onsistent
(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
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