STRANGER: But now that the imitative art has enclosed him, it is clear

that we must begin by dividing the art of creation; for imitation is

a kind of creation--of images, however, as we affirm, and not of real

things.

THEAETETUS: Quite true.

STRANGER: In the first place, there are two kinds of creation.

THEAETETUS: What are they?

STRANGER: One of them is human and the other divine.

THEAETETUS: I do not follow.

STRANGER: Every power, as you may remember our saying originally, which

causes things to exist, not previously existing, was defined by us as

creative.

THEAETETUS: I remember.

STRANGER: Looking, now, at the world and all the animals and plants,

at things which grow upon the earth from seeds and roots, as well as

at inanimate substances which are formed within the earth, fusile or

non-fusile, shall we say that they come into existence--not having

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Sophist