YOUNG SOCRATES: Exactly.

STRANGER: Once more let us consider the nature of the righteous judge.

YOUNG SOCRATES: Very good.

STRANGER: Does he do anything but decide the dealings of men with one

another to be just or unjust in accordance with the standard which he

receives from the king and legislator,--showing his own peculiar virtue

only in this, that he is not perverted by gifts, or fears, or pity, or

by any sort of favour or enmity, into deciding the suits of men with one

another contrary to the appointment of the legislator?

YOUNG SOCRATES: No; his office is such as you describe.

STRANGER: Then the inference is that the power of the judge is not

royal, but only the power of a guardian of the law which ministers to

the royal power?

YOUNG SOCRATES: True.

STRANGER: The review of all these sciences shows that none of them is

political or royal. For the truly royal ought not itself to act, but to

rule over those who are able to act; the king ought to know what is and

what is not a fitting opportunity for taking the initiative in matters

111

Statesman