the other, but never a bit will you
render an account to any one yourself or state a plain opinion upon a
single topic. (19)

(19) See Plat. "Gorg." 465 A.

What, Hippias (Socrates retorted), have you not observed that I am in a
chronic condition of proclaiming what I regard as just and upright?

Hipp. And pray what is this theory (20) of yours on the subject? Let us
have it in words.

(20) {o logos}.

Soc. If I fail to proclaim it in words, at any rate I do so in deed and
in fact. Or do you not think that a fact is worth more as evidence than
a word? (21)

(21) Or, "is of greater evidential value," "ubi res adsunt, quid opus
est verbis?"

Worth far more, I should say (Hippias answered), for many a man with
justice and right on his lips commits injustice and wrong, but no doer
of right ever was a misdoer or could possibly be.

Soc. I ask then, have you ever heard or seen or otherwise perceived me
bearing false witness or lodging malicious information, or stirring up
strife among friends or political dissension in the city, or committing
any other unjust and wrongful act?

No, I cannot say that I have (he answered).

Soc. And do you not regard it as right and just to abstain from wrong?
(22)

(22) Or, "is not abstinence from wrongdoing synonymous with righteous
behaviour?"

Hipp. Now you are caught, Socrates, plainly trying to escape from a
plain statement. When asked what you believe justice to be, you keep
telling us not what the just man does, but what he does not do.

Why, I thought for my part (answered Socrates) that the refusal to do
wrong and injustice was a sufficient warrent in itself of righteousness
and justice, but if you do not agree, see if this pleases you better: I
assert that what is "lawful" is "just and righteous."

Do you mean to assert (he asked) that lawful and just are synonymous
terms?

Soc. I do.

I ask (Hippias added), for I do not perceive what you mean by lawful,
nor what you mean by just. (23)

(23) Lit. "what sort of lawful or what sort of just is spoken of."

Soc. You understand what is meant by laws of a city or state?

Yes (he answered).

Soc. What do you take them to be?

Hipp. The several enactments drawn up by the citizens or members of a
state in agreement as to what things should be done or left undone.

Then I presume (Socrates continued) that a member of a state who
regulates his life in accordance with these enactments will be
law-abidi