第5章
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  HERMOGENES:Why,Socrates?

  SOCRATES:Mygoodfriend,Ihavediscoveredahiveofwisdom。

  HERMOGENES:Ofwhatnature?

  SOCRATES:Well,ratherridiculous,andyetplausible。

  HERMOGENES:Howplausible?

  SOCRATES:IfancytomyselfHeracleitusrepeatingwisetraditionsofantiquityasoldasthedaysofCronosandRhea,andofwhichHomeralsospoke。

  HERMOGENES:Howdoyoumean?

  SOCRATES:Heracleitusissupposedtosaythatallthingsareinmotionandnothingatrest;hecomparesthemtothestreamofariver,andsaysthatyoucannotgointothesamewatertwice。

  HERMOGENES:Thatistrue。

  SOCRATES:Well,then,howcanweavoidinferringthathewhogavethenamesofCronosandRheatotheancestorsoftheGods,agreedprettymuchinthedoctrineofHeracleitus?Isthegivingofthenamesofstreamstobothofthempurelyaccidental?ComparethelineinwhichHomer,and,asI

  believe,Hesiodalso,tellsof’Ocean,theoriginofGods,andmotherTethys(Il。——thelineisnotfoundintheextantworksofHesiod。)。’

  Andagain,Orpheussays,that’ThefairriverofOceanwasthefirsttomarry,andheespousedhissisterTethys,whowashismother’sdaughter。’

  Youseethatthisisaremarkablecoincidence,andallinthedirectionofHeracleitus。

  HERMOGENES:Ithinkthatthereissomethinginwhatyousay,Socrates;butIdonotunderstandthemeaningofthenameTethys。

  SOCRATES:Well,thatisalmostself-explained,beingonlythenameofaspring,alittledisguised;forthatwhichisstrainedandfiltered(diattomenon,ethoumenon)maybelikenedtoaspring,andthenameTethysismadeupofthesetwowords。

  HERMOGENES:Theideaisingenious,Socrates。

  SOCRATES:Tobesure。Butwhatcomesnext?——ofZeuswehavespoken。

  HERMOGENES:Yes。

  SOCRATES:Thenletusnexttakehistwobrothers,PoseidonandPluto,whetherthelatteriscalledbythatorbyhisothername。

  HERMOGENES:Byallmeans。

  SOCRATES:PoseidonisPosidesmos,thechainofthefeet;theoriginalinventorofthenamehadbeenstoppedbythewateryelementinhiswalks,andnotallowedtogoon,andthereforehecalledtherulerofthiselementPoseidon;theepsilonwasprobablyinsertedasanornament。Yet,perhaps,notso;butthenamemayhavebeenoriginallywrittenwithadoublelamdaandnotwithasigma,meaningthattheGodknewmanythings(Pollaeidos)。

  Andperhapsalsohebeingtheshakeroftheearth,hasbeennamedfromshaking(seiein),andthenpianddeltahavebeenadded。Plutogiveswealth(Ploutos),andhisnamemeansthegiverofwealth,whichcomesoutoftheearthbeneath。PeopleingeneralappeartoimaginethatthetermHadesisconnectedwiththeinvisible(aeides)andsotheyareledbytheirfearstocalltheGodPlutoinstead。

  HERMOGENES:Andwhatisthetruederivation?

  SOCRATES:Inspiteofthemistakeswhicharemadeaboutthepowerofthisdeity,andthefoolishfearswhichpeoplehaveofhim,suchasthefearofalwaysbeingwithhimafterdeath,andofthesouldenudedofthebodygoingtohim(compareRep。),mybeliefisthatallisquiteconsistent,andthattheofficeandnameoftheGodreallycorrespond。

  HERMOGENES:Why,howisthat?

  SOCRATES:Iwilltellyoumyownopinion;butfirst,Ishouldliketoaskyouwhichchaindoesanyanimalfeeltobethestronger?andwhichconfineshimmoretothesamespot,——desireornecessity?

  HERMOGENES:Desire,Socrates,isstrongerfar。

  SOCRATES:AnddoyounotthinkthatmanyaonewouldescapefromHades,ifhedidnotbindthosewhodeparttohimbythestrongestofchains?

  HERMOGENES:Assuredlytheywould。

  SOCRATES:Andifbythegreatestofchains,thenbysomedesire,asI

  shouldcertainlyinfer,andnotbynecessity?

  HERMOGENES:Thatisclear。

  SOCRATES:Andtherearemanydesires?

  HERMOGENES:Yes。

  SOCRATES:Andthereforebythegreatestdesire,ifthechainistobethegreatest?

  HERMOGENES:Yes。

  SOCRATES:Andisanydesirestrongerthanthethoughtthatyouwillbemadebetterbyassociatingwithanother?

  HERMOGENES:Certainlynot。

  SOCRATES:Andisnotthatthereason,Hermogenes,whynoone,whohasbeentohim,iswillingtocomebacktous?EventheSirens,likealltherestoftheworld,havebeenlaidunderhisspells。Suchacharm,asIimagine,istheGodabletoinfuseintohiswords。And,accordingtothisview,heistheperfectandaccomplishedSophist,andthegreatbenefactoroftheinhabitantsoftheotherworld;andeventouswhoareuponearthhesendsfrombelowexceedingblessings。Forhehasmuchmorethanhewantsdownthere;whereforeheiscalledPluto(ortherich)。Notealso,thathewillhavenothingtodowithmenwhiletheyareinthebody,butonlywhenthesoulisliberatedfromthedesiresandevilsofthebody。Nowthereisagreatdealofphilosophyandreflectioninthat;forintheirliberatedstatehecanbindthemwiththedesireofvirtue,butwhiletheyareflusteredandmaddenedbythebody,notevenfatherCronoshimselfwouldsufficetokeepthemwithhiminhisownfar-famedchains。

  HERMOGENES:Thereisadealoftruthinwhatyousay。

  SOCRATES:Yes,Hermogenes,andthelegislatorcalledhimHades,notfromtheunseen(aeides)——farotherwise,butfromhisknowledge(eidenai)ofallnoblethings。

  HERMOGENES:Verygood;andwhatdowesayofDemeter,andHere,andApollo,andAthene,andHephaestus,andAres,andtheotherdeities?

  SOCRATES:Demeterisedidousameter,whogivesfoodlikeamother;Hereisthelovelyone(erate)——forZeus,accordingtotradition,lovedandmarriedher;possiblyalsothenamemayhavebeengivenwhenthelegislatorwasthinkingoftheheavens,andmaybeonlyadisguiseoftheair(aer),puttingtheendintheplaceofthebeginning。YouwillrecognizethetruthofthisifyourepeatthelettersofHereseveraltimesover。PeopledreadthenameofPherephattaastheydreadthenameofApollo,——andwithaslittlereason;thefear,ifIamnotmistaken,onlyarisesfromtheirignoranceofthenatureofnames。ButtheygochangingthenameintoPhersephone,andtheyareterrifiedatthis;whereasthenewnamemeansonlythattheGoddessiswise(sophe);forseeingthatallthingsintheworldareinmotion(pheromenon),thatprinciplewhichembracesandtouchesandisabletofollowthem,iswisdom。AndthereforetheGoddessmaybetrulycalledPherepaphe(Pherepapha),orsomenamelikeit,becauseshetouchesthatwhichisinmotion(toupheromenonephaptomene),hereinshowingherwisdom。AndHades,whoiswise,consortswithher,becausesheiswise。TheyalterhernameintoPherephattanow-a-days,becausethepresentgenerationcareforeuphonymorethantruth。Thereistheothername,Apollo,which,asIwassaying,isgenerallysupposedtohavesometerriblesignification。Haveyouremarkedthisfact?

  HERMOGENES:TobesureIhave,andwhatyousayistrue。

  SOCRATES:Butthename,inmyopinion,isreallymostexpressiveofthepoweroftheGod。

  HERMOGENES:Howso?

  SOCRATES:Iwillendeavourtoexplain,forIdonotbelievethatanysinglenamecouldhavebeenbetteradaptedtoexpresstheattributesoftheGod,embracingandinamannersignifyingallfourofthem,——music,andprophecy,andmedicine,andarchery。

  HERMOGENES:Thatmustbeastrangename,andIshouldliketoheartheexplanation。

  SOCRATES:Sayratheranharmoniousname,asbeseemstheGodofHarmony。

  Inthefirstplace,thepurgationsandpurificationswhichdoctorsanddivinersuse,andtheirfumigationswithdrugsmagicalormedicinal,aswellastheirwashingsandlustralsprinklings,havealloneandthesameobject,whichistomakeamanpurebothinbodyandsoul。

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:AndisnotApollothepurifier,andthewasher,andtheabsolverfromallimpurities?

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:Theninreferencetohisablutionsandabsolutions,asbeingthephysicianwhoordersthem,hemayberightlycalledApolouon(purifier);orinrespectofhispowersofdivination,andhistruthandsincerity,whichisthesameastruth,hemaybemostfitlycalledAplos,fromaplous(sincere),asintheThessaliandialect,foralltheThessalianscallhimAplos;alsoheisaeiBallon(alwaysshooting),becauseheisamasterarcherwhonevermisses;oragain,thenamemayrefertohismusicalattributes,andthen,asinakolouthos,andakoitis,andinmanyotherwordsthealphaissupposedtomean’together,’sothemeaningofthenameApollowillbe’movingtogether,’whetherinthepolesofheavenastheyarecalled,orintheharmonyofsong,whichistermedconcord,becausehemovesalltogetherbyanharmoniouspower,asastronomersandmusiciansingeniouslydeclare。AndheistheGodwhopresidesoverharmony,andmakesallthingsmovetogether,bothamongGodsandamongmen。Andasinthewordsakolouthosandakoitisthealphaissubstitutedforanomicron,sothenameApollonisequivalenttoomopolon;onlythesecondlambdaisaddedinordertoavoidtheill-omenedsoundofdestruction(apolon)。Nowthesuspicionofthisdestructivepowerstillhauntsthemindsofsomewhodonotconsiderthetruevalueofthename,which,asIwassayingjustnow,hasreferencetoallthepowersoftheGod,whoisthesingleone,theeverdarting,thepurifier,themovertogether(aplous,aeiBallon,apolouon,omopolon)。ThenameoftheMusesandofmusicwouldseemtobederivedfromtheirmakingphilosophicalenquiries(mosthai);andLetoiscalledbythisname,becausesheissuchagentleGoddess,andsowilling(ethelemon)tograntourrequests;orhernamemaybeLetho,assheisoftencalledbystrangers——theyseemtoimplybyitheramiability,andhersmoothandeasy-goingwayofbehaving。Artemisisnamedfromherhealthy(artemes),well-orderednature,andbecauseofherloveofvirginity,perhapsbecausesheisaproficientinvirtue(arete),andperhapsalsoashatingintercourseofthesexes(tonarotonmisesasa)。HewhogavetheGoddesshernamemayhavehadanyorallofthesereasons。

  HERMOGENES:WhatisthemeaningofDionysusandAphrodite?

  SOCRATES:SonofHipponicus,youaskasolemnquestion;thereisaseriousandalsoafacetiousexplanationofboththesenames;theseriousexplanationisnottobehadfromme,butthereisnoobjectiontoyourhearingthefacetiousone;fortheGodstooloveajoke。Dionusosissimplydidousoinon(giverofwine),Didoinusos,ashemightbecalledinfun,——andoinosisproperlyoionous,becausewinemakesthosewhodrink,think(oiesthai)thattheyhaveamind(noun)whentheyhavenone。ThederivationofAphrodite,bornofthefoam(aphros),maybefairlyacceptedontheauthorityofHesiod。

  HERMOGENES:StillthereremainsAthene,whomyou,Socrates,asanAthenian,willsurelynotforget;therearealsoHephaestusandAres。

  SOCRATES:Iamnotlikelytoforgetthem。

  HERMOGENES:No,indeed。

  SOCRATES:ThereisnodifficultyinexplainingtheotherappellationofAthene。

  HERMOGENES:Whatotherappellation?

  SOCRATES:WecallherPallas。

  HERMOGENES:Tobesure。

  SOCRATES:Andwecannotbewronginsupposingthatthisisderivedfromarmeddances。Fortheelevationofoneselforanythingelseabovetheearth,orbytheuseofthehands,wecallshaking(pallein),ordancing。

  HERMOGENES:Thatisquitetrue。

  SOCRATES:ThenthatistheexplanationofthenamePallas?

  HERMOGENES:Yes;butwhatdoyousayoftheothername?

  SOCRATES:Athene?

  HERMOGENES:Yes。

  SOCRATES:Thatisagravermatter,andthere,myfriend,themoderninterpretersofHomermay,Ithink,assistinexplainingtheviewoftheancients。Formostoftheseintheirexplanationsofthepoet,assertthathemeantbyAthene’mind’(nous)and’intelligence’(dianoia),andthemakerofnamesappearstohavehadasingularnotionabouther;andindeedcallsherbyastillhighertitle,’divineintelligence’(Thounoesis),asthoughhewouldsay:ThisisshewhohasthemindofGod(Theonoa);——usingalphaasadialecticalvarietyforeta,andtakingawayiotaandsigma(ThereseemstobesomeerrorintheMSS。Themeaningisthatthewordtheonoa=theounoaisacurtailedformoftheounoesis,buttheomittedlettersdonotagree。)。Perhaps,however,thenameTheonoemaymean’shewhoknowsdivinethings’(Theianoousa)betterthanothers。NorshallwebefarwronginsupposingthattheauthorofitwishedtoidentifythisGoddesswithmoralintelligence(enetheinoesin),andthereforegaveherthenameethonoe;which,however,eitherheorhissuccessorshavealteredintowhattheythoughtanicerform,andcalledherAthene。

  HERMOGENES:ButwhatdoyousayofHephaestus?

  SOCRATES:Speakyouoftheprincelylordoflight(Phaeosistora)?

  HERMOGENES:Surely。

  SOCRATES:EphaistosisPhaistos,andhasaddedtheetabyattraction;thatisobvioustoanybody。

  HERMOGENES:Thatisveryprobable,untilsomemoreprobablenotiongetsintoyourhead。

  SOCRATES:Topreventthat,youhadbetteraskwhatisthederivationofAres。

  HERMOGENES:WhatisAres?

  SOCRATES:Aresmaybecalled,ifyouwill,fromhismanhood(arren)andmanliness,orifyouplease,fromhishardandunchangeablenature,whichisthemeaningofarratos:thelatterisaderivationineverywayappropriatetotheGodofwar。

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:Andnow,bytheGods,letushavenomoreoftheGods,forIamafraidofthem;askaboutanythingbutthem,andthoushaltseehowthesteedsofEuthyphrocanprance。

  HERMOGENES:OnlyonemoreGod!IshouldliketoknowaboutHermes,ofwhomIamsaidnottobeatrueson。Letusmakehimout,andthenIshallknowwhetherthereisanymeaninginwhatCratylussays。

  SOCRATES:IshouldimaginethatthenameHermeshastodowithspeech,andsignifiesthatheistheinterpreter(ermeneus),ormessenger,orthief,orliar,orbargainer;allthatsortofthinghasagreatdealtodowithlanguage;asIwastellingyou,thewordeireinisexpressiveoftheuseofspeech,andthereisanoften-recurringHomericwordemesato,whichmeans’hecontrived’——outofthesetwowords,eireinandmesasthai,thelegislatorformedthenameoftheGodwhoinventedlanguageandspeech;andwemayimaginehimdictatingtoustheuseofthisname:’Omyfriends,’

  sayshetous,’seeingthatheisthecontriveroftalesorspeeches,youmayrightlycallhimEirhemes。’Andthishasbeenimprovedbyus,aswethink,intoHermes。Irisalsoappearstohavebeencalledfromtheverb’totell’(eirein),becauseshewasamessenger。

  HERMOGENES:ThenIamverysurethatCratyluswasquiterightinsayingthatIwasnotruesonofHermes(Ermogenes),forIamnotagoodhandatspeeches。

  SOCRATES:Thereisalsoreason,myfriend,inPanbeingthedouble-formedsonofHermes。

  HERMOGENES:Howdoyoumakethatout?

  SOCRATES:Youareawarethatspeechsignifiesallthings(pan),andisalwaysturningthemroundandround,andhastwoforms,trueandfalse?

  HERMOGENES:Certainly。

  SOCRATES:IsnotthetruththatisinhimthesmoothorsacredformwhichdwellsaboveamongtheGods,whereasfalsehooddwellsamongmenbelow,andisroughlikethegoatoftragedy;fortalesandfalsehoodshavegenerallytodowiththetragicorgoatishlife,andtragedyistheplaceofthem?

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:ThensurelyPan,whoisthedeclarerofallthings(pan)andtheperpetualmover(aeipolon)ofallthings,isrightlycalledaipolos(goat-

  herd),hebeingthetwo-formedsonofHermes,smoothinhisupperpart,androughandgoatlikeinhislowerregions。And,asthesonofHermes,heisspeechorthebrotherofspeech,andthatbrothershouldbelikebrotherisnomarvel。But,asIwassaying,mydearHermogenes,letusgetawayfromtheGods。

  HERMOGENES:FromthesesortofGods,byallmeans,Socrates。ButwhyshouldwenotdiscussanotherkindofGods——thesun,moon,stars,earth,aether,air,fire,water,theseasons,andtheyear?

  SOCRATES:Youimposeagreatmanytasksuponme。Still,ifyouwish,I

  willnotrefuse。

  HERMOGENES:Youwillobligeme。

  SOCRATES:Howwouldyouhavemebegin?ShallItakefirstofallhimwhomyoumentionedfirst——thesun?

  HERMOGENES:Verygood。

  SOCRATES:TheoriginofthesunwillprobablybeclearerintheDoricform,fortheDorianscallhimalios,andthisnameisgiventohimbecausewhenheriseshegathers(alizoi)mentogetherorbecauseheisalwaysrollinginhiscourse(aeieileinion)abouttheearth;orfromaiolein,ofwhichthemeaningisthesameaspoikillein(tovariegate),becausehevariegatestheproductionsoftheearth。

  HERMOGENES:Butwhatisselene(themoon)?

  SOCRATES:ThatnameisratherunfortunateforAnaxagoras。

  HERMOGENES:Howso?

  SOCRATES:Thewordseemstoforestallhisrecentdiscovery,thatthemoonreceivesherlightfromthesun。

  HERMOGENES:Whydoyousayso?

  SOCRATES:Thetwowordsselas(brightness)andphos(light)havemuchthesamemeaning?

  HERMOGENES:Yes。

  SOCRATES:Thislightaboutthemoonisalwaysnew(neon)andalwaysold(enon),ifthedisciplesofAnaxagorassaytruly。Forthesuninhisrevolutionalwaysaddsnewlight,andthereistheoldlightofthepreviousmonth。

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:Themoonisnotunfrequentlycalledselanaia。

  HERMOGENES:True。

  SOCRATES:Andasshehasalightwhichisalwaysoldandalwaysnew(enonneonaei)shemayveryproperlyhavethenameselaenoneoaeia;andthiswhenhammeredintoshapebecomesselanaia。

  HERMOGENES:Arealdithyrambicsortofnamethat,Socrates。Butwhatdoyousayofthemonthandthestars?

  SOCRATES:Meis(month)iscalledfrommeiousthai(tolessen),becausesufferingdiminution;thenameofastra(stars)seemstobederivedfromastrape,whichisanimprovementonanastrope,signifyingtheupsettingoftheeyes(anastrepheinopa)。

  HERMOGENES:Whatdoyousayofpur(fire)andudor(water)?

  SOCRATES:Iamatalosshowtoexplainpur;eitherthemuseofEuthyphrohasdesertedme,orthereissomeverygreatdifficultyintheword。

  Please,however,tonotethecontrivancewhichIadoptwheneverIaminadifficultyofthissort。

  HERMOGENES:Whatisit?

  SOCRATES:Iwilltellyou;butIshouldliketoknowfirstwhetheryoucantellmewhatisthemeaningofthepur?

  HERMOGENES:IndeedIcannot。

  SOCRATES:ShallItellyouwhatIsuspecttobethetrueexplanationofthisandseveralotherwords?——Mybeliefisthattheyareofforeignorigin。FortheHellenes,especiallythosewhowereunderthedominionofthebarbarians,oftenborrowedfromthem。

  HERMOGENES:Whatistheinference?

  SOCRATES:Why,youknowthatanyonewhoseekstodemonstratethefitnessofthesenamesaccordingtotheHelleniclanguage,andnotaccordingtothelanguagefromwhichthewordsarederived,isratherlikelytobeatfault。

  HERMOGENES:Yes,certainly。

  SOCRATES:Wellthen,considerwhetherthispurisnotforeign;forthewordisnoteasilybroughtintorelationwiththeHellenictongue,andthePhrygiansmaybeobservedtohavethesamewordslightlychanged,justastheyhaveudor(water)andkunes(dogs),andmanyotherwords。

  HERMOGENES:Thatistrue。

  SOCRATES:Anyviolentinterpretationsofthewordsshouldbeavoided;forsomethingtosayaboutthemmayeasilybefound。AndthusIgetridofpurandudor。Aer(air),Hermogenes,maybeexplainedastheelementwhichraises(airei)thingsfromtheearth,oraseverflowing(aeirei),orbecausethefluxoftheairiswind,andthepoetscallthewinds’air-

  blasts,’(aetai);hewhousesthetermmaymean,sotospeak,air-flux(aetorroun),inthesenseofwind-flux(pneumatorroun);andbecausethismovingwindmaybeexpressedbyeithertermheemploysthewordair(aer=

  aetesrheo)。Aither(aether)Ishouldinterpretasaeitheer;thismaybecorrectlysaid,becausethiselementisalwaysrunninginafluxabouttheair(aeitheiperitouaerareon)。Themeaningofthewordge(earth)

  comesoutbetterwhenintheformofgaia,fortheearthmaybetrulycalled’mother’(gaia,genneteira),asinthelanguageofHomer(Od。)

  gegaasimeansgegennesthai。

  HERMOGENES:Good。

  SOCRATES:Whatshallwetakenext?

  HERMOGENES:Thereareorai(theseasons),andthetwonamesoftheyear,eniautosandetos。

  SOCRATES:TheoraishouldbespeltintheoldAtticway,ifyoudesiretoknowtheprobabletruthaboutthem;theyarerightlycalledtheoraibecausetheydivide(orizousin)thesummersandwintersandwindsandthefruitsoftheearth。Thewordseniautosandetosappeartobethesame,——

  ’thatwhichbringstolighttheplantsandgrowthsoftheearthintheirturn,andpassestheminreviewwithinitself(eneautoexetazei)’:thisisbrokenupintotwowords,eniautosfromeneauto,andetosfrometazei,justastheoriginalnameofZeuswasdividedintoZenaandDia;andthewholepropositionmeansthathispowerofreviewingfromwithinisone,buthastwonames,twowordsetosandeniautosbeingthusformedoutofasingleproposition。

  HERMOGENES:Indeed,Socrates,youmakesurprisingprogress。

  SOCRATES:Iamrunawaywith。

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:Butamnotyetatmyutmostspeed。

  HERMOGENES:Ishouldlikeverymuchtoknow,inthenextplace,howyouwouldexplainthevirtues。Whatprincipleofcorrectnessisthereinthosecharmingwords——wisdom,understanding,justice,andtherestofthem?

  SOCRATES:Thatisatremendousclassofnameswhichyouaredisinterring;

  still,asIhaveputonthelion’sskin,Imustnotbefaintofheart;andIsupposethatImustconsiderthemeaningofwisdom(phronesis)andunderstanding(sunesis),andjudgment(gnome),andknowledge(episteme),andallthoseothercharmingwords,asyoucallthem?

  HERMOGENES:Surely,wemustnotleaveoffuntilwefindouttheirmeaning。

  SOCRATES:BythedogofEgyptIhaveanotbadnotionwhichcameintomyheadonlythismoment:Ibelievethattheprimevalgiversofnameswereundoubtedlyliketoomanyofourmodernphilosophers,who,intheirsearchafterthenatureofthings,arealwaysgettingdizzyfromconstantlygoingroundandround,andthentheyimaginethattheworldisgoingroundandroundandmovinginalldirections;andthisappearance,whicharisesoutoftheirowninternalcondition,theysupposetobearealityofnature;

  theythinkthatthereisnothingstableorpermanent,butonlyfluxandmotion,andthattheworldisalwaysfullofeverysortofmotionandchange。TheconsiderationofthenameswhichImentionedhasledmeintomakingthisreflection。

  HERMOGENES:Howisthat,Socrates?

  SOCRATES:Perhapsyoudidnotobservethatinthenameswhichhavebeenjustcited,themotionorfluxorgenerationofthingsismostsurelyindicated。

  HERMOGENES:No,indeed,Ineverthoughtofit。

  SOCRATES:Takethefirstofthosewhichyoumentioned;clearlythatisanameindicativeofmotion。

  HERMOGENES:Whatwasthename?

  SOCRATES:Phronesis(wisdom),whichmaysignifyphoraskairhounoesis(perceptionofmotionandflux),orperhapsphorasonesis(theblessingofmotion),butisatanyrateconnectedwithpheresthai(motion);gnome(judgment),again,certainlyimpliestheponderationorconsideration(nomesis)ofgeneration,fortoponderisthesameastoconsider;or,ifyouwouldrather,hereisnoesis,theverywordjustnowmentioned,whichisneouesis(thedesireofthenew);thewordneosimpliesthattheworldisalwaysinprocessofcreation。Thegiverofthenamewantedtoexpressthislongingofthesoul,fortheoriginalnamewasneoesis,andnotnoesis;butetatooktheplaceofadoubleepsilon。Thewordsophrosuneisthesalvation(soteria)ofthatwisdom(phronesis)whichwewerejustnowconsidering。Epioteme(knowledge)isakintothis,andindicatesthatthesoulwhichisgoodforanythingfollows(epetai)themotionofthings,neitheranticipatingthemnorfallingbehindthem;whereforethewordshouldratherbereadasepistemene,insertingepsilonnu。Sunesis(understanding)mayberegardedinlikemannerasakindofconclusion;thewordisderivedfromsunienai(togoalongwith),and,likeepistasthai(toknow),impliestheprogressionofthesoulincompanywiththenatureofthings。Sophia(wisdom)isverydark,andappearsnottobeofnativegrowth;themeaningis,touchingthemotionorstreamofthings。Youmustrememberthatthepoets,whentheyspeakofthecommencementofanyrapidmotion,oftenusethewordesuthe(herushed);andtherewasafamousLacedaemonianwhowasnamedSous(Rush),forbythiswordtheLacedaemonianssignifyrapidmotion,andthetouching(epaphe)ofmotionisexpressedbysophia,forallthingsaresupposedtobeinmotion。Good(agathon)isthenamewhichisgiventotheadmirable(agasto)innature;

  for,althoughallthingsmove,stilltherearedegreesofmotion;someareswifter,someslower;buttherearesomethingswhichareadmirablefortheirswiftness,andthisadmirablepartofnatureiscalledagathon。

  Dikaiosune(justice)isclearlydikaiousunesis(understandingofthejust);buttheactualworddikaionismoredifficult:menareonlyagreedtoacertainextentaboutjustice,andthentheybegintodisagree。Forthosewhosupposeallthingstobeinmotionconceivethegreaterpartofnaturetobeamerereceptacle;andtheysaythatthereisapenetratingpowerwhichpassesthroughallthis,andistheinstrumentofcreationinall,andisthesubtlestandswiftestelement;forifitwerenotthesubtlest,andapowerwhichnonecankeepout,andalsotheswiftest,passingbyotherthingsasiftheywerestandingstill,itcouldnotpenetratethroughthemovinguniverse。Andthiselement,whichsuperintendsallthingsandpierces(diaion)all,isrightlycalleddikaion;theletterkisonlyaddedforthesakeofeuphony。Thusfar,asIwassaying,thereisageneralagreementaboutthenatureofjustice;butI,Hermogenes,beinganenthusiasticdisciple,havebeentoldinamysterythatthejusticeofwhichIamspeakingisalsothecauseoftheworld:

  nowacauseisthatbecauseofwhichanythingiscreated;andsomeonecomesandwhispersinmyearthatjusticeisrightlysocalledbecausepartakingofthenatureofthecause,andIbegin,afterhearingwhathehassaid,tointerrogatehimgently:’Well,myexcellentfriend,’sayI,’butifallthisbetrue,Istillwanttoknowwhatisjustice。’ThereupontheythinkthatIasktiresomequestions,andamleapingoverthebarriers,andhavebeenalreadysufficientlyanswered,andtheytrytosatisfymewithonederivationafteranother,andatlengththeyquarrel。Foroneofthemsaysthatjusticeisthesun,andthatheonlyisthepiercing(diaionta)andburning(kaonta)elementwhichistheguardianofnature。

  AndwhenIjoyfullyrepeatthisbeautifulnotion,Iamansweredbythesatiricalremark,’What,istherenojusticeintheworldwhenthesunisdown?’AndwhenIearnestlybegmyquestionertotellmehisownhonestopinion,hesays,’Fireintheabstract’;butthisisnotveryintelligible。Anothersays,’No,notfireintheabstract,buttheabstractionofheatinthefire。’Anothermanprofessestolaughatallthis,andsays,asAnaxagorassays,thatjusticeismind,formind,astheysay,hasabsolutepower,andmixeswithnothing,andordersallthings,andpassesthroughallthings。Atlast,myfriend,IfindmyselfinfargreaterperplexityaboutthenatureofjusticethanIwasbeforeIbegantolearn。ButstillIamofopinionthatthename,whichhasledmeintothisdigression,wasgiventojusticeforthereasonswhichIhavementioned。

  HERMOGENES:Ithink,Socrates,thatyouarenotimprovisingnow;youmusthaveheardthisfromsomeoneelse。

  SOCRATES:Andnottherest?

  HERMOGENES:Hardly。

  SOCRATES:Well,then,letmegooninthehopeofmakingyoubelieveintheoriginalityoftherest。Whatremainsafterjustice?Idonotthinkthatwehaveasyetdiscussedcourage(andreia),——injustice(adikia),whichisobviouslynothingmorethanahindrancetothepenetratingprinciple(diaiontos),neednotbeconsidered。Well,then,thenameofandreiaseemstoimplyabattle;——thisbattleisintheworldofexistence,andaccordingtothedoctrineoffluxisonlythecounterflux(enantiarhon):ifyouextractthedeltafromandreia,thenameatoncesignifiesthething,andyoumayclearlyunderstandthatandreiaisnotthestreamopposedtoeverystream,butonlytothatwhichiscontrarytojustice,forotherwisecouragewouldnothavebeenpraised。Thewordsarren(male)andaner(man)

  alsocontainasimilarallusiontothesameprincipleoftheupwardflux(teanorhon)。Gune(woman)Isuspecttobethesamewordasgoun(birth):

  thelu(female)appearstobepartlyderivedfromthele(theteat),becausetheteatislikerain,andmakesthingsflourish(tethelenai)。

  HERMOGENES:Thatissurelyprobable。

  SOCRATES:Yes;andtheverywordthallein(toflourish)seemstofigurethegrowthofyouth,whichisswiftandsuddenever。Andthisisexpressedbythelegislatorinthename,whichisacompoundofthein(running),andallesthai(leaping)。PrayobservehowIgallopawaywhenIgetonsmoothground。Thereareagoodmanynamesgenerallythoughttobeofimportance,whichhavestilltobeexplained。

  HERMOGENES:True。

  SOCRATES:Thereisthemeaningofthewordtechne(art),forexample。

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:Thatmaybeidentifiedwithechonoe,andexpressesthepossessionofmind:youhaveonlytotakeawaythetauandinserttwoomichrons,onebetweenthechiandnu,andanotherbetweenthenuandeta。

  HERMOGENES:Thatisaveryshabbyetymology。

  SOCRATES:Yes,mydearfriend;butthenyouknowthattheoriginalnameshavebeenlongagoburiedanddisguisedbypeoplestickingonandstrippingofflettersforthesakeofeuphony,andtwistingandbedizeningtheminallsortsofways:andtimetoomayhavehadashareinthechange。Take,forexample,thewordkatoptron;whyistheletterrhoinserted?Thismustsurelybetheadditionofsomeonewhocaresnothingaboutthetruth,butthinksonlyofputtingthemouthintoshape。Andtheadditionsareoftensuchthatatlastnohumanbeingcanpossiblymakeouttheoriginalmeaningoftheword。Anotherexampleisthewordsphigx,sphiggos,whichoughtproperlytobephigx,phiggos,andthereareotherexamples。

  HERMOGENES:Thatisquitetrue,Socrates。

  SOCRATES:Andyet,ifyouarepermittedtoputinandpulloutanyletterswhichyouplease,nameswillbetooeasilymade,andanynamemaybeadaptedtoanyobject。

  HERMOGENES:True。

  SOCRATES:Yes,thatistrue。Andthereforeawisedictator,likeyourself,shouldobservethelawsofmoderationandprobability。

  HERMOGENES:Suchismydesire。

  SOCRATES:Andmine,too,Hermogenes。Butdonotbetoomuchofaprecisian,or’youwillunnervemeofmystrength(Iliad。)。’Whenyouhaveallowedmetoaddmechane(contrivance)totechne(art)Ishallbeatthetopofmybent,forIconceivemechanetobeasignofgreataccomplishment——anein;formekoshasthemeaningofgreatness,andthesetwo,mekosandanein,makeupthewordmechane。But,asIwassaying,beingnowatthetopofmybent,Ishouldliketoconsiderthemeaningofthetwowordsarete(virtue)andkakia(vice);areteIdonotasyetunderstand,butkakiaistransparent,andagreeswiththeprincipleswhichpreceded,forallthingsbeinginaflux(ionton),kakiaiskakosion(goingbadly);andthisevilmotionwhenexistinginthesoulhasthegeneralnameofkakia,orvice,speciallyappropriatedtoit。Themeaningofkakosienaimaybefurtherillustratedbytheuseofdeilia(cowardice),whichoughttohavecomeafterandreia,butwasforgotten,and,asIfear,isnottheonlywordwhichhasbeenpassedover。Deiliasignifiesthatthesoulisboundwithastrongchain(desmos),forlianmeansstrength,andthereforedeiliaexpressesthegreatestandstrongestbondofthesoul;andaporia(difficulty)isanevilofthesamenature(froma(alpha)not,andporeuesthaitogo),likeanythingelsewhichisanimpedimenttomotionandmovement。Thenthewordkakiaappearstomeankakosienai,orgoingbadly,orlimpingandhalting;ofwhichtheconsequenceis,thatthesoulbecomesfilledwithvice。Andifkakiaisthenameofthissortofthing,aretewillbetheoppositeofit,signifyinginthefirstplaceeaseofmotion,thenthatthestreamofthegoodsoulisunimpeded,andhasthereforetheattributeofeverflowingwithoutletorhindrance,andisthereforecalledarete,or,morecorrectly,aeireite(ever-flowing),andmayperhapshavehadanotherform,airete(eligible),indicatingthatnothingismoreeligiblethanvirtue,andthishasbeenhammeredintoarete。Idaresaythatyouwilldeemthistobeanotherinventionofmine,butIthinkthatifthepreviouswordkakiawasright,thenareteisalsoright。

  HERMOGENES:Butwhatisthemeaningofkakon,whichhasplayedsogreatapartinyourpreviousdiscourse?

  SOCRATES:ThatisaverysingularwordaboutwhichIcanhardlyformanopinion,andthereforeImusthaverecoursetomyingeniousdevice。

  HERMOGENES:Whatdevice?

  SOCRATES:Thedeviceofaforeignorigin,whichIshallgivetothiswordalso。

  HERMOGENES:Verylikelyyouareright;butsupposethatweleavethesewordsandendeavourtoseetherationaleofkalonandaischron。

  SOCRATES:Themeaningofaischronisevident,beingonlyaeiischonroes(alwayspreventingfromflowing),andthisisinaccordancewithourformerderivations。Forthename-giverwasagreatenemytostagnationofallsorts,andhencehegavethenameaeischorountothatwhichhinderedtheflux(aeiischonroun),andthatisnowbeatentogetherintoaischron。

  HERMOGENES:Butwhatdoyousayofkalon?

  SOCRATES:Thatismoreobscure;yettheformisonlyduetothequantity,andhasbeenchangedbyalteringomicronupsilonintoomicron。

  HERMOGENES:Whatdoyoumean?

  SOCRATES:Thisnameappearstodenotemind。

  HERMOGENES:Howso?

  SOCRATES:Letmeaskyouwhatisthecausewhyanythinghasaname;isnottheprinciplewhichimposesthenamethecause?

  HERMOGENES:Certainly。

  SOCRATES:AndmustnotthisbethemindofGods,orofmen,orofboth?

  HERMOGENES:Yes。

  SOCRATES:Isnotmindthatwhichcalled(kalesan)thingsbytheirnames,andisnotmindthebeautiful(kalon)?

  HERMOGENES:Thatisevident。

  SOCRATES:Andarenottheworksofintelligenceandmindworthyofpraise,andarenototherworksworthyofblame?

  HERMOGENES:Certainly。

  SOCRATES:Physicdoestheworkofaphysician,andcarpenteringdoestheworksofacarpenter?

  HERMOGENES:Exactly。

  SOCRATES:Andtheprincipleofbeautydoestheworksofbeauty?

  HERMOGENES:Ofcourse。

  SOCRATES:Andthatprincipleweaffirmtobemind?

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue。

  SOCRATES:Thenmindisrightlycalledbeautybecauseshedoestheworkswhichwerecognizeandspeakofasthebeautiful?

  HERMOGENES:Thatisevident。

  SOCRATES:Whatmorenamesremaintous?

  HERMOGENES:Therearethewordswhichareconnectedwithagathonandkalon,suchassumpheronandlusiteloun,ophelimon,kerdaleon,andtheiropposites。

  SOCRATES:Themeaningofsumpheron(expedient)Ithinkthatyoumaydiscoverforyourselfbythelightofthepreviousexamples,——foritisasisterwordtoepisteme,meaningjustthemotion(pora)ofthesoulaccompanyingtheworld,andthingswhicharedoneuponthisprinciplearecalledsumphoraorsumpheronta,becausetheyarecarriedroundwiththeworld。

  HERMOGENES:Thatisprobable。

  SOCRATES:Again,cherdaleon(gainful)iscalledfromcherdos(gain),butyoumustalterthedeltaintonuifyouwanttogetatthemeaning;forthiswordalsosignifiesgood,butinanotherway;hewhogavethenameintendedtoexpressthepowerofadmixture(kerannumenon)anduniversalpenetrationinthegood;informingtheword,however,heinsertedadeltainsteadofanu,andsomadekerdos。

  HERMOGENES:Well,butwhatislusiteloun(profitable)?

  SOCRATES:Isuppose,Hermogenes,thatpeopledonotmeanbytheprofitablethegainfulorthatwhichpays(luei)theretailer,buttheyusethewordinthesenseofswift。Youregardtheprofitable(lusiteloun),asthatwhichbeingtheswiftestthinginexistence,allowsofnostayinthingsandnopauseorendofmotion,butalways,iftherebeginstobeanyend,letsthingsgoagain(luei),andmakesmotionimmortalandunceasing:andinthispointofview,asappearstome,thegoodishappilydenominatedlusiteloun——beingthatwhichlooses(luon)theend(telos)ofmotion。

  Ophelimon(theadvantageous)isderivedfromophellein,meaningthatwhichcreatesandincreases;thislatterisacommonHomericword,andhasaforeigncharacter。

  HERMOGENES:Andwhatdoyousayoftheiropposites?

  SOCRATES:OfsuchasaremerenegativesIhardlythinkthatIneedspeak。

  HERMOGENES:Whicharethey?

  SOCRATES:Thewordsaxumphoron(inexpedient),anopheles(unprofitable),alusiteles(unadvantageous),akerdes(ungainful)。

  HERMOGENES:True。

  SOCRATES:Iwouldrathertakethewordsblaberon(harmful),zemiodes(hurtful)。

  HERMOGENES:Good。

  SOCRATES:Thewordblaberonisthatwhichissaidtohinderorharm(blaptein)thestream(roun);blaptonisboulomenonaptein(seekingtoholdorbind);forapteinisthesameasdein,anddeinisalwaysatermofcensure;boulomenonapteinroun(wantingtobindthestream)wouldproperlybeboulapteroun,andthis,asIimagine,isimprovedintoblaberon。

  HERMOGENES:Youbringoutcuriousresults,Socrates,intheuseofnames;

  andwhenIhearthewordboulapterounIcannothelpimaginingthatyouaremakingyourmouthintoaflute,andpuffingawayatsomepreludetoAthene。

  SOCRATES:Thatisthefaultofthemakersofthename,Hermogenes;notmine。

  HERMOGENES:Verytrue;butwhatisthederivationofzemiodes?

  SOCRATES:Whatisthemeaningofzemiodes?——letmeremark,Hermogenes,howrightIwasinsayingthatgreatchangesaremadeinthemeaningofwordsbyputtinginandpullingoutletters;evenaveryslightpermutationwillsometimesgiveanentirelyoppositesense;Imayinstancetheworddeon,whichoccurstomeatthemoment,andremindsmeofwhatIwasgoingtosaytoyou,thatthefinefashionablelanguageofmoderntimeshastwistedanddisguisedandentirelyalteredtheoriginalmeaningbothofdeon,andalsoofzemiodes,whichintheoldlanguageisclearlyindicated。

  HERMOGENES:Whatdoyoumean?

  SOCRATES:Iwilltrytoexplain。Youareawarethatourforefatherslovedthesoundsiotaanddelta,especiallythewomen,whoaremostconservativeoftheancientlanguage,butnowtheychangeiotaintoetaorepsilon,anddeltaintozeta;thisissupposedtoincreasethegrandeurofthesound。

  HERMOGENES:Howdoyoumean?

  SOCRATES:Forexample,inveryancienttimestheycalledthedayeitherimeraoremera(shorte),whichiscalledbyusemera(longe)。

  HERMOGENES:Thatistrue。

  SOCRATES:Doyouobservethatonlytheancientformshowstheintentionofthegiverofthename?ofwhichthereasonis,thatmenlongfor(imeirousi)andlovethelightwhichcomesafterthedarkness,andisthereforecalledimera,fromimeros,desire。

  HERMOGENES:Clearly。

  SOCRATES:Butnowthenameissotravestiedthatyoucannottellthemeaning,althoughtherearesomewhoimaginethedaytobecalledemerabecauseitmakesthingsgentle(emeradifferentaccents)。

  HERMOGENES:Suchismyview。

  SOCRATES:Anddoyouknowthattheancientssaidduogonandnotzugon?

  HERMOGENES:Theydidso。

  SOCRATES:Andzugon(yoke)hasnomeaning,——itoughttobeduogon,whichwordexpressesthebindingoftwotogether(dueinagoge)forthepurposeofdrawing;——thishasbeenchangedintozugon,andtherearemanyotherexamplesofsimilarchanges。

  HERMOGENES:Thereare。

  SOCRATES:ProceedinginthesametrainofthoughtImayremarkthattheworddeon(obligation)hasameaningwhichistheoppositeofalltheotherappellationsofgood;fordeonishereaspeciesofgood,andis,nevertheless,thechain(desmos)orhindererofmotion,andthereforeownbrotherofblaberon。

  HERMOGENES:Yes,Socrates;thatisquiteplain。

  SOCRATES:Notifyourestoretheancientform,whichismorelikelytobethecorrectone,andreaddioninsteadofdeon;ifyouconverttheepsilonintoaniotaaftertheoldfashion,thiswordwillthenagreewithotherwordsmeaninggood;fordion,notdeon,signifiesthegood,andisatermofpraise;andtheauthorofnameshasnotcontradictedhimself,butinallthesevariousappellations,deon(obligatory),ophelimon(advantageous),lusiteloun(profitable),kerdaleon(gainful),agathon(good),sumpheron(expedient),euporon(plenteous),thesameconceptionisimpliedoftheorderingorall-pervadingprinciplewhichispraised,andtherestrainingandbindingprinciplewhichiscensured。Andthisisfurtherillustratedbythewordzemiodes(hurtful),whichifthezetaisonlychangedintodeltaasintheancientlanguage,becomesdemiodes;andthisname,asyouwillperceive,isgiventothatwhichbindsmotion(dountiion)。

  HERMOGENES:Whatdoyousayofedone(pleasure),lupe(pain),epithumia(desire),andthelike,Socrates?

  SOCRATES:Idonotthink,Hermogenes,thatthereisanygreatdifficultyaboutthem——edoneise(eta)onesis,theactionwhichtendstoadvantage;

  andtheoriginalformmaybesupposedtohavebeeneone,butthishasbeenalteredbytheinsertionofthedelta。Lupeappearstobederivedfromtherelaxation(luein)whichthebodyfeelswheninsorrow;ania(trouble)isthehindranceofmotion(alphaandienai);algedon(distress),ifIamnotmistaken,isaforeignword,whichisderivedfromaleinos(grievous);

  odune(grief)iscalledfromtheputtingon(endusis)sorrow;inachthedon(vexation)’thewordtoolabours,’asanyonemaysee;chara(joy)istheveryexpressionofthefluencyanddiffusionofthesoul(cheo);terpsis(delight)issocalledfromthepleasurecreeping(erpon)throughthesoul,whichmaybelikenedtoabreath(pnoe)andisproperlyerpnoun,buthasbeenalteredbytimeintoterpnon;eupherosune(cheerfulness)andepithumiaexplainthemselves;theformer,whichoughttobeeupherosuneandhasbeenchangedeuphrosune,isnamed,aseveryonemaysee,fromthesoulmoving(pheresthai)inharmonywithnature;epithumiaisreallyeepitonthumoniousadunamis,thepowerwhichentersintothesoul;thumos(passion)iscalledfromtherushing(thuseos)andboilingofthesoul;imeros(desire)

  denotesthestream(rous)whichmostdrawsthesouldiatenesintesroes——

  becauseflowingwithdesire(iemenos),andexpressesalongingafterthingsandviolentattractionofthesoultothem,andistermedimerosfrompossessingthispower;pothos(longing)isexpressiveofthedesireofthatwhichisnotpresentbutabsent,andinanotherplace(pou);thisisthereasonwhythenamepothosisappliedtothingsabsent,asimerosistothingspresent;eros(love)issocalledbecauseflowingin(esron)fromwithout;thestreamisnotinherent,butisaninfluenceintroducedthroughtheeyes,andfromflowinginwascalledesros(influx)intheoldtimewhentheyusedomicronforomega,andiscallederos,nowthatomegaissubstitutedforomicron。Butwhydoyounotgivemeanotherword?

  HERMOGENES:Whatdoyouthinkofdoxa(opinion),andthatclassofwords?

  SOCRATES:Doxaiseitherderivedfromdioxis(pursuit),andexpressesthemarchofthesoulinthepursuitofknowledge,orfromtheshootingofabow(toxon);thelatterismorelikely,andisconfirmedbyoiesis(thinking),whichisonlyoisis(moving),andimpliesthemovementofthesoultotheessentialnatureofeachthing——justasboule(counsel)hastodowithshooting(bole);andboulesthai(towish)combinesthenotionofaiminganddeliberating——allthesewordsseemtofollowdoxa,andallinvolvetheideaofshooting,justasaboulia,absenceofcounsel,ontheotherhand,isamishap,ormissing,ormistakingofthemark,oraim,orproposal,orobject。

  HERMOGENES:Youarequickeningyourpacenow,Socrates。

  SOCRATES:Whyyes,theendInowdedicatetoGod,not,however,untilI

  haveexplainedanagke(necessity),whichoughttocomenext,andekousion(thevoluntary)。Ekousioniscertainlytheyielding(eikon)andunresisting——thenotionimpliedisyieldingandnotopposing,yielding,asIwasjustnowsaying,tothatmotionwhichisinaccordancewithourwill;

  butthenecessaryandresistantbeingcontrarytoourwill,implieserrorandignorance;theideaistakenfromwalkingthrougharavinewhichisimpassable,andrugged,andovergrown,andimpedesmotion——andthisisthederivationofthewordanagkaion(necessary)anagkeion,goingthrougharavine。Butwhilemystrengthlastsletuspersevere,andIhopethatyouwillperseverewithyourquestions。

  HERMOGENES:Well,then,letmeaskaboutthegreatestandnoblest,suchasaletheia(truth)andpseudos(falsehood)andon(being),notforgettingtoenquirewhythewordonoma(name),whichisthethemeofourdiscussion,hasthisnameofonoma。

  SOCRATES:Youknowthewordmaiesthai(toseek)?

  HERMOGENES:Yes;——meaningthesameaszetein(toenquire)。

  SOCRATES:Thewordonomaseemstobeacompressedsentence,signifyingonouzetema(beingforwhichthereisasearch);asisstillmoreobviousinonomaston(notable),whichstatesinsomanywordsthatrealexistenceisthatforwhichthereisaseeking(onoumasma);aletheiaisalsoanagglomerationoftheiaale(divinewandering),implyingthedivinemotionofexistence;pseudos(falsehood)istheoppositeofmotion;hereisanotherillnamegivenbythelegislatortostagnationandforcedinaction,whichhecomparestosleep(eudein);buttheoriginalmeaningofthewordisdisguisedbytheadditionofpsi;onandousiaareionwithaniotabrokenoff;thisagreeswiththetrueprinciple,forbeing(on)isalsomoving(ion),andthesamemaybesaidofnotbeing,whichislikewisecallednotgoing(oukionoroukion=oukion)。

  HERMOGENES:Youhavehammeredawayatthemmanfully;butsupposethatsomeoneweretosaytoyou,whatisthewordion,andwhatarereonanddoun?——

  showmetheirfitness。

  SOCRATES:Youmeantosay,howshouldIanswerhim?

  HERMOGENES:Yes。

  SOCRATES:Onewayofgivingtheappearanceofananswerhasbeenalreadysuggested。

  HERMOGENES:Whatway?

  SOCRATES:Tosaythatnameswhichwedonotunderstandareofforeignorigin;andthisisverylikelytherightanswer,andsomethingofthiskindmaybetrueofthem;butalsotheoriginalformsofwordsmayhavebeenlostinthelapseofages;nameshavebeensotwistedinallmannerofways,thatIshouldnotbesurprisediftheoldlanguagewhencomparedwiththatnowinusewouldappeartoustobeabarbaroustongue。

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