a democratic man; nor
are you one, apparently, O Phileleutheros."

"This is all nonsense, Socrates," he said. "Balphurios cannot be a
democrat: for I am a democrat, and I do not agree with Balphurios. And
you have not the least conception of what is meant by democracy: which
is, that certain persons are chosen by the majority of the citizens that
they may sit in the Ecclesia and carry out the wishes of the people."

"But for what reasons do you choose such persons?" I asked.

"They ought to be chosen, Socrates," he replied, "because they possess
the qualities proper to democratic men."

"You mean," I said, "that they must hate and speak evil of the rich; and
that they must wish to diminish the number of our triremes; and that they
must refuse to tax Megarian imports; and that they must be conscious of
their own virtues and the vices of others."

"I do not altogether praise your definition; but it will do."

"But with all these qualities," I said, "will your ecclesiasts always
know what you wish when something unexpected happens about which it is
necessary to decide? For instance, if one of the chief speakers proposes
a law that all burglars should be honoured by dinners in the Prytaneum,
will not your ecclesiasts come to us and say, 'O Socrates and
Phileleutheros, we possess all the qualities proper to democratic men: we
are conscious of our own virtues, and we should like to diminish the
number of your triremes: and for these qualities we have been elected;
but as to this matter of giving burglars a dinner in the Prytaneum, about
this we do not yet know your wishes: and we would gladly be informed by
you?'"

"If they do not know our wishes of themselves," said Phileleutheros,
"they will suffer for it at the next election."

"That is very unpleasant for them," I replied. "Suppose now that you
hired an architect to build you a house, and that while he was building
it he needed your advice, and came and said to you, 'O Phileleutheros, I
have given your house four walls and a roof according to your wishes; but
you have not yet told me whether your banqueting-hall ought to have three
windows or six. About this I do not yet know your wishes, and I would
gladly be informed by you.' Will you then say to him that you have no
authority to tell him your wishes any more, but that if he happens to
decide contrary to your will you will not employ him again? Similarly,
it seems to me, you are in danger of making the E