ght in tillage I must have a knowledge of the art of tillage. But
the bare recognition of the fact does not one whit provide me with the
knowledge how I ought to till. And if I resolved without ado to set
about the work of tilling, I imagine, I should soon resemble your
physician going on his rounds and visiting his patients without knowing
what to prescribe or what to do to ease their sufferings. To save
me from the like predicaments, please teach me the actual work and
processes of tillage.

[7] Or, "something from dictation."

Isch. But truly, [8] Socrates, it is not with tillage as with the other
arts, where the learner must be well-nigh crushed [9] beneath a load
of study before his prentice-hand can turn out work of worth sufficient
merely to support him. [10] The art of husbandry, I say, is not so ill
to learn and cross-grained; but by watching labourers in the field, by
listening to what they say, you will have straightway knowledge enough
to teach another, should the humour take you. I imagine, Socrates (he
added), that you yourself, albeit quite unconscious of the fact, already
know a vast amount about the subject. The fact is, other craftsmen (the
race, I mean, in general of artists) are each and all disposed to keep
the most important [11] features of their several arts concealed:
with husbandry it is different. Here the man who has the most skill in
planting will take most pleasure in being watched by others; and so too
the most skilful sower. Ask any question you may choose about results
thus beautifully wrought, and not one feature in the whole performance
will the doer of it seek to keep concealed. To such height of nobleness
(he added), Socrates, does husbandry appear, like some fair mistress, to
conform the soul and disposition of those concerned with it.

[8] "Nay, if you will but listen, Socrates, with husbandry it is not
the same as with the other arts."

[9] {katatribenai}, "worn out." See "Mem." III. iv. 1; IV. vii. 5. Al.
"bored to death."

[10] Or, "before the products of his pupilage are worth his keep."

[11] Or, "critical and crucial."

The proem [12] to the speech is beautiful at any rate (I answered), but
hardly calculated to divert the hearer from the previous question. A
thing so easy to be learnt, you say? then, if so, do you be all the
readier for that reason to explain its details to me. No shame on you
who teach, to teach these easy matters; but for me to lack the