are not merely made up for the occasion, appear in various forms

unrecognized by the ignorance of men, and they 'hover about cities,'

as Homer declares, looking from above upon human life; and some think

nothing of them, and others can never think enough; and sometimes they

appear as statesmen, and sometimes as sophists; and then, again, to many

they seem to be no better than madmen. I should like to ask our Eleatic

friend, if he would tell us, what is thought about them in Italy, and to

whom the terms are applied.

THEODORUS: What terms?

SOCRATES: Sophist, statesman, philosopher.

THEODORUS: What is your difficulty about them, and what made you ask?

SOCRATES: I want to know whether by his countrymen they are regarded as

one or two; or do they, as the names are three, distinguish also three

kinds, and assign one to each name?

THEODORUS: I dare say that the Stranger will not object to discuss the

question. What do you say, Stranger?

STRANGER: I am far from objecting, Theodorus, nor have I any difficulty

in replying that by us they are regarded as three. But to define

precisely the nature of each of them is by no means a slight or easy

task.