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and Eros。 In the description of the last kind of madness； which was
also said to be the best； we spoke of the affection of love in a
figure； into which we introduced a tolerably credible and possibly
true though partly erring myth； which was also a hymn in honour of
Love； who is your lord and also mine； Phaedrus； and the guardian of
fair children； and to him we sung the hymn in measured and solemn
strain。
Phaedr。 I know that I had great pleasure in listening to you。
Soc。 Let us take this instance and note how the transition was
made from blame to praise。
Phaedr。 What do you mean？
Soc。 I mean to say that the composition was mostly playful。 Yet in
these chance fancies of the hour were involved two principles of which
we should be too glad to have a clearer description if art could
give us one。
Phaedr。 What are they？
Soc。 First； the comprehension of scattered particulars in one
idea； as in our definition of love； which whether true or false
certainly gave clearness and consistency to the discourse； the speaker
should define his several notions and so make his meaning clear。
Phaedr。 What is the other principle； Socrates？
Soc。 The second principle is that of division into species according
to the natural formation； where the joint is； not breaking any part as
a bad carver might。 Just as our two discourses； alike assumed； first
of all； a single form of unreason； and then； as the body which from
being one becomes double and may be divided into a left side and right
side； each having parts right and left of the same name…after this
manner the speaker proceeded to divide the parts of the left side
and did not desist until he found in them an evil or left…handed
love which he justly reviled； and the other discourse leading us to
the madness which lay on the right side； found another love； also
having the same name； but divine； which the speaker held up before
us and applauded and affirmed to be the author of the greatest
benefits。
Phaedr。 Most true。
Soc。 I am myself a great lover of these processes of division and
generalization； they help me to speak and to think。 And if I find
any man who is able to see 〃a One and Many〃 in nature； him I follow；
and 〃walk in his footsteps as if he were a god。〃 And those who have
this art； I have hitherto been in the habit of calling
dialecticians； but God knows whether the name is right or not。 And I
should like to know what name you would give to your or to Lysias'
disciples； and whether this may not be that famous art of rhetoric
which Thrasymachus and others teach and practise？ Skilful speakers
they are； and impart their skill to any who is willing to make kings
of them and to bring gifts to them。
Phaedr。 Yes； they are royal men； but their art is not the same
with the art of those whom you call； and rightly； in my opinion；
dialecticians：…Still we are in the dark about rhetoric。
Soc。 What do you mean？ The remains of it； if there be anything
remaining which can be brought under rules of art； must be a fine
thing； and； at any rate； is not to be despised by you and me。 But
how much is left？
Phaedr。 There is a great deal surely to be found in books of
rhetoric？
Soc。 Yes； thank you for reminding me：…There is the exordium； showing
how the speech should begin； if I remember rightly； that is what you
mean…the niceties of the art？
Phaedr。 Yes。
Soc。 Then follows the statement of facts； and upon that witnesses；
thirdly； proofs； fourthly； probabilities are to come； the great
Byzantian word…maker also speaks； if I am not mistaken； of
confirmation and further confirmation。
Phaedr。 You mean the excellent Theodorus。
Soc。 Yes； and he tells how refutation or further refutation is to be
managed； whether in accusation or defence。 I ought also to mention the
illustrious Parian； Evenus； who first invented insinuations and
indirect praises； and also indirect censures； which according to
some he put into verse to help the memory。 But shall I 〃to dumb
forgetfulness consign〃 Tisias and Gorgias； who are not ignorant that
probability is superior to truth； and who by： force of argument make
the little appear great and the great little； disguise the new in
old fashions and the old in new fashions； and have discovered forms
for everything； either short or going on to infinity。 I remember
Prodicus laughing when I told him of this； he said that he had himself
discovered the true rule of art； which was to be neither long nor
short； but of a convenient length。
Phaedr。 Well done； Prodicus！
Soc。 Then there is Hippias the Elean stranger； who probably agrees
with him。
Phaedr。 Yes。
Soc。 And there is also Polus； who has treasuries of diplasiology；
and gnomology； and eikonology； and who teaches in them the names of
which Licymnius made him a present； they were to give a polish。
Phaedr。 Had not Protagoras something of the same sort？
Soc。 Yes； rules of correct diction and many other fine precepts； for
the 〃sorrows of a poor old man；〃 or any other pathetic case； no one is
better than the Chalcedonian giant； he can put a whole company of
people into a passion and out of one again by his mighty magic； and is
first…rate at inventing or disposing of any sort of calumny on any
grounds or none。 All of them agree in asserting that a speech should
end in a recapitulation； though they do not all agree to use the
same word。
Phaedr。 You mean that there should be a summing up of the
arguments in order to remind the hearers of them。
Soc。 I have now said all that I have to say of the art of
rhetoric： have you anything to add？
Phaedr。 Not much； nothing very important。
Soc。 Leave the unimportant and let us bring the really important
question into the light of day； which is： What power has this art of
rhetoric； and when？
Phaedr。 A very great power in public meetings。
Soc。 It has。 But I should like to know whether you have the same
feeling as I have about the rhetoricians？ To me there seem to be a
great many holes in their web。
Phaedr。 Give an example。
Soc。 I will。 Suppose a person to come to your friend Eryximachus； or
to his father Acumenus； and to say to him： 〃I know how to apply
drugs which shall have either a heating or a cooling effect； and I can
give a vomit and also a purge； and all that sort of thing； and knowing
all this； as I do； I claim to be a physician and to make physicians by
imparting this knowledge to others；〃…what do you suppose that they
would say？
Phaedr。 They would be sure to ask him whether he knew 〃to whom〃 he
would give his medicines； and 〃when；〃 and 〃how much。〃
Soc。 And suppose that he were to reply： 〃No； I know nothing of all
that； I expect the patient who consults me to be able to do these
things for himself〃？
Phaedr。 They would say in reply that he is a madman or pedant who
fancies that he is a physician because he has read something in a
book； or has stumbled on a prescription or two； although he has no
real understanding of the art of medicine。
Soc。 And suppose a person were to come to Sophocles or Euripides and
say that he knows how to make a very long speech about a small matter；
and a short speech about a great matter； and also a sorrowful
speech； or a terrible； or threatening speech； or any other kind of
speech； and in teaching this fancies that he is teaching the art of
tragedy…？
Phaedr。 They too would surely laugh at him if he fancies that
tragedy is anything but the arranging of these elements in a manner
which will be suitable to one another and to the whole。
Soc。 But I do not suppose that they would be rude or abusive to him：
Would they not treat him as a musician would a man who thinks that
he is a harmonist because he knows how to pitch the highest and lowest
notes； happening to meet such an one he would not say to him savagely；
〃Fool； you are mad！〃 But like a musician； in a gentle and harmonious
tone of voice； he would answer： 〃My good friend； he who would be a
harmonist must certainly know this； and yet he may understand
nothing of harmony if he has not got beyond your stage of knowledge；
for you only know the preliminaries of harmony and not harmony
itself。〃
Phaedr。 Very true。
Soc。 And will not Sophocles say to the display of the would…be
tragedian； that this is not tragedy but the preliminaries of
tragedy？ and will not Acumenus say the same of medicine to