as either of
them is better calculated to sharpen the wits of the auditors。
Reason would also say to him who censures the length of discourses
on such occasions and cannot away with their circumlocution； that he
should not be in such a hurry to have done with them； when
he can only
complain that they are tedious； but he should prove that if they had
been shorter they would have made those who took part in them better
dialecticians； and more capable of expressing the truth of things；
about any other praise and blame； he need not trouble himself…he
should pretend not to hear them。 But we have had enough of this； as
you will probably agree with me in thinking。 Let us return to our
Statesman； and apply to his case the aforesaid example of weaving。
Y。 Soc。 Very good；…let us do as you say。
Str。 The art of the king has been separated from the
similar arts of
shepherds； and； indeed； from all those which have to do with herds
at all。 There still remain； however； of the causal and co…operative
arts those which are immediately concerned with States； and
which must
first be distinguished from one another。
Y。 Soc。 Very good。
Str。 You know that these arts cannot easily be divided into two
halves； the reason will be very： evident as we proceed。
Y。 Soc。 Then we had better do so。
Str。 We must carve them like a victim into members or limbs； since
we cannot bisect them。 For we certainly should divide everything
into as few parts as possible。
Y。 Soc。 What is to be done in this case？
Str。 What we did in the example of weaving…all those arts which
furnish the tools were regarded by us as co…operative。
Y。 Soc。 Yes。
Str。 So now； and with still more reason； all arts which make any
implement in a State； whether great or small； may be
regarded by us as
co…operative； for without them neither State nor Statesmanship would
be possible； and yet we are not inclined to say that any of them is
a product of the kingly art。
Y。 Soc。 No； indeed。
Str。 The task of separating this class from others is not an easy
one； for there is plausibility in saying that anything in
the world is
the instrument of doing something。 But there is another dass of
possessions in； a city； of which I have a word to say。
Y。 Soc。 What class do you mean？
Str。 A class which may be described as not having this power； that
is to say； not like an instrument； framed for production；
but designed
for the preservation of that which is produced。
Y。 Soc。 To what do you refer？
Str。 To the class of vessels； as they are comprehensively termed；
which are constructed for the preservation of things moist
and dry； of
things prepared in the fire or out of the fire； this is a very large
class； and has； if I am not mistaken； literally nothing to
do with the
royal art of which we are in search。
Y。 Soc。 Certainly not。
Str。 There is also a third class of possessions to be noted；
different from these and very extensive； moving or resting on land
or water； honourable and also dishonourable。 The whole of this class
has one name； because it is intended to be sat upon； being always a
seat for something。
Y。 Soc。 What is it？
Str。 A vehicle； which is certainly not the work of the Statesman；
but of the carpenter； potter； and coppersmith。
Y。 Soc。 I understand。
Str。 And is there not a fourth class which is again different； and
in which most of the things formerly mentioned are contained…every
kind of dress； most sorts of arms； walls and enclosures； whether of
earth or stone； and ten thousand other thing？ all of which being
made for the sake of defence； may be truly called defences； and are
for the most part to be regarded as the work of the builder or of
the weaver； rather than of the Statesman。
Y。 Soc。 Certainly。
Str。 Shall we add a fifth class； of ornamentation and drawing； and
of the imitations produced； by drawing and music； which are designed
for amusement only； and may be fairly comprehended under one name？
Y。 Soc。 What is it？
Str。 Plaything is the name。
Y。 Soc。 Certainly。
Str。 That one name may be fitly predicated of all of them； for
none of these things have a serious purpose…amusement is their sole
aim。
Y。 Soc。 That again I understand。
Str。 Then there is a class which provides materials for all these；
out of which and in which the arts already mentioned fabricate their
works；…this manifold class； I say； which is the creation and
offspring
of many other arts； may I not rank sixth？
Y。 Soc。 What do you mean？
Str。 I am referring to gold； silver； and other metals； and all
that wood…cutting and shearing of every sort provides for the art of
carpentry and plaiting； and there is the process of barking and
stripping the cuticle of plants； and the currier's art； which strips
off the skins of animals； and other similar arts which manufacture
corks and papyri and cords； and provide for the manufacture of
composite species out of simple kinds…the whole class may be termed
the primitive and simple possession of man； and with this the kingly
science has no concern at all。
Y。 Soc。 True。
Str。 The provision of food and of all other things which mingle
their particles with the particles of the human body； and minister
to the body； will form a seventh class； which may be called by the
general term of nourishment； unless you have any better name
to offer。
This； however； appertains rather to the husbandman；
huntsman； trainer；
doctor； cook； and is not to be assigned to the Statesman's art。
Y。 Soc。 Certainly not。
Str。 These seven classes include nearly every description of
property； with the exception of tame animals。 Consider；…there was
the original materia